Re: alter table is taking a long time - Mailing list pgsql-general

On Sat, Nov 07, 2009 at 10:48:14AM +0200, Johan Nel wrote:
> update pg_attribute set attlen = 4 + <newlength>
> where attname = 'yourcolumnname'
>
> That will take only a couple of milliseconds to do.

It will also update *every* column with that name.  Something involving
the "attrelid" would be much safer.  I'd use something like:

  update pg_attribute set attlen = 4 + <newlength>
  where attrelid = regclass 'your table name'
    and attname  = 'yourcolumnname';

--
  Sam  http://samason.me.uk/