From 895a3604430be79d2bf18c2d259a0ce49f3320e4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "David G. Johnston" <david.g.johnston@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:01:46 -0700
Subject: [PATCH v5 2/2] 0002-delta

---
 doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml | 34 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 30 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml
index 6131632d20b..076da294ca1 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml
@@ -202,6 +202,11 @@ WITH ( MODULUS <replaceable class="parameter">numeric_literal</replaceable>, REM
       partitions. Specifying <literal>ONLY</literal> is not allowed, and
       this command cannot be used on individual partitions.
      </para>
+     <para>
+      For inheritance setups, a descendant column is removed only if both: this
+      is the only parent defining the column, and the column was never independently
+      defined.
+     </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
 
@@ -571,6 +576,11 @@ WITH ( MODULUS <replaceable class="parameter">numeric_literal</replaceable>, REM
       partitioned table and is implicitly added to all partitions.
       Specifying <literal>ONLY</literal> is not allowed.
      </para>
+     <para>
+      For inheritance setups, the constraint is not added to child tables
+      unless it is a <literal>CHECK</literal> constraint with the (implicit)
+      <literal>INHERIT</literal> property.
+     </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
 
@@ -683,7 +693,8 @@ WITH ( MODULUS <replaceable class="parameter">numeric_literal</replaceable>, REM
       When applied to a partitioned table, the constraint is validated on the
       partitioned table and on all partitions. Unlike most constraint-related
       sub-commands, individual partitions may validate the constraint
-      independently of the partitioned table.
+      independently of the partitioned table, so long as the partitioned
+      table itself is not yet validated.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
@@ -749,6 +760,10 @@ WITH ( MODULUS <replaceable class="parameter">numeric_literal</replaceable>, REM
       corresponding clone triggers are updated too, unless <literal>ONLY</literal>
       is specified.
      </para>
+     <para>
+      For inheritance setups <literal>ONLY</literal> is implied, though it may
+      be specified.
+     </para>
      <para>
       This command acquires a <literal>SHARE ROW EXCLUSIVE</literal> lock.
      </para>
@@ -1146,9 +1161,13 @@ WITH ( MODULUS <replaceable class="parameter">numeric_literal</replaceable>, REM
       There is no effect on the stored data.
      </para>
      <para>
-      For partitioned tables, this form behaves the same as for regular
-      tables. Renaming a partitioned table, column, or constraint does not
-      propagate to partitions.
+      When applied to a partitioned table, partition columns constraints
+      are implicitly renamed and specifying <literal>ONLY</literal> is not allowed.
+     </para>
+     <para>
+      For inheritance setups, index-based constraints are always considered
+      independent.  Dependent columns and constraints are implicitly renamed
+      and specifying <literal>ONLY</literal> is not allowed.
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
@@ -1921,6 +1940,13 @@ WITH ( MODULUS <replaceable class="parameter">numeric_literal</replaceable>, REM
     the column.
    </para>
 
+   <para>
+    For inheritance setups, the behavior described for partitioned tables applies
+    only to the dependent column(s) on the descendant table(s).  It is always
+    allowed to target a descendant table with column altering commands on independent
+    columns.
+   </para>
+
    <para>
     Changing any part of a system catalog table is not permitted.
    </para>
-- 
2.43.0