default constraint updating existing rows

Hi,

We are adding a column with default constraint and we only want it to apply to new rows but it is updating existing rows even though column allows null. I am using the following test:

SQL> create table test (a int);

Table created.

SQL> insert into test values(1);

1 row created.

SQL> insert into test values(2);

1 row created.

SQL> alter table test add b int default 3;

Table altered.

SQL> select * from test;

         A B
---------- ----------

         1          3
         2          3

SQL> desc test
 Name                                      Null?    Type
 ----------------------------------------- -------- --------------

 A                                                  NUMBER(38)
 B                                                  NUMBER(38)

Is there any way to add new column with default constraint without updating existing rows?

Thanks
--Harvinder

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http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l Received on Tue Dec 16 2008 - 12:22:15 CST