Oracle SQL: the Essential Reference

2.1. SQL DDL Statements by Task

Often one of the most frustrating and time-consuming aspects of working with an Oracle database is simply finding the proper statement to accomplish a particular task. Table 2-1 lists most common data definition tasks, along with the appropriate SQL statements used to accomplish each task. You will find the detailed syntax of each statement later in this chapter.

Table 2-1. Common DDL Tasks and Their Corresponding SQL Statements

If you want to	Use this statement
Add a column/integrity constraint to a table	ALTER TABLE
Add a comment about a table, view, snapshot, or column into the data dictionary	COMMENT
Add a resource limit from an existing profile	ALTER PROFILE
Add datafiles to an existing tablespace	ALTER TABLESPACE
Add/rename data files	ALTER TABLESPACE
Allocate an extent for a cluster	ALTER CLUSTER
Allocate an extent for the table	ALTER TABLE
Allow/disallow access to a table	GRANT/REVOKE ROLE
Allow/disallow writing to a table	ALTER TABLE
Allow/disallow writing to a tablespace	ALTER TABLESPACE
Associate a method of statistics computation with database objects	ASSOCIATE STATISTICS
Audit a specific schema object	AUDIT
Audit specific SQL statements	AUDIT
Back up the current control file	ALTER DATABASE
Begin/end a backup by putting a tablespace in backup or normal mode	ALTER TABLESPACE
Bring a rollback segment online/offline	ALTER ROLLBACK SEGMENT
Change a resource limit from an existing profile	ALTER PROFILE
Change a user's default role	ALTER ...