HP System Dictionary/XL SDMAIN Reference Manual (32256-90001)

4-70
DELETE ATTRIBUTE
Deletes an attribute.
Syntax
DEL[ETE] A[TTRIBUTE] attribute-name
[;PURGE]
.
Parameters
attribute-name Name of the attribute to be deleted.
PURGE If you specify this keyword and any entity types or relationship types that are associ-
ated with the specified attribute exist, then the association between the attribute and
the entity type or relationship type is also purged. If you do not specify PURGE, and
the attribute is associated with an entity type or relationship type, the operation fails.
Description
When an attribute is deleted, the attribute values are deleted from all entities and relationships that
previously had the attributes associated to them.
Open Mode: Customization
Scope: DA scope or the attribute's owner scope
WARNING When a version is in archival status, it is considered frozen, protecting its data
from modification. However, archival status does not freeze the dictionary struc-
ture. Therefore, if the dictionary structure is changed, the structure of archival
versions is also changed. In the case of additions to the dictionary structure, no se-
rious problems will result. However, deletions from the dictionary structure may
be detrimental to archival versions. Therefore, this should be considered when
making deletions that affect dictionary structure.
Example
The following example deletes the attribute time-created. Because the keyword PURGE is not specified,
the operation fails if time-created is associated with any entity types or relationship types.
>DELETE ATTRIBUTE time-created.
>
DELETE DOMAIN
Deletes a domain, including all entities and relationships that belong to that domain.
Syntax
DEL[ETE] D[OMAIN] domain-name .
Parameters
domain-name Name of the domain to be deleted.