Using WinMySQL Professional

Add column

Only accessible when connected and when a table is active, the «Table management>Add column» submenu allows a table alteration with a column insertion. The user who wants to perform this operation must have, at least the «Can ALTER» privilege. WinMySQL Professional disables this menu when the active database is «mysql» to prevent any table alteration which may lead to an unrecoverable crash of the MySQL® server.

How to add a column ?

To add a column, invoke the «Table management>Add column» submenu by clicking on it or by using the «Ctrl-F3» shortcut. Then, the «column setup» window appears. This window is very similar with the center part of the «Table structure» screen of the «File>New MySQL® table» submenu and it works quite in the same way, excepted the contextual menu which permits a quick access to columns types is disabled here.

• First, enter a column name (which doesn't already exists in the current table)

• Select the column type in the type combo box list.

• If the column type requires a format, select it with the enabled spin fields «Num» and «Dec» using the «Up» and «Down» arrows or entering the wanted value, directly in the field.

• If the «type options» combo box suggests options, you may select in the list. Anyway, you may enter what you want in the combo box field (this feature allows a compatibility with future releases of MySQL® server)

• If the selected type is an «enum» or a «set», manage the set members with the «Enum or Set type values» groupbox : enter a value in the blank field, click on the «Add value button», etc ... If you already have saved a *.set file or you want to write it with a plain text editor, you may load it clicking on the «Load set» button. At the opposite, you can save the current set clicking on the «Save set» button.

• If you want to specify the column position in the table, you may select a suggestion in the «Column options» combo box list. You also may enter what you want (this feature allows a compatibility with future releases of MySQL® server)

• Then, click on the «Validate» button to complete the procedure (or click on the «Quit» button to cancel)