ALTER INDEXTYPE

Purpose

Use the ALTER INDEXTYPE statement to add or drop an operator of the indextype or to modify the implementation type or change the properties of the indextype.

Prerequisites

The indextype must be in your own schema or you must have the ALTER ANY INDEXTYPE system privilege.

To add a new operator, you must have the EXECUTE object privilege on the operator.

To change the implementation type, you must have the EXECUTE object privilege on the new implementation type.

Syntax

alter_indextype::=

Description of the illustration alter_indextype.gif

(using_type_clause::=)

using_type_clause::=

Description of the illustration using_type_clause.gif

(array_DML_clause ::=)

array_DML_clause ::=

Description of the illustration array_DML_clause.gif

Semantics

schema

Specify the name of the schema in which the indextype resides. If you omit schema, Oracle Database assumes the indextype is in your own schema.

indextype

Specify the name of the indextype to be modified.

ADD | DROP

Use the ADD or DROP clause to add or drop an operator.

No special privilege needed to drop.

• For schema, specify the schema containing the operator. If you omit schema, then Oracle assumes the operator is in your own schema.

• For operator, specify the name of the operator supported by the indextype.

  All the operators listed in this clause must be valid operators.

• For parameter_type, list the types of parameters to the operator.

using_type_clause

The USING clause lets you specify a new type to provide the implementation for the indextype.

array_DML_clause

Use this clause to modify the indextype to support the array interface for the ODCIIndexInsert method.

type and varray_type

If the datatype of the column to be indexed is a user-defined object type, then you must specify this clause to identify the varray varray_type that Oracle should use to hold column values of type. If the indextype supports a list of types, then you can specify a corresponding list of varray types. If you omit schema for either type or varray_type, then Oracle assumes the type is in your own schema.

If the datatype of the column to be indexed is a built-in system type, then any varray type specified for the indextype takes precedence over the ODCI types defined by the system.

COMPILE

Use this clause to recompile the indextype explicitly. This clause is required only after some upgrade operations, because Oracle Database normally recompiles the indextype automatically.

Examples

Altering an Indextype: Example

The following example adds another operator binding to the position_indextype indextype created in "Creating an Indextype: Example". position_indextype can now support a new operator lob_contains with the bindings (CLOB, CLOB):

ALTER INDEXTYPE position_indextype
   ADD lob_contains(CLOB, CLOB);