You can execute the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement to create a table with the same schema as the table obtained by executing the specified SELECT statement. This topic describes how to execute the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement.

Limits

  • In Hologres V0.9 and earlier, you can execute the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement to copy only table schemas, but not table properties such as the primary key and index. You can view the version of a Hologres instance on the instance details page in the Hologres console.
  • In Hologres V0.10 and later, you can execute the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement to copy both table schemas and table properties such as the primary key and index. To copy table properties from another table when you create a table, you must use the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement together with the SELECT * FROM TABLE statement. In addition, you must execute the following statement to allow the operation of copying table properties:
    set hg_experimental_enable_create_table_like_properties=true;
  • The CREATE TABLE LIKE statement does not synchronize data from the source table to the created table.
  • If you specify columns in the SELECT statement, you must specify a unique alias for each column. If you specify the same alias for different columns, the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement creates multiple columns with the same name for the table. As a result, an error message is returned. For example, an error message is returned if you use the following code:
    CALL hg_create_table_like('new_table', 'select *, 1 as c, ''a'' as c from src_table');
ERROR:  column "c" specified more than once
CONTEXT:  SQL statement "create table new_table (
"a"     integer,
"b"     text,
"c"     integer,
"c"     text
);"
PL/pgSQL function hg_create_table_like(text,text) line 22 at EXECUTE

Create a standard table

  1. Syntax

    The CREATE TABLE LIKE statement uses the following syntax to create a standard table in Hologres: 

    -- Create a standard table by copying the schema, but not the properties, of another table.
CALL hg_create_table_like('new_table_name', 'select_query');

-- Create a standard table by copying both the schema and properties of another table.
set hg_experimental_enable_create_table_like_properties=true; -- Specify whether to allow the operation of copying table properties. The parameter setting applies only to the current session.
CALL hg_create_table_like('new_table_name', 'select * from old_table_name');
    Note After you call the hg_create_table_like() function, Hologres creates a table with the same schema as the table that is obtained by executing the SQL statement specified by the select_query parameter. The created table is named new_table_name.
  2. Parameters
    • new_table_name: the name of the table to be created. You must set this parameter to a fixed string but not a string of variables or a function that is used to generate a table name. You cannot create a foreign table by executing the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement.
    • select_query: the SQL statement that is used to query data. If you set the select_query parameter to select * from tablename, the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement automatically copies all properties of the source table, including the primary key and index. If the query statement contains a lot of single quotation marks (' '), we recommend that you escape the query statement in the format of $$query_sql$$. This method can help simplify operations. The following sample code is for your reference:
      CALL HG_CREATE_TABLE_LIKE ('table_name', $$query_sql$$ [, 'partition_clause'])
      Note HoloWeb does not support query statements escaped in the format of $$query_sql$$. We recommend that you execute such statements by using development tools such as clients and Java Database Connectivity (JDBC).
    • old_table_name: the name of the table to be copied.
  3. Examples
    For example, the source table is created in Hologres by executing the following statements:
    BEGIN;
CREATE TABLE public.src_table (
 "a" int8 NOT NULL,
 "b" text NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (a)
);
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'orientation', 'column');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'bitmap_columns', 'b');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'dictionary_encoding_columns', 'b:auto');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'time_to_live_in_seconds', '3153600000');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'distribution_key', 'a');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'storage_format', 'segment');
COMMIT;
    You can execute the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement by using one of the following methods to create a standard table in Hologres based on the source table:
    • To create a table by copying both the schema and properties of the source table, execute the following statements: 
      -- Create a table by copying both the schema and properties of the source table.
set hg_experimental_enable_create_table_like_properties=true;
CALL hg_create_table_like('new_table', 'select * from src_table');
    • To create a table by adding a column to the schema of the source table, execute the following statement: 
      -- Create a table by adding Column c to the schema of the source table. Column c has the same properties as Column b.
CALL hg_create_table_like('holo_table_1', $$select *, "b" as c from src_table$$);

Create a partitioned table

  1. Syntax

    The CREATE TABLE LIKE statement uses the following syntax to create a partitioned table in Hologres: 

    -- Create a partitioned table by copying the schema, but not the properties, of another table.
CALL hg_create_table_like('new_table_name', 'select_query', 'partition_clause');
  2. Parameters
    • new_table_name: the name of the table to be created. You must set this parameter to a fixed string but not a string of variables or a function that is used to generate a table name. You cannot create a foreign table by executing the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement.
    • select_query: the SQL statement that is used to query data. If you set the select_query parameter to select * from tablename, the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement automatically copies all properties of the source table, including the primary key and index. If the query statement contains a lot of single quotation marks (' '), we recommend that you escape the query statement in the format of $$query_sql$$. This method can help simplify operations. The following sample code is for your reference:
      CALL HG_CREATE_TABLE_LIKE ('table_name', $$query_sql$$ [, 'partition_clause'])
      Note HoloWeb does not support query statements escaped in the format of $$query_sql$$. We recommend that you execute such statements by using development tools such as clients and JDBC.
    • partition_clause: the clause that is used to partition the table. This clause specifies the partition key. Hologres does not automatically create child partitioned tables. Therefore, you must manually create them.
  3. Examples
    For example, the source table is created in Hologres by executing the following statements:
    BEGIN;
CREATE TABLE public.src_table (
 "a" int8 NOT NULL,
 "b" text NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (a)
);
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'orientation', 'column');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'bitmap_columns', 'b');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'dictionary_encoding_columns', 'b:auto');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'time_to_live_in_seconds', '3153600000');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'distribution_key', 'a');
CALL SET_TABLE_PROPERTY('public.src_table', 'storage_format', 'segment');
COMMIT;
    You can execute the CREATE TABLE LIKE statement by using one of the following methods to create a partitioned table in Hologres based on the source table:
    • To create a partitioned table, execute the following statement: 
      -- Create a partitioned table by adding Column ds to the schema of the source table. Set Column ds as the partition key.
CALL hg_create_table_like('new_table', $$select *, ''b'' as ds from src_table$$, 'partition by list(ds)');
    • To create child partitioned tables for a partitioned table, execute the following statements: 
      create table new_table_child_20201213 partition of new_table for values in('20201213');-- Specify 20201213 as a partition key value.
create table new_table_child_20201214 partition of new_table for values in('20201214');-- Specify 20201214 as a partition key value.

Copy a table in the HoloWeb console

You can use HoloWeb to copy a table in a visualized way, without the need to write SQL statements. To do so, perform the following steps:

  1. Log on to the HoloWeb console. For more information, see HoloWeb quick start.
  2. In the top navigation bar of the HoloWeb console, choose Metadata Management.
  3. On the Metadata Management tab, find the left-side Instances Connected list. Right-click the table that you want to copy and select Replicate Table Schema.
  4. On the Replicate Table Schema tab, set the parameters as required. Copy the table schema
    Section Parameter Description
    Destination Location Table name The name of the destination table. You can customize the table name. Default value: Source table name_copy.
    Description The description of the destination table. This parameter is optional.
    Schema The name of the schema in which the destination table resides. Default value: public.
    Advanced Settings Replicate Properties of Source Table Specifies whether to copy the properties of the source table to the destination table.
    Note You can copy the properties of the source table only in Hologres V0.10 and later. If the version of your Hologres instance is earlier than V0.10, set this parameter to No or update the instance.
  5. Click Submit in the upper-right corner.