- <refentry id="SQL-DROPTABLE">
- <refmeta>
- <refentrytitle>
- DROP TABLE
- </refentrytitle>
- <refmiscinfo>SQL - Language Statements</refmiscinfo>
- </refmeta>
- <refnamediv>
- <refname>
- DROP TABLE
- </refname>
- <refpurpose>
- Removes existing tables from a database
- </refpurpose>
- </refnamediv>
- <refsynopsisdiv>
- <refsynopsisdivinfo>
- <date>1998-09-22</date>
- </refsynopsisdivinfo>
- <synopsis>
- DROP TABLE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> [, ...]
- </synopsis>
- <refsect2 id="R2-SQL-DROPTABLE-1">
- <refsect2info>
- <date>1998-09-22</date>
- </refsect2info>
- <title>
- Inputs
- </title>
- <para>
- <variablelist>
- <varlistentry>
- <term><replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable></term>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- The name of an existing table or view to drop.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </varlistentry>
- </variablelist>
- </para>
- </refsect2>
- <refsect2 id="R2-SQL-DROPTABLE-2">
- <refsect2info>
- <date>1998-09-22</date>
- </refsect2info>
- <title>
- Outputs
- </title>
- <para>
- <variablelist>
- <varlistentry>
- <term><computeroutput>
- DROP
- </computeroutput></term>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- The message returned if the command completes successfully.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </varlistentry>
- <varlistentry>
- <term><computeroutput>
- ERROR Relation "<replaceable class="parameter">name</replaceable>" Does Not Exist!
- </computeroutput></term>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- If the specified table or view does not exist in the database.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </varlistentry>
- </variablelist>
- </para>
- </refsect2>
- </refsynopsisdiv>
- <refsect1 id="R1-SQL-DROPTABLE-1">
- <refsect1info>
- <date>1998-09-22</date>
- </refsect1info>
- <title>
- Description
- </title>
- <para>
- <command>DROP TABLE</command> removes tables and views from the database.
- Only its owner may destroy a table or view. A table
- may be emptied of rows, but not destroyed, by using <command>DELETE</command>.
- </para>
- <para>
- If a table being destroyed has secondary indexes on it,
- they will be removed first. The removal of just a
- secondary index will not affect the contents of the underlying table.
- </para>
- <refsect2 id="R2-SQL-DROPTABLE-3">
- <refsect2info>
- <date>1998-09-22</date>
- </refsect2info>
- <title>
- Notes
- </title>
- <para>
- Refer to <command>CREATE TABLE</command> and
- <command>ALTER TABLE</command> for information on
- how to create or modify tables.
- </para>
- </refsect2>
- </refsect1>
- <refsect1 id="R1-SQL-DROPTABLE-2">
- <title>
- Usage
- </title>
- <para>
- To destroy two tables, <literal>films</literal> and
- <command>distributors</command>:
- <programlisting>
- DROP TABLE films, distributors;
- </programlisting>
- </para>
- </refsect1>
- <refsect1 id="R1-SQL-DROPTABLE-3">
- <title>
- Compatibility
- </title>
- <para>
- </para>
- <refsect2 id="R2-SQL-DROPTABLE-4">
- <refsect2info>
- <date>1998-09-22</date>
- </refsect2info>
- <title>
- SQL92
- </title>
- <para>
- SQL92 specifies some additional capabilities for DROP TABLE:
- </para>
- <synopsis>
- DROP TABLE <replaceable class="parameter">table</replaceable> { RESTRICT | CASCADE }
- </synopsis>
- <variablelist>
- <varlistentry>
- <term>RESTRICT</term>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Ensures that only a table with no dependent views or
- integrity constraints can be destroyed.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </varlistentry>
- <varlistentry>
- <term>CASCADE</term>
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Any referencing views or integrity constraints
- will also be dropped.
- </para>
- </listitem>
- </varlistentry>
- </variablelist>
- <tip>
- <para>
- At present, to remove a referenced view you must drop
- it explicitly.
- </para>
- </tip>
- </refsect2>
- </refsect1>
- </refentry>
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