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Status Not under consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Db2 for i
Created by Guest
Created on Oct 29, 2020

RELATED IDEAS

Prevent ALTER TABLE when field size expanded and there is a field procedure

See this idea on ideas.ibm.com

When a field procedure is assigned to a field, in our case for purposes of encrypting the field data, and an ALTER TABLE is allowed to execute against the field to expand the field size, then data corruption occurs.


Use Case:

Example
Create table myTable
(myID character(10),
myType character(2))

Apply field procedure.

Alter table myTable
alter column myType set data type character(3)

Since the field procedure is not invoked it doesn't have an opportunity to record the field attributes for myType as character(3). The field procedure continues to process the data as if it only contained 2 characters. The effect of this is any data that is 3 characters long is truncated to 2 characters. Attempting to retrieve the actual size of the field on each execution of the field procedure would resolve the issue, but has issues as well. A user must have a level of authority to retrieve the file field information and is additional overhead to field procedure processing.


Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Apr 13, 2021

    The example in IBM Documentation that was the source of the confusion has been reworked. The new version can be found at this link:
    https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.4?topic=data-example-field-procedure-program-that-masks

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Mar 11, 2021

    After a discussion with the customer, it turns out that the FIELDPROC was not written correctly. The database processing of the ALTER TABLE handles the length change properly, so there is nothing to be enhanced. Therefore, this RFE is being declined.

    An example in Knowledge Center that uses one of the field procedure parameters in a misleading way might have been the source of confusion in the customer's field procedure. The example is being modified to be clearer.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Nov 25, 2020

    IBM has received the requirement and is evaluating it. IBM will provide a response after evaluation is complete.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Nov 17, 2020

    The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a high priority requirement that is important to be addressed. Since there is potential for data loss if there is a field proc over the column being changed, a solution is required.

    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community, and has therefore reviewed your RFE.

    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac

    For more details about CAAC's role with RFEs, see http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/Blogs/i-Can/May-2017/COMMON-Americas-Advisory-Council-%28CAAC%29-and-RFEs/

    Nancy Uthke-Schmucki - CAAC Program Manager

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