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From: "David G. Johnston" <david.g.johnston@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:04:28 -0700
Message-ID: <CAKFQuwabxFyFQob=RfKOV3upjxwomAzmGzSouN-h2ypuXz+dZg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: docs: clarify ALTER TABLE behavior on partitioned tables
To: Chao Li <li.evan.chao@gmail.com>
Cc: Postgres hackers <pgsql-hackers@lists.postgresql.org>, 
	Amit Kapila <amit.kapila16@gmail.com>
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On Sunday, January 11, 2026, Chao Li <li.evan.chao@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> The current behavior (not inherit) is questionable, we will need separate
> discussions for each of them to clarify if that=E2=80=99s intended or =E2=
=80=9Cbugs=E2=80=9D. So,
> how about only retain the =E2=80=9Cnewly created=E2=80=9D material for th=
ese sub-commands
> and remove from the rests? In this case, I don=E2=80=99t think we need to=
 update
> 5.12.
>
> What I am thinking is that, we will eventually remove the =E2=80=9Cnewly =
created=E2=80=9D
> material from these sub-commands, because next step we are going to fix t=
he
> behavior on them one by one. Maybe some of them are designed to not
> =E2=80=9Cinherit the parent=E2=80=99s setting=E2=80=9D, then we can add a=
 paragraph/section to 5.12
> to describe that.
>

I=E2=80=99m against having material in the alter table command that doesn=
=E2=80=99t
describe the effects of executing alter table.  I=E2=80=99d consider possib=
ly
pointing out if the cascade behavior of alter table doesn=E2=80=99t match u=
p with
the inherit behavior of create table.  There doesn=E2=80=99t seem to be any=
 such
discrepancies though.  I also have my doubts that any of this behavior is
going to change.  Better to behave as if it won=E2=80=99t.

David J.

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On Sunday, January 11, 2026, Chao Li &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:li.evan.chao@gma=
il.com">li.evan.chao@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail=
_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:=
1ex"><br>
The current behavior (not inherit) is questionable, we will need separate d=
iscussions for each of them to clarify if that=E2=80=99s intended or =E2=80=
=9Cbugs=E2=80=9D. So, how about only retain the =E2=80=9Cnewly created=E2=
=80=9D material for these sub-commands and remove from the rests? In this c=
ase, I don=E2=80=99t think we need to update 5.12.=C2=A0 <br>
<br>What I am thinking is that, we will eventually remove the =E2=80=9Cnewl=
y created=E2=80=9D material from these sub-commands, because next step we a=
re going to fix the behavior on them one by one. Maybe some of them are des=
igned to not =E2=80=9Cinherit the parent=E2=80=99s setting=E2=80=9D, then w=
e can add a paragraph/section to 5.12 to describe that.<br>
</blockquote><div><br></div><div>I=E2=80=99m against having material in the=
 alter table command that doesn=E2=80=99t describe the effects of executing=
 alter table.=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99d consider possibly pointing out if the casca=
de behavior of alter table doesn=E2=80=99t match up with the inherit behavi=
or of create table.=C2=A0 There doesn=E2=80=99t seem to be any such discrep=
ancies though.=C2=A0 I also have my doubts that any of this behavior is goi=
ng to change.=C2=A0 Better to behave as if it won=E2=80=99t.</div><div><br>=
</div><div>David J.</div><div><br></div>

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