[DUG] Runtime user defined fields

[Steve Peacocke]

But to be fair,

#1 - easily confined to boundaries but it should take a very determined hunger to outgrow the number of columns. 

#2 - as the structure will grow anyway (user defined lookups etc) I'll be looking at maintenance will need to be done through SQL anyway. 

Reporting (user-defined) may be simpler with Alter Table as even tools like Crystal will be able to understand the structure. 

However there may be other advantages to the "Rohit" method (thanks for donating your name to this process Rohit). The Audit and Active fields may be some. For example I can simply make a field inactive from a certain date but the data is still there. Mind you, I can do that from another table too. 

Thanks everyone. 

Steve 

On 6/03/2013, at 3:43 PM, "russell" <russell at belding.co.nz> wrote:

> Consider reasons for not allowing users to add fields to tables using "alter
> table".
> 1. The max number of columns in a table is say N whereas the max number of
> rows in a column is say 2**N. Each DB kind will have its limits.  Rohit's
> method gives you room to accommodate a user with a hunger for new fields.
> 2. (Already mentioned) In your user land all users will have the same
> architecture in their DB file. (no unnecessary maintenance problems?)
> 
> R
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: delphi-bounces at listserver.123.net.nz
> [mailto:delphi-bounces at listserver.123.net.nz] On Behalf Of Steve Peacocke
> Sent: Wednesday, 6 March 2013 3:23 p.m.
> To: NZ Borland Developers Group - Delphi List
> Subject: Re: [DUG] Runtime user defined fields
> 
> Mind you - Rohit's implementation does also have the advantage of adding
> "Active", and dates to each new field. Quite useful even considering that
> I'll also have an Audit table.
> 
> Damn, where's that definition of "simple". 
> 
> Steve 
> 
> On 6/03/2013, at 1:36 PM, Leigh Wanstead <leigh.wanstead at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Steve,
>> 
>> I like Rohit's suggestion.
>> 
>> There is another way to add a blob field and using format is xml to 
>> contain all extra fields.
>> 
>> Regards
>> Leigh
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