Re: Server does not reply to Alter Table

Patrick Dunford <dunfordsoft@clear.net.nz> writes:
> Using pgsql 7.1.3 I have found that on occasions, there is no reply to an
> SQL statement like

> ALTER TABLE x
>     ADD COLUMN y z

You sure it's not just waiting for some other transaction to give up a
lock on the table?  ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN should be essentially
instantaneous, since it doesn't touch the table data.  But it needs to
get exclusive lock on the table first.

            regards, tom lane