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2+ $PostgreSQL: pgsql/doc/src/sgml/ref/create_table.sgml,v 1.80 2004/03/22 16:18:50 tgl Exp $
33PostgreSQL documentation
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@@ -185,18 +185,20 @@ and <replaceable class="PARAMETER">table_constraint</replaceable> is:
185185 <listitem>
186186 <para>
187187 The <literal>LIKE</literal> clause specifies a table from which
188- the new table automaticallyinherits all column names, their data types, and
189- not-null constraints.
188+ the new table automaticallycopies all column names, their data types,
189+ and their not-null constraints.
190190 </para>
191191 <para>
192- Unlike <literal>INHERITS</literal>, the new table and inherited table
193- are complete decoupled after creation has been completed. Data inserted
194- into the new table will not be reflected into the parent table.
192+ Unlike <literal>INHERITS</literal>, the new table and original table
193+ are completely decoupled after creation is complete. Changes to the
194+ original table will not be applied to the new table, and it is not
195+ possible to include data of the new table in scans of the original
196+ table.
195197 </para>
196198 <para>
197- Default expressions for theinherited column definitions will only be included if
198- <literal>INCLUDING DEFAULTS</literal> is specified. The default is to exclude
199- default expressions.
199+ Default expressions for thecopied column definitions will only be
200+ included if <literal>INCLUDING DEFAULTS</literal> is specified. The
201+ defaultis to exclude default expressions.
200202 </para>
201203 </listitem>
202204 </varlistentry>
@@ -207,12 +209,24 @@ and <replaceable class="PARAMETER">table_constraint</replaceable> is:
207209 <para>
208210 The optional <literal>INHERITS</> clause specifies a list of
209211 tables from which the new table automatically inherits all
210- columns. If the same column name exists in more than one parent
212+ columns.
213+ </para>
214+
215+ <para>
216+ Use of <literal>INHERITS</> creates a persistent relationship
217+ between the new child table and its parent table(s). Schema
218+ modifications to the parent(s) normally propagate to children
219+ as well, and by default the data of the child table is included in
220+ scans of the parent(s).
221+ </para>
222+
223+ <para>
224+ If the same column name exists in more than one parent
211225 table, an error is reported unless the data types of the columns
212226 match in each of the parent tables. If there is no conflict,
213227 then the duplicate columns are merged to form a single column in
214228 the new table. If the column name list of the new table
215- contains a column that is also inherited, the data type must
229+ contains a columnname that is also inherited, the data type must
216230 likewise match the inherited column(s), and the column
217231 definitions are merged into one. However, inherited and new
218232 column declarations of the same name need not specify identical