Netezza / PureData – How to add multiple columns to a Netezza table in one SQL

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add multiple columns to a Netezza table , alter table
SQL (Structured Query Language)

I had this example floating around in a notepad for a while, but I find myself coming back it occasionally.  So, I thought I would add it to this blog for future reference.

The Table Alter Process

This is an outline of the Alter table process I follow, for reference, in case it is helpful.

  • Generate DDL in Aginity and make backup original table structure
  • Perform Insert into backup table from original table
  • Create Alter SQL
  • Execute Alter SQL
  • Refresh Aginity table columns
  • Generate new DDL
  • visually validate DDL Structure
  • If correct, archive copy of DDL to version control system
  • Preform any update commands, if required, required to populate the new columns.
  • Execute post alter table cleanup
    • Groom Versions
    • Groom table
    • Generate statistics
  • Once the any required processes and the data have been validated, drop the backup table.

Basic Alter SQL Command Structure

Here is the basic syntax for adding multiple columns:

ALTER TABLE <<OWNER>>.<<TABLENAME>>

ADD COLUMN <<FieldName1>> <<Field Type>> <<Constraint, if applicable>>

, <<FieldName2>> <<Field Type>> <<Constraint, if applicable>>;

Example Alter SQL Command to a Multiple Columns

Here is a quick example, which is adding four columns:

Example SQL Adding Multiple Columns

ALTER TABLE BLOG.PRODUCT_DIM

ADD COLUMN MANUFACTURING_PLANT_KEY NUMERIC(6,0) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0

, LEAD_TIME_PRODUCTION NUMERIC(2,0)  NOT NULL DEFAULT 0

, PRODUCT_CYCLE CHARACTER VARYING(15)  NOT NULL DEFAULT ‘ ‘::”NVARCHAR”

, PRODUCT_CLASS CHARACTER VARYING(2)  NOT NULL  DEFAULT ‘ ‘::”NVARCHAR” ;

Cleanup Table SQL Statements

GROOM TABLE BLOG.PRODUCT_DIM VERSIONS;

GROOM TABLE BLOG.PRODUCT_DIM;

GENERATE STATISTICS ON BLOG.PRODUCT_DIM;

Related References

IBM Knowledge Center, PureData System for Analytics, Version 7.2.1

IBM Netezza database user documentation, Netezza SQL command reference, ALTER TABLE