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Subject: Re: docs: clarify ALTER TABLE behavior on partitioned tables
From: Chao Li <li.evan.chao@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <CAKFQuwa9OEJ_sygQi3fNKxzQz7M6V7-zu=4fL0rquXCjudUoyw@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:13:14 +0800
Cc: Postgres hackers <pgsql-hackers@lists.postgresql.org>,
 Zsolt Parragi <zsolt.parragi@percona.com>,
 Amit Kapila <amit.kapila16@gmail.com>
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To: "David G. Johnston" <david.g.johnston@gmail.com>
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> On Jan 26, 2026, at 12:36, David G. Johnston =
<david.g.johnston@gmail.com> wrote:
>=20
> On Sunday, January 25, 2026, Chao Li <li.evan.chao@gmail.com> wrote:
>=20
> >      <para>
> >       When applied to a partitioned table, partition columns and =
constraints
> >       are implicitly renamed.
> >       Specifying <literal>ONLY</literal> is not allowed, and this =
command
> >       cannot be used on individual partitions.
> >      </para>
>=20
> But for "Specifying <literal>ONLY</literal> is not allowed, and this =
command, cannot be used on individual partitions.=E2=80=9D, that =
doesn=E2=80=99t seem correct. See my test:
> ```
> evantest=3D# create table root (i int, j int) partition by list(i);
> CREATE TABLE
> evantest=3D# create table p1 partition of root for values in (1);
> CREATE TABLE
> evantest=3D# alter table p1 rename to pp1; <=3D=3D Rename a partition =
is allowed.
> ALTER TABLE
> evantest=3D# alter table only pp1 rename to p1; <=3D=3D ONLY can be =
used, but just no effect
> ALTER TABLE
> ```
>=20
> I was mentally restricting the second sentence about ONLY to the =
column and constraints renaming action, which are called out by the =
first sentence.  It makes little sense to talk about renaming the table, =
parent or child, here in the context of ONLY.  It goes without mention =
that table renaming never cascades.  Only is implied for that action, =
even if only should just be considered valid on a parent in any case.
>=20
> But I=E2=80=99d accept a sentence like: =E2=80=9CTable renames always =
only apply to the named table.=E2=80=9D Added to that paragraph; it=E2=80=99=
s a convoluted command.
>=20
> David J.
>=20

How about this:
```
<para>
 When applied to a partitioned table to rename columns or constraints,
 the corresponding partition columns and constraints are renamed
 implicitly. <literal>ONLY</literal> is not allowed, and the command
 cannot be used on individual partitions. When the rename target is the
 table name, only the named table is renamed.
</para>
```

Best regards,
--
Chao Li (Evan)
HighGo Software Co., Ltd.
https://www.highgo.com/