Change Table Name

[forskare]

Changing the table name is no problem but once a table name is changed, then the links in a set will not be recognized. What is the best way to go about changing the name of a table so that the set will recognize the new table name?

Thanks,

kenn

[David Mason]

RE: Change Table Name

Ken,

I would rather not change a table name!

I believe I would:
1 - Remove it from the set
2 - Rename the table
3 - Reattach the table to the set

*note* all forms, reports, letters etc will have to be redone.

Dave

[CALocklin]

RE: Change Table Name

Another option:

- Copy the old table to the new name. (Hint: You might want to copy the structure and import the records to check for good data.)
- Open the set and add any links required with the new table. You will now have "duplicate/matching" links for the old and new tables.
- Delete any links using the old table.

The advantage here is that you don't need to write down the link definitions before adding the new table and you don't need to make it a two step process.

Of course, either way you do it you will have to check all layouts to make sure the field names still match correctly.

I've used this technique occasionally when I get applications from customers that use blank spaces in table names. I've had problems with blank spaces in table names and refuse to use them.

[forskare]

RE: Change Table Name

Cal,

What if the table is the parent table in the set?

Thanks,

kenn

[David Mason]

RE: Change Table Name

Ken,

I believe that changing the name of the parent table will make the set useless.

I would
copy the whole mess to a safe folder ( safety )

duplicate the table including records
attach all the children to the new table
then copy the supporting files to the new table name
copy the old set files to the new name
delete the old set
rename the new set to the old namme

HOPE I got it all

I believe this will keep things together

Dave

[forskare]

RE: Change Table Name

Hi,

Yes, once the parent table is gone, the whole set and forms are gone as well so for now, I'll just stick with the table names as they are. Renaming a field is no problem as Alpha automatically carries that through, even if it's a linking field.

Perhaps the folks at Alpha will create a way to rename tables w/o having to 'upset' the set structure.

Thanks for your suggestions. And, thank you to Cal for his suggestion.

kenn

[jim ketner]

RE: Change Table Name

CAL
What kind of problems have you had using blanks in tables names? I have a ton of them so I might not sleep to good tonight.

[forskare]

RE: Change Table Name

Cal's not the only one. I don't recal what the problems were but my guess is that it had to do with not being able to find the table, etc. Tom Cone has also warned about not using the space. I consider these guys to be extremely knowledgeable. I may not understand everything the suggest but I trust their judgment.

kenn