Teradata supports two types of temporary tables, global and volatile. This SQL finds all the tables that match the criteria, in this case the name of the user, and creates the commands that you'd need to use to DROP them. This answer seems to be the only route: Code the "IF EXISTS" part manually. Volatile Temporary Tables: Below are the characteristics of Volatile Temporary Tables. You can drop a table so that the table will be no longer in your database/workspace. In the Teradata, tables support the following types of tables, such as: Permanent Table: This is the default table, and it contains data inserted by the user and permanently stores the data. Can do collect statistics. Main Source: Thread on "Delete or Drop a table if it already exists" in the Teradata Community Credit for normal table code: Dieter(dnoeth)/Teradata Community Credit for volatile table SP: Thorkil/Teradata Community The syntax for Teradata DROP TABLE is as follows. In this lesson, learn about Volatile Tables and Global Temporary Tables! Build innovative solutions for the Teradata Vantage Platform, the most powerful analytical platform on the planet. Volatile tables are automatically removed when a session is terminated or a DROP TABLE statement is executed. Since I do not have access to create tables in teradata, I am creating volatile table and appending this dataset to volatile table but the problem is, it is taking too long to load/append this dataset to the volatile table. TABLE: Base table definition and all table rows. Table Types. The tool then generates the appropriate alter table drop column SQL command for dropping the column from the table. You might ask your DBA to install following SP, which drops any kind of table (including Volatile). You can easily manipulate or mesh data within the Teradata session and export results. Any ideas about the possibility to execute BTEQ commands from TERADA SQL via SAS? Sources and credits are given appropaitely. I use IF EXISTS to often drop a #table after it's been used in a sequence, e.g. Teradata Volatile tables act like a normal Teradata table but volatile in nature. Volatile Tables are designed for performance improvement. It’s all about statistics. The following list details the general characteristics of volatile tables. Syntax: ALTER TABLE tbl_name DROP column_name Example: /* Drop a column in teradata */ ALTER TABLE tbl_employee DROP EmpNo Teradata Components. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Teradata Volatile Tables only exist in the creating session (for example, a session in the SQL Assistant). Need help exporting a Volatile Table from Teradata to a Flat File or SQL Server destination. What special ? There is no Describe Table command available in Teradata. Access Featured developer documentation, forum topics and more. Teradata gives VOLATILE option with CREATE TABLE syntax. Can an ALTER TABLE be … Due to a Teradata limitation, FastLoad and FastExport do not support use of temporary tables at this time. Why not ask Teradata if the table exists and then have SAS conditionally run the drop? Table Types. 1. I can successfully CREATE a multiset volatile table, but when I try to import a text table using an INSERT statement, I am told the volatile table doesn’t exist. In the Teradata, tables support the following types of tables, such as: Permanent Table: This is the default table, and it contains data inserted by the user and permanently stores the data. If you create table with VOLATILE option, the life of the table will be only for the current session. Posted by 1 year ago. 3.Derived tables. An instance an be dropped manually any time during a session with DROP TEMPORARY TABLE; Materialized contents are not shareable with other sessions; A very large number of global tables can prolong logoff, because materialized global tables are dropped automatically at session end. Once a table is dropped, then the table cannot be recovered. You can run the following types of queries using the standard Teradata SQL Assistant: CREATE VOLATILE TABLE NewTable (column1 DEC(18,0), column2 DEC(18,0)) Were senior officals who outran their executioners pardoned in Ottoman Empire? There are many scenarios where it is required to delete data either directly from a table or using another table. DELETE DATABASE/USER (does not drop volatile tables) Global Temporary Tables: Below are the characteristics of Global Temporary Tables. Can do collect statistics. Occupy space in users SPOOL allocation Types of Table. I only need a solution to avoid the SAS error, both SAS side solutions as well as TERADATA solutions are ok for me. Why not ask Teradata if the table exists and then have SAS conditionally run the drop? Permanent Table − This is the default table and it contains data inserted by the user and stores the data permanently. The biggest advantage to using the global temporary table lies in the fact that the table never needs to be created a second time. Derived Tables. That wouldn’t make any sense either. As a result of the drop table, the table structure along with the data will be lost permanently. You have to CREATE a table and insert some records for performance analysis. Build innovative solutions for the Teradata Vantage Platform, the most powerful analytical platform on the planet. Teradata Drop Database statement is used to drop an empty database from the Teradata system. The login page will open in a new tab. volatile table before session end. Volatile tables are very similar to derived tables, but their existence is not limited to their transaction; they stay materialized until the sessions in which they have been created ends. In Teradata, you CAN (and should) collect statistics on Volatile tables, just like you can with regular tables. Volatile tables and global temporary tables are very much interchangeable from the user perspective. The definition of a volatile table resides in memory (RAM) but does not survive across a system restart. I am having issues with accessing a volatile table within the same session. A volatile table is a special type of temporary table in Teradata. I don't know the syntax to create an SP from SAS, but I doubt you will have the right to do so. Unfortunately, the table is lost along with its contents. Volatile tables are created with the following syntax: An in-depth comparison between Volatile Tables, Global Temporary Tables, and Derived Tables can be found here: Volatile Tables are materialized in the spool space of the user. DROP TABLE tablename Key: You can also specify database in which you are working Example: If tbl_emp is going to be dropped in EMPLOYEE database then, DROP TABLE EMPLOYEE.tbl_emp Volatile tables have no record in the DBC about their structure. Privacy policy Disclaimer Terms and Conditions.