ALTER TYPE

You can use the ALTER TYPE statement to add or drop member attributes or methods.

You can use the ALTER TYPE statement to modify the existing attributes or scalar attributes of an object type. You can also use this statement to recompile the specification or body of a type, or add new object member subprogram specifications to modify the specification of the object type.

You can use the ALTER TYPE statement to perform the following operations on a type created by using the CREATE TYPE or CREATE TYPE BODY statement:

• Evolve the type, which is to add or drop member attributes or methods.

• Add object member subprogram specifications to modify the specification of the type.

• Recompile the specification or body of the type.

• Reset the version of the type to 1, so that evolution is no longer considered for the type.

Prerequisites

If a type is in the schema of the SYS user, you must connect to the database with the SYSDBA role. Otherwise, the type must be in your own schema, or you have the CREATE TYPE or CREATE ANY TYPE system privilege.

Syntax

Syntax of alter_type:

CREATE TYPE or CREATE ANY TYPE

Where:

• Syntax of alter_type_clause:

  { type_compile_clause
  | type_replace_clause
  | RESET
  | [ NOT ] { INSTANTIABLE | FINAL }
  | { alter_method_spec
    | alter_attribute_definition
    | alter_collection_clauses
    } [ dependent_handling_clause ]
  } ;
  

• Syntax of type_compile_clause:

  COMPILE [ DEBUG ] [ SPECIFICATION | BODY ]
  [ compiler_parameters_clause ]... [ REUSE SETTINGS ]
  

• Syntax of type_replace_clause:

  REPLACE
  [ invoker_rights_clause [ accessible_by_clause ] |
    accessible_by_clause | invoker_rights_clause ] ]
  AS OBJECT  ( attribute datatype [, attribute datatype ]...
  [, element_spec [, element_spec ]... ] )
  

• Syntax of element_spec:

  [ inheritance_clauses ]
  { subprogram_spec
  | constructor_spec
  | map_order_function_spec
  }... [, restrict_references_pragma ]
  

• Syntax of inheritance_clauses:

  { [ NOT ] { OVERRIDING | FINAL | INSTANTIABLE } }...
  

• Syntax of subprogram_spec:

  { MEMBER | STATIC } { procedure_spec | function_spec }
  

• Syntax of procedure_spec:

  PROCEDURE procedure_name
  ( parameter datatype [, parameter datatype ]... )  [ { IS | AS } call_spec ]
  

• Syntax of function_spec:

  PROCEDURE procedure_name
  ( parameter datatype [, parameter datatype ]... )  [ { IS | AS } call_spec ]
  

• Syntax of constructor_spec:

  [ FINAL ] [ INSTANTIABLE ] CONSTRUCTOR FUNCTION datatype
  [ ([ SELF IN OUT datatype, ]
     parameter datatype [, parameter datatype ]...
    )
  ]
  RETURN SELF AS RESULT;
  [ { IS | AS } call_spec ]
  

• Syntax of map_order_function_spec:

  { MAP | ORDER } MEMBER function_spec
  

• Syntax of alter_method_spec:

  { ADD | DROP } { map_order_function_spec | subprogram_spec }
  [, { ADD | DROP } { map_order_function_spec | subprogram_spec } ]...
  

• Syntax of alter_attribute_definition:

  { { ADD | MODIFY } ATTRIBUTE
       { attribute [ datatype ]
       | ( attribute datatype [, attribute datatype ]... )
       }
  | DROP ATTRIBUTE
       { attribute
       | ( attribute [, attribute ]... )
       }
  }
  

• Syntax of alter_collections_clauses:

  MODIFY { LIMIT integer | ELEMENT TYPE datatype }
  

• Syntax of dependent_handling_clause:

  { INVALIDATE
  | CASCADE [ { [ NOT ] INCLUDING TABLE DATA
              | CONVERT TO SUBSTITUTABLE
              }
            ]
       [ [FORCE ] exceptions_clause ]
  }
  

• Syntax of exceptions_clause:

  EXCEPTIONS INTO [ schema. ] table