[HBASE-2171] Alter statement in the hbase shell doesn't match documentation.

• Type: Bug
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Fixed
• Affects Version/s: 0.20.2, 0.20.3

Environment

linux
java -version
java version "1.6.0_16"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_16-b01)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 14.2-b01, mixed mode)

• Assignee: Alex Newman
• Reporter: Alex Newman
• Created: 27/Jan/10 03:17
• Updated: 11/Jun/22 23:05
• Resolved: 19/Jul/14 00:01

Description

The documentation claims this should work. Perhaps this jira could be a starting point for a more detailed explanation of alter

HBASE SHELL COMMANDS:
alter Alter column family schema; pass table name and a dictionary
specifying new column family schema. Dictionaries are described
below in the GENERAL NOTES section. Dictionary must include name
of column family to alter. For example,

To change or add the 'f1' column family in table 't1' from defaults
to instead keep a maximum of 5 cell VERSIONS, do:
hbase> alter 't1',

{NAME => 'f1', VERSIONS => 5}

To delete the 'f1' column family in table 't1', do:
hbase> alter 't1', {NAME => 'f1', METHOD => 'delete'}

You can also change table-scope attributes like MAX_FILESIZE
MEMSTORE_FLUSHSIZE and READONLY.

For example, to change the max size of a family to 128MB, do:
hbase> alter 't1', {METHOD => 'table_att', MAX_FILESIZE => '134217728'}
....
ase Shell; enter 'help<RETURN>' for list of supported commands.
Version: 0.20.3, r902334, Mon Jan 25 13:13:08 PST 2010
hbase(main):001:0> drop 't3'
0 row(s) in 0.0060 seconds
0 row(s) in 0.0050 seconds
0 row(s) in 0.1560 seconds
hbase(main):002:0> create 't3'
0 row(s) in 2.1050 seconds
hbase(main):003:0> disable 't3'
0 row(s) in 2.0980 seconds
hbase(main):004:0> alter 't3', {NAME => 'f1', VERSIONS => 5}

NativeException: java.lang.NullPointerException: null