SQL/MX 2.x Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+)
SQL/MX Statements
HP NonStop SQL/MX Reference Manual—523725-004
2-17
Syntax Description of ALTER TABLE
update rule specifies what referential action is taken when 
column-list in referenced-table is updated. If no ON UPDATE 
clause is specified, a default of ON UPDATE NO ACTION is assumed.
delete rule specifies what referential action is taken when a 
row in referenced-table is deleted. If no ON DELETE clause is 
specified, a default of ON DELETE NO ACTION is assumed. 
referential action
RESTRICT referential action means that the referential check is 
made for each row. An error is raised when the referential constraint is 
violated.
ANSI SQL-99 standard: NO ACTION referential action means that 
the referential check is made at the end of the SQL statement. An error is 
raised when the referential constraint is violated.
NonStop SQL/MX does not support NO ACTION referential action in the 
way it is specified by ANSI SQL-99. However, you can change NO 
ACTION's behavior to be the same as RESTRICT by setting an 
appropriate value for the Control Query Default 
REF_CONSTRAINT_NO_ACTION_LIKE_RESTRICT. Options for this 
attribute are:
A table can have an unlimited number of referential constraints, and you can 
specify the same foreign key in more than one referential constraint, but you 
must define each referential constraint separately.
DROP CONSTRAINT constraint [RESTRICT | CASCADE]
drops a constraint from the table. The constraint name constraint must be 
specified. If you did not specify a name when you created the constraint or do not 
know the constraint name, you can use SHOWDDL to display it.
A referential constraint is dependent on its referenced column list. This column list 
is associated with a UNIQUE or PRIMARY KEY constraint. When a UNIQUE or 
PRIMARY KEY constraint is dropped, NonStop SQL/MX checks if any referential 
constraints are dependent on the constraint. 
If you specify RESTRICT and referential constraints are dependent on the 
constraint, you cannot drop the constraint. 
OFF SQL issues an error.
SYSTEM SQL issues warning 1302, indicating that it will behave like 
RESTRICT. The default is SYSTEM. 
ON Makes NO ACTION behave like RESTRICT, without warnings or 
errors.










