ALTER TABLE

Syntax

ALTER TABLE table_name alterAction [, ...] [IF bool_expr]

alterAction:
      DROP [FAMILY] family_name
    | ADD [FAMILY] family_description
    | ALTER [FAMILY] family_name TO family_description

Description

Alter named table as specified in alter_action (requires disabling the table first). See CREATE TABLE for family_description syntax. HBase performs the request asynchronously.

Example

        HConnection conn = HConnectionManager.newConnection();

        // Drop family family1
        conn.execute("ALTER TABLE foo DROP FAMILY family1, DROP FAMILY family2");

        // Add family family4
        conn.execute("ALTER TABLE foo ADD FAMILY family4 (MAX_VERSIONS: 10), ADD FAMILY family6()");

        // Rename family family4 to family5
        conn.execute("ALTER TABLE foo ALTER FAMILY family4 TO family5 (MAX_VERSIONS: 10)");