[erlang-questions] Strategies for updating Mnesia tables

[Alexander Lamb]

Hello,

Although Mnesia columns can store any kind of Erlang terms, it can  
happen that we need to add a column after an application is deployed.
I understood (and tried) how to update the table.

However, on the contrary to traditionnal SQL databases, this will have  
an impact on my code. Indeed, something like:

ps_get_profiles(System_Name,Production_Type) ->
	F = fun() -> mnesia:match_object(profiles,{profiles, 
{'_','_','_'},System_Name,Production_Type,'_','_','_'},read) end,
	case mnesia:transaction(F) of
		{atomic, Records}	-> {ok, Records};
		{aborted, Reason}	-> {error, Reason}
	end.

Will simply find 0 records once I add a column, hence failing silently.

Is there a way to match against a variable number of columns, giving  
the first columns patterns. Something like:

	F = fun() -> mnesia:match_object(profiles,{profiles, 
{'_','_','_'},System_Name,Production_Type,'_','_','_', * },read) end,

See the "*" at the end of the match_object match part.

What is the strategy when updating software that necessitates adding  
or changing Mnesia tables.

Thanks,

Alex
--
Alexander Lamb
Founding Associate
RODANOTECH Sàrl

4 ch. de la Tour de Champel
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