PRESERVE_SOURCE_FORMAT option [database]

Function

Controls whether the original source definition of procedures, views, and event handlers is saved in system files. If saved, it is saved in the column source in SYSTABLE, SYSPROCEDURE, and SYSEVENT.

Allowed values

ON, OFF

Default

ON

Scope

Only PUBLIC setting allowed.

Description

When PRESERVE_SOURCE_FORMAT is ON, the server saves the formatted source from CREATE and ALTER statements on procedures, views, and events, and puts it in the appropriate system table's source column.

Unformatted source text is stored in the same system tables, in the columns proc_defn, and view_defn. However, these definitions are not easy to read in Sybase Central. The formatted source column allows you to view the definitions with the spacing, comments, and case that you want.

This option can be turned off to reduce space used to save object definitions in the database. The option can be set only for the PUBLIC group.