The SAP ASE system tables contain information that is critical to the operation of your
databases. Under ordinary circumstances, you need not perform direct data modifications to
system tables.
Update system tables only when you are instructed to do so by SAP Technical Support, by an
instruction in the Error Messaging and Troubleshooting Guide, or as required by
some system administration tasks.
Before you update system tables, you must issue an
sp_configure command
that enables system table updates. While this command is in effect, any user with
appropriate permission can modify a system table. Other requirements for direct changes to
system tables are:
-
Modify system tables only inside a transaction. Issue a begin
transaction command before you issue the data modification command.
-
Verify that only the rows you wanted changed have been affected by the command, and
that the data has been changed correctly.
-
If the command was incorrect, issue a rollback transaction
command. If the command was correct, issue a commit
transaction command.
Warning!
Some system tables should not be altered by any user under any circumstances: these
tables are dynamically built by system processes, contain encoded information, or
display only a portion of their data when queried. Imprudent, ad hoc updates can
prevent SAP ASE from running, make database objects inaccessible, scramble permissions
on objects, or terminate a user session. Never attempt to alter system table
definitions; for example, do not alter them to include constraints: triggers,
defaults, and rules are not allowed in system tables.