Deletes the specified table definition.

    If you use the PATHNAME qualifier when you attach to the
    database, the DROP TABLE statement also deletes the table
    definition from the repository.

1  –  Environment

    You can use the DROP TABLE statement:

    o  In interactive SQL

    o  Embedded in host language programs to be precompiled

    o  As part of a procedure in an SQL module

    o  In dynamic SQL as a statement to be dynamically executed

2  –  Format

  DROP TABLE <table-name> -+-+----------------+-+->
                           | +-> CASCADE   ---+ |
                           | +-> RESTRICT  ---+ |
                           | +-> IF EXISTS ---+ |
                           +----------<---------+

3  –  Arguments

3.1  –  CASCADE

    Specifies that you want SQL to delete all other definitions
    (constraints, indexes, modules, storage maps, triggers, and
    views) that refer to the named table and then delete that
    table definition. This is known as a cascading delete. For
    stored routines or triggers with a routine or language-semantic
    dependency, SQL also marks the affected routines and triggers as
    invalid.

3.2  –  IF_EXISTS

    Prevents SQL command language from displaying error messages if
    the referenced object does not exist in the database.

3.3  –  RESTRICT

    Specifies that you want SQL to delete only the named table
    definition. If constraints, modules, triggers, or views are
    defined that refer to the named table, SQL does not delete the
    table. If there are indexes or storage maps that refer to the
    named table, SQL deletes the table and storage map and does not
    issue an error.

3.4  –  table-name

    Specifies the name of the table definition you want to delete.

4  –  Examples

    Example 1: Deleting a table from an attached database

    SQL> ATTACH 'ALIAS PERS FILENAME personnel';
    SQL> DROP TABLE PERS.DEGREES;
    SQL> COMMIT;

    Example 2: Deleting a table and definitions that reference it
    from the default database

    SQL> ATTACH 'FILENAME corporate_data';
    SQL> DROP TABLE ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.EMPLOYEES CASCADE;
    View ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.REVIEW_DATE is also being dropped.
    View ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.CURRENT_INFO is also being dropped.
    View ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.CURRENT_SALARY is also being dropped.
    View ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.CURRENT_JOB is also being dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.RECRUITING.DEGREES_FOREIGN2 is also being dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.EMPLOYEES_PRIMARY_EMPLOYEE_ID is also
    being dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.EMP_SEX_VALUES is also being dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.HOURLY_HISTORY_FOREIGN1 is also being
    dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.JOB_HISTORY_FOREIGN1 is also being
    dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.RECRUITING.RESUMES_FOREIGN2 is also being dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.SALARY_HISTORY_FOREIGN1 is also being
    dropped.
    Constraint ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.STATUS_CODE_VALUES is also being dropped.
    Index ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.EMP_LAST_NAME is also being dropped.
    Index ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.EMP_EMPLOYEE_ID is also being dropped.
    Trigger ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.EMPLOYEE_ID_CASCADE_DELETE is also being
    dropped.
    Trigger ADMINISTRATION.PERSONNEL.STATUS_CODE_CASCADE_UPDATE is also being
    dropped.