Online schema changes for ABL triggers enables you to change trigger definitions online without acquiring an exclusive lock on the entire schema. You can perform online operations to create new trigger definitions, to update, and to delete existing trigger definitions. Benefits of the feature include:

  • Making changes to your ABL trigger schema is online by default, which allows you to make online schema changes for trigger operations even when other clients are connected to the same database
  • You can also make changes to triggers using SQL
  • You can make online trigger changes using the same tools and procedures used to perform offline trigger changes
  • There is no need to re-compile your r-code to enable the use of the changed trigger definitions for ABL procedures
  • Improved trigger responsiveness and availability in busy production environments

When the schema changer transaction begins the online schema change, it first checks the database to confirm that all other connected clients use OpenEdge 12.2 or higher. If any connected client is at a version less than 12.2, it cannot proceed with the schema change online, but must instead obtain an exclusive lock on the entire schema. During the short period of time that the schema change transaction is in process, new database logins and schema readers are blocked until the transaction completes.