Add hook_create_table

Created on 24 June 2007, almost 18 years ago

Updated 9 April 2025, 13 days ago

db_create_table currently is:

function db_create_table(&$ret, $table) {
  $statements = db_create_table_sql($table);
  foreach ($statements as $statement) {
    $ret[] = update_sql($statement);
  }
}

I think modules should be able to inject additional SQL statements to create a table. Something like:

function db_create_table(&$ret, $table) {
  $statements = array_merge(db_create_table_sql($table), module_invoke_all('create_table', $table));
  foreach ($statements as $statement) {
    $ret[] = update_sql($statement);
  }
}

A similar hook would be necessary for db_drop_table. Not sure about db_add/drop_field, key, or index.

Why do I want this? One example: I think it would make it possible to implement foreign keys incrementally via an optional module. Any module could use hook_schema_alter() to add foreign key info and then foreign_keys.module (or whatever) would then hook_create_table() to add ALTER TABLE foo ADD FOREIGN KEY... statements, and use the new deletion API to provide cascade on delete semantics when necessary.

I'll think about this more and, if I still like the idea in the morning, will submit a patch.

📌 Task

Status

Postponed: needs info

Version

11.0 🔥

Component

database system

Created by

🇺🇸United States bjaspan

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Comment 13 days ago →
🇺🇸United States smustgrave
Thank you for creating this issue to improve Drupal.

We are working to decide if this task is still relevant to a currently supported version of Drupal. There hasn't been any discussion here for over 8 years which suggests that this has either been implemented or is no longer relevant. Your thoughts on this will allow a decision to be made.

Since we need more information to move forward with this issue, the status is now Postponed (maintainer needs more info). If we don't receive additional information to help with the issue, it may be closed after three months.

Thanks!

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