Propagate ALTER TYPE operations to typed tables

This adds RESTRICT/CASCADE flags to ALTER TYPE ... ADD/DROP/ALTER/
RENAME ATTRIBUTE to control whether to alter typed tables as well.

doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_type.sgml

@@ -26,15 +26,15 @@ PostgreSQL documentation
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> <replaceable class="PARAMETER">action</replaceable> [, ... ]
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> OWNER TO <replaceable class="PARAMETER">new_owner</replaceable>
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> RENAME ATTRIBUTE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">attribute_name</replaceable> TO <replaceable class="PARAMETER">new_attribute_name</replaceable>
-ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> RENAME TO <replaceable class="PARAMETER">new_name</replaceable>
+ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> RENAME TO <replaceable class="PARAMETER">new_name</replaceable> [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> SET SCHEMA <replaceable class="PARAMETER">new_schema</replaceable>
 ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> ADD VALUE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">new_enum_value</replaceable> [ { BEFORE | AFTER } <replaceable class="PARAMETER">existing_enum_value</replaceable> ]
 
 <phrase>where <replaceable class="PARAMETER">action</replaceable> is one of:</phrase>
 
-    ADD ATTRIBUTE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">attribute_name</replaceable> <replaceable class="PARAMETER">data_type</replaceable>
+    ADD ATTRIBUTE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">attribute_name</replaceable> <replaceable class="PARAMETER">data_type</replaceable> [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]
-    DROP ATTRIBUTE [ IF EXISTS ] <replaceable class="PARAMETER">attribute_name</replaceable>
+    DROP ATTRIBUTE [ IF EXISTS ] <replaceable class="PARAMETER">attribute_name</replaceable> [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]
-    ALTER ATTRIBUTE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">attribute_name</replaceable> [ SET DATA ] TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">data_type</replaceable>
+    ALTER ATTRIBUTE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">attribute_name</replaceable> [ SET DATA ] TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">data_type</replaceable> [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]
 </synopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>
 
@@ -116,6 +116,26 @@ ALTER TYPE <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable> ADD VALUE <replacea
      </para>
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
+
+   <varlistentry>
+    <term><literal>CASCADE</literal></term>
+    <listitem>
+     <para>
+      Automatically propagate the operation to typed tables of the
+      type being altered.
+     </para>
+    </listitem>
+   </varlistentry>
+
+   <varlistentry>
+    <term><literal>RESTRICT</literal></term>
+    <listitem>
+     <para>
+      Refuse the operation if the type being altered is the type of a
+      typed table.  This is the default.
+     </para>
+    </listitem>
+   </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
   </para>
 

src/backend/commands/alter.c

@@ -125,11 +125,7 @@ ExecRenameStmt(RenameStmt *stmt)
 						}
 					case OBJECT_COLUMN:
 					case OBJECT_ATTRIBUTE:
-						renameatt(relid,
+						renameatt(relid, stmt);
-								  stmt->subname,		/* old att name */
-								  stmt->newname,		/* new att name */
-								  interpretInhOption(stmt->relation->inhOpt),	/* recursive? */
-								  0);	/* expected inhcount */
 						break;
 					case OBJECT_TRIGGER:
 						renametrig(relid,

src/backend/commands/tablecmds.c

@@ -269,8 +269,11 @@ static void ATSimpleRecursion(List **wqueue, Relation rel,
 				  AlterTableCmd *cmd, bool recurse, LOCKMODE lockmode);
 static void ATOneLevelRecursion(List **wqueue, Relation rel,
 					AlterTableCmd *cmd, LOCKMODE lockmode);
-static void find_typed_table_dependencies(Oid typeOid, const char *typeName);
+static void ATTypedTableRecursion(List **wqueue, Relation rel, AlterTableCmd *cmd,
-static void ATPrepAddColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse,
+								  LOCKMODE lockmode);
+static List *find_typed_table_dependencies(Oid typeOid, const char *typeName,
+										   DropBehavior behavior);
+static void ATPrepAddColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse, bool recursing,
 				AlterTableCmd *cmd, LOCKMODE lockmode);
 static void ATExecAddColumn(AlteredTableInfo *tab, Relation rel,
 				ColumnDef *colDef, bool isOid, LOCKMODE lockmode);
@@ -290,7 +293,8 @@ static void ATExecSetOptions(Relation rel, const char *colName,
 				 Node *options, bool isReset, LOCKMODE lockmode);
 static void ATExecSetStorage(Relation rel, const char *colName,
 				 Node *newValue, LOCKMODE lockmode);
-static void ATPrepDropColumn(Relation rel, bool recurse, AlterTableCmd *cmd);
+static void ATPrepDropColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse, bool recursing,
+							 AlterTableCmd *cmd, LOCKMODE lockmode);
 static void ATExecDropColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, const char *colName,
 				 DropBehavior behavior,
 				 bool recurse, bool recursing,
@@ -1942,14 +1946,16 @@ setRelhassubclassInRelation(Oid relationId, bool relhassubclass)
 
 
 /*
- *		renameatt		- changes the name of a attribute in a relation
+ *		renameatt_internal		- workhorse for renameatt
  */
-void
+static void
-renameatt(Oid myrelid,
+renameatt_internal(Oid myrelid,
-		  const char *oldattname,
+				   const char *oldattname,
-		  const char *newattname,
+				   const char *newattname,
-		  bool recurse,
+				   bool recurse,
-		  int expected_parents)
+				   bool recursing,
+				   int expected_parents,
+				   DropBehavior behavior)
 {
 	Relation	targetrelation;
 	Relation	attrelation;
@@ -1964,15 +1970,11 @@ renameatt(Oid myrelid,
 	 */
 	targetrelation = relation_open(myrelid, AccessExclusiveLock);
 
-	if (targetrelation->rd_rel->reloftype)
+	if (targetrelation->rd_rel->reloftype && !recursing)
 		ereport(ERROR,
 				(errcode(ERRCODE_WRONG_OBJECT_TYPE),
 				 errmsg("cannot rename column of typed table")));
 
-	if (targetrelation->rd_rel->relkind == RELKIND_COMPOSITE_TYPE)
-		find_typed_table_dependencies(targetrelation->rd_rel->reltype,
-									  RelationGetRelationName(targetrelation));
-
 	/*
 	 * Renaming the columns of sequences or toast tables doesn't actually
 	 * break anything from the system's point of view, since internal
@@ -2038,7 +2040,7 @@ renameatt(Oid myrelid,
 			if (childrelid == myrelid)
 				continue;
 			/* note we need not recurse again */
-			renameatt(childrelid, oldattname, newattname, false, numparents);
+			renameatt_internal(childrelid, oldattname, newattname, false, true, numparents, behavior);
 		}
 	}
 	else
@@ -2057,6 +2059,20 @@ renameatt(Oid myrelid,
 							oldattname)));
 	}
 
+	/* rename attributes in typed tables of composite type */
+	if (targetrelation->rd_rel->relkind == RELKIND_COMPOSITE_TYPE)
+	{
+		List	   *child_oids;
+		ListCell   *lo;
+
+		child_oids = find_typed_table_dependencies(targetrelation->rd_rel->reltype,
+												   RelationGetRelationName(targetrelation),
+												   behavior);
+
+		foreach(lo, child_oids)
+			renameatt_internal(lfirst_oid(lo), oldattname, newattname, true, true, 0, behavior);
+	}
+
 	attrelation = heap_open(AttributeRelationId, RowExclusiveLock);
 
 	atttup = SearchSysCacheCopyAttName(myrelid, oldattname);
@@ -2116,6 +2132,22 @@ renameatt(Oid myrelid,
 }
 
 
+/*
+ *		renameatt		- changes the name of a attribute in a relation
+ */
+void
+renameatt(Oid myrelid, RenameStmt *stmt)
+{
+	renameatt_internal(myrelid,
+					   stmt->subname,		/* old att name */
+					   stmt->newname,		/* new att name */
+					   interpretInhOption(stmt->relation->inhOpt),	/* recursive? */
+					   false,  /* recursing? */
+					   0,	/* expected inhcount */
+					   stmt->behavior);
+}
+
+
 /*
  * Execute ALTER TABLE/INDEX/SEQUENCE/VIEW RENAME
  *
@@ -2649,14 +2681,14 @@ ATPrepCmd(List **wqueue, Relation rel, AlterTableCmd *cmd,
 		case AT_AddColumn:		/* ADD COLUMN */
 			ATSimplePermissions(rel, false, true);
 			/* Performs own recursion */
-			ATPrepAddColumn(wqueue, rel, recurse, cmd, lockmode);
+			ATPrepAddColumn(wqueue, rel, recurse, recursing, cmd, lockmode);
 			pass = AT_PASS_ADD_COL;
 			break;
 		case AT_AddColumnToView:		/* add column via CREATE OR REPLACE
 										 * VIEW */
 			ATSimplePermissions(rel, true, false);
 			/* Performs own recursion */
-			ATPrepAddColumn(wqueue, rel, recurse, cmd, lockmode);
+			ATPrepAddColumn(wqueue, rel, recurse, recursing, cmd, lockmode);
 			pass = AT_PASS_ADD_COL;
 			break;
 		case AT_ColumnDefault:	/* ALTER COLUMN DEFAULT */
@@ -2704,7 +2736,7 @@ ATPrepCmd(List **wqueue, Relation rel, AlterTableCmd *cmd,
 			break;
 		case AT_DropColumn:		/* DROP COLUMN */
 			ATSimplePermissions(rel, false, true);
-			ATPrepDropColumn(rel, recurse, cmd);
+			ATPrepDropColumn(wqueue, rel, recurse, recursing, cmd, lockmode);
 			/* Recursion occurs during execution phase */
 			pass = AT_PASS_DROP;
 			break;
@@ -3671,6 +3703,37 @@ ATOneLevelRecursion(List **wqueue, Relation rel,
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * ATTypedTableRecursion
+ *
+ * Propagate ALTER TYPE operations to the typed tables of that type.
+ * Also check the RESTRICT/CASCADE behavior.
+ */
+static void
+ATTypedTableRecursion(List **wqueue, Relation rel, AlterTableCmd *cmd,
+					  LOCKMODE lockmode)
+{
+	ListCell   *child;
+	List	   *children;
+
+	Assert(rel->rd_rel->relkind == RELKIND_COMPOSITE_TYPE);
+
+	children = find_typed_table_dependencies(rel->rd_rel->reltype,
+											 RelationGetRelationName(rel),
+											 cmd->behavior);
+
+	foreach(child, children)
+	{
+		Oid			childrelid = lfirst_oid(child);
+		Relation	childrel;
+
+		childrel = relation_open(childrelid, lockmode);
+		CheckTableNotInUse(childrel, "ALTER TABLE");
+		ATPrepCmd(wqueue, childrel, cmd, false, true, lockmode);
+		relation_close(childrel, NoLock);
+	}
+}
+
 
 /*
  * find_composite_type_dependencies
@@ -3778,17 +3841,17 @@ find_composite_type_dependencies(Oid typeOid,
  * find_typed_table_dependencies
  *
  * Check to see if a composite type is being used as the type of a
- * typed table.  Eventually, we'd like to propagate the alter
+ * typed table.  Abort if any are found and behavior is RESTRICT.
- * operation into such tables, but for now, just error out if we find
+ * Else return the list of tables.
- * any.
  */
-static void
+static List *
-find_typed_table_dependencies(Oid typeOid, const char *typeName)
+find_typed_table_dependencies(Oid typeOid, const char *typeName, DropBehavior behavior)
 {
 	Relation	classRel;
 	ScanKeyData key[1];
 	HeapScanDesc scan;
 	HeapTuple	tuple;
+	List	   *result = NIL;
 
 	classRel = heap_open(RelationRelationId, AccessShareLock);
 
@@ -3801,14 +3864,20 @@ find_typed_table_dependencies(Oid typeOid, const char *typeName)
 
 	if (HeapTupleIsValid(tuple = heap_getnext(scan, ForwardScanDirection)))
 	{
-		ereport(ERROR,
+		if (behavior == DROP_RESTRICT)
-				(errcode(ERRCODE_FEATURE_NOT_SUPPORTED),
+			ereport(ERROR,
-				 errmsg("cannot alter type \"%s\" because it is the type of a typed table",
+					(errcode(ERRCODE_DEPENDENT_OBJECTS_STILL_EXIST),
-						typeName)));
+					 errmsg("cannot alter type \"%s\" because it is the type of a typed table",
+							typeName),
+					 errhint("Use ALTER ... CASCADE to alter the typed tables too.")));
+		else
+			result = lappend_oid(result, HeapTupleGetOid(tuple));
 	}
 
 	heap_endscan(scan);
 	heap_close(classRel, AccessShareLock);
+
+	return result;
 }
 
 
@@ -3821,10 +3890,10 @@ find_typed_table_dependencies(Oid typeOid, const char *typeName)
  * AlterTableCmd's.
  */
 static void
-ATPrepAddColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse,
+ATPrepAddColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse, bool recursing,
 				AlterTableCmd *cmd, LOCKMODE lockmode)
 {
-	if (rel->rd_rel->reloftype)
+	if (rel->rd_rel->reloftype && !recursing)
 		ereport(ERROR,
 				(errcode(ERRCODE_WRONG_OBJECT_TYPE),
 				 errmsg("cannot add column to typed table")));
@@ -3860,8 +3929,7 @@ ATPrepAddColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse,
 	}
 
 	if (rel->rd_rel->relkind == RELKIND_COMPOSITE_TYPE)
-		find_typed_table_dependencies(rel->rd_rel->reltype,
+		ATTypedTableRecursion(wqueue, rel, cmd, lockmode);
-									  RelationGetRelationName(rel));
 }
 
 static void
@@ -4162,7 +4230,7 @@ ATPrepAddOids(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse, AlterTableCmd *cmd, LOC
 		cdef->storage = 0;
 		cmd->def = (Node *) cdef;
 	}
-	ATPrepAddColumn(wqueue, rel, recurse, cmd, lockmode);
+	ATPrepAddColumn(wqueue, rel, recurse, false, cmd, lockmode);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -4586,18 +4654,17 @@ ATExecSetStorage(Relation rel, const char *colName, Node *newValue, LOCKMODE loc
  * correctly.)
  */
 static void
-ATPrepDropColumn(Relation rel, bool recurse, AlterTableCmd *cmd)
+ATPrepDropColumn(List **wqueue, Relation rel, bool recurse, bool recursing,
+				 AlterTableCmd *cmd, LOCKMODE lockmode)
 {
-	if (rel->rd_rel->reloftype)
+	if (rel->rd_rel->reloftype && !recursing)
 		ereport(ERROR,
 				(errcode(ERRCODE_WRONG_OBJECT_TYPE),
 				 errmsg("cannot drop column from typed table")));
 
 	if (rel->rd_rel->relkind == RELKIND_COMPOSITE_TYPE)
-		find_typed_table_dependencies(rel->rd_rel->reltype,
+		ATTypedTableRecursion(wqueue, rel, cmd, lockmode);
-									  RelationGetRelationName(rel));
 
-	/* No command-specific prep needed except saving recurse flag */
 	if (recurse)
 		cmd->subtype = AT_DropColumnRecurse;
 }
@@ -6060,7 +6127,7 @@ ATPrepAlterColumnType(List **wqueue,
 	NewColumnValue *newval;
 	ParseState *pstate = make_parsestate(NULL);
 
-	if (rel->rd_rel->reloftype)
+	if (rel->rd_rel->reloftype && !recursing)
 		ereport(ERROR,
 				(errcode(ERRCODE_WRONG_OBJECT_TYPE),
 				 errmsg("cannot alter column type of typed table")));
@@ -6178,9 +6245,6 @@ ATPrepAlterColumnType(List **wqueue,
 		find_composite_type_dependencies(rel->rd_rel->reltype,
 										 NULL,
 										 RelationGetRelationName(rel));
-
-		find_typed_table_dependencies(rel->rd_rel->reltype,
-									  RelationGetRelationName(rel));
 	}
 
 	ReleaseSysCache(tuple);
@@ -6198,6 +6262,9 @@ ATPrepAlterColumnType(List **wqueue,
 				(errcode(ERRCODE_INVALID_TABLE_DEFINITION),
 				 errmsg("type of inherited column \"%s\" must be changed in child tables too",
 						colName)));
+
+	if (tab->relkind == RELKIND_COMPOSITE_TYPE)
+		ATTypedTableRecursion(wqueue, rel, cmd, lockmode);
 }
 
 static void

src/backend/nodes/copyfuncs.c

@@ -2803,6 +2803,7 @@ _copyRenameStmt(RenameStmt *from)
 	COPY_NODE_FIELD(objarg);
 	COPY_STRING_FIELD(subname);
 	COPY_STRING_FIELD(newname);
+	COPY_SCALAR_FIELD(behavior);
 
 	return newnode;
 }

src/backend/nodes/equalfuncs.c

@@ -1306,6 +1306,7 @@ _equalRenameStmt(RenameStmt *a, RenameStmt *b)
 	COMPARE_NODE_FIELD(objarg);
 	COMPARE_STRING_FIELD(subname);
 	COMPARE_STRING_FIELD(newname);
+	COMPARE_SCALAR_FIELD(behavior);
 
 	return true;
 }

src/backend/parser/gram.y

@@ -2003,41 +2003,43 @@ alter_type_cmds:
 		;
 
 alter_type_cmd:
-			/* ALTER TYPE <name> ADD ATTRIBUTE <coldef> */
+			/* ALTER TYPE <name> ADD ATTRIBUTE <coldef> [RESTRICT|CASCADE] */
-			ADD_P ATTRIBUTE TableFuncElement
+			ADD_P ATTRIBUTE TableFuncElement opt_drop_behavior
 				{
 					AlterTableCmd *n = makeNode(AlterTableCmd);
 					n->subtype = AT_AddColumn;
 					n->def = $3;
+					n->behavior = $4;
 					$$ = (Node *)n;
 				}
-			/* ALTER TYPE <name> DROP ATTRIBUTE IF EXISTS <attname> */
+			/* ALTER TYPE <name> DROP ATTRIBUTE IF EXISTS <attname> [RESTRICT|CASCADE] */
-			| DROP ATTRIBUTE IF_P EXISTS ColId
+			| DROP ATTRIBUTE IF_P EXISTS ColId opt_drop_behavior
 				{
 					AlterTableCmd *n = makeNode(AlterTableCmd);
 					n->subtype = AT_DropColumn;
 					n->name = $5;
-					n->behavior = DROP_RESTRICT; /* currently no effect */
+					n->behavior = $6;
 					n->missing_ok = TRUE;
 					$$ = (Node *)n;
 				}
-			/* ALTER TYPE <name> DROP ATTRIBUTE <attname> */
+			/* ALTER TYPE <name> DROP ATTRIBUTE <attname> [RESTRICT|CASCADE] */
 			| DROP ATTRIBUTE ColId opt_drop_behavior
 				{
 					AlterTableCmd *n = makeNode(AlterTableCmd);
 					n->subtype = AT_DropColumn;
 					n->name = $3;
-					n->behavior = DROP_RESTRICT; /* currently no effect */
+					n->behavior = $4;
 					n->missing_ok = FALSE;
 					$$ = (Node *)n;
 				}
-			/* ALTER TYPE <name> ALTER ATTRIBUTE <attname> [SET DATA] TYPE <typename> */
+			/* ALTER TYPE <name> ALTER ATTRIBUTE <attname> [SET DATA] TYPE <typename> [RESTRICT|CASCADE] */
-			| ALTER ATTRIBUTE ColId opt_set_data TYPE_P Typename
+			| ALTER ATTRIBUTE ColId opt_set_data TYPE_P Typename opt_drop_behavior
 				{
 					AlterTableCmd *n = makeNode(AlterTableCmd);
 					n->subtype = AT_AlterColumnType;
 					n->name = $3;
 					n->def = (Node *) $6;
+					n->behavior = $7;
 					$$ = (Node *)n;
 				}
 		;
@@ -6005,13 +6007,14 @@ RenameStmt: ALTER AGGREGATE func_name aggr_args RENAME TO name
 					n->newname = $6;
 					$$ = (Node *)n;
 				}
-			| ALTER TYPE_P any_name RENAME ATTRIBUTE name TO name
+			| ALTER TYPE_P any_name RENAME ATTRIBUTE name TO name opt_drop_behavior
 				{
 					RenameStmt *n = makeNode(RenameStmt);
 					n->renameType = OBJECT_ATTRIBUTE;
 					n->relation = makeRangeVarFromAnyName($3, @3, yyscanner);
 					n->subname = $6;
 					n->newname = $8;
+					n->behavior = $9;
 					$$ = (Node *)n;
 				}
 		;

src/include/commands/tablecmds.h

@@ -42,11 +42,7 @@ extern void CheckTableNotInUse(Relation rel, const char *stmt);
 
 extern void ExecuteTruncate(TruncateStmt *stmt);
 
-extern void renameatt(Oid myrelid,
+extern void renameatt(Oid myrelid, RenameStmt *stmt);
-		  const char *oldattname,
-		  const char *newattname,
-		  bool recurse,
-		  int expected_parents);
 
 extern void RenameRelation(Oid myrelid,
 			   const char *newrelname,

src/include/nodes/parsenodes.h

@@ -2073,6 +2073,7 @@ typedef struct RenameStmt
 	char	   *subname;		/* name of contained object (column, rule,
 								 * trigger, etc) */
 	char	   *newname;		/* the new name */
+	DropBehavior behavior;		/* RESTRICT or CASCADE behavior */
 } RenameStmt;
 
 /* ----------------------

src/test/regress/expected/alter_table.out

@@ -1760,13 +1760,100 @@ ALTER TYPE test_type1 ALTER ATTRIBUTE b TYPE varchar; -- fails
 ERROR:  cannot alter type "test_type1" because column "test_tbl1"."y" uses it
 CREATE TYPE test_type2 AS (a int, b text);
 CREATE TABLE test_tbl2 OF test_type2;
+\d test_type2
+Composite type "public.test_type2"
+ Column |  Type   
+--------+---------
+ a      | integer
+ b      | text
+
+\d test_tbl2
+   Table "public.test_tbl2"
+ Column |  Type   | Modifiers 
+--------+---------+-----------
+ a      | integer | 
+ b      | text    | 
+Typed table of type: test_type2
+
 ALTER TYPE test_type2 ADD ATTRIBUTE c text; -- fails
 ERROR:  cannot alter type "test_type2" because it is the type of a typed table
+HINT:  Use ALTER ... CASCADE to alter the typed tables too.
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 ADD ATTRIBUTE c text CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+Composite type "public.test_type2"
+ Column |  Type   
+--------+---------
+ a      | integer
+ b      | text
+ c      | text
+
+\d test_tbl2
+   Table "public.test_tbl2"
+ Column |  Type   | Modifiers 
+--------+---------+-----------
+ a      | integer | 
+ b      | text    | 
+ c      | text    | 
+Typed table of type: test_type2
+
 ALTER TYPE test_type2 ALTER ATTRIBUTE b TYPE varchar; -- fails
 ERROR:  cannot alter type "test_type2" because it is the type of a typed table
+HINT:  Use ALTER ... CASCADE to alter the typed tables too.
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 ALTER ATTRIBUTE b TYPE varchar CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+Composite type "public.test_type2"
+ Column |       Type        
+--------+-------------------
+ a      | integer
+ b      | character varying
+ c      | text
+
+\d test_tbl2
+        Table "public.test_tbl2"
+ Column |       Type        | Modifiers 
+--------+-------------------+-----------
+ a      | integer           | 
+ b      | character varying | 
+ c      | text              | 
+Typed table of type: test_type2
+
 ALTER TYPE test_type2 DROP ATTRIBUTE b; -- fails
 ERROR:  cannot alter type "test_type2" because it is the type of a typed table
-ALTER TYPE test_type2 RENAME ATTRIBUTE b TO bb; -- fails
+HINT:  Use ALTER ... CASCADE to alter the typed tables too.
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 DROP ATTRIBUTE b CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+Composite type "public.test_type2"
+ Column |  Type   
+--------+---------
+ a      | integer
+ c      | text
+
+\d test_tbl2
+   Table "public.test_tbl2"
+ Column |  Type   | Modifiers 
+--------+---------+-----------
+ a      | integer | 
+ c      | text    | 
+Typed table of type: test_type2
+
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 RENAME ATTRIBUTE a TO aa; -- fails
 ERROR:  cannot alter type "test_type2" because it is the type of a typed table
+HINT:  Use ALTER ... CASCADE to alter the typed tables too.
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 RENAME ATTRIBUTE a TO aa CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+Composite type "public.test_type2"
+ Column |  Type   
+--------+---------
+ aa     | integer
+ c      | text
+
+\d test_tbl2
+   Table "public.test_tbl2"
+ Column |  Type   | Modifiers 
+--------+---------+-----------
+ aa     | integer | 
+ c      | text    | 
+Typed table of type: test_type2
+
 CREATE TYPE test_type_empty AS ();
 DROP TYPE test_type_empty;

src/test/regress/sql/alter_table.sql

@@ -1272,10 +1272,28 @@ ALTER TYPE test_type1 ALTER ATTRIBUTE b TYPE varchar; -- fails
 
 CREATE TYPE test_type2 AS (a int, b text);
 CREATE TABLE test_tbl2 OF test_type2;
+\d test_type2
+\d test_tbl2
+
 ALTER TYPE test_type2 ADD ATTRIBUTE c text; -- fails
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 ADD ATTRIBUTE c text CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+\d test_tbl2
+
 ALTER TYPE test_type2 ALTER ATTRIBUTE b TYPE varchar; -- fails
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 ALTER ATTRIBUTE b TYPE varchar CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+\d test_tbl2
+
 ALTER TYPE test_type2 DROP ATTRIBUTE b; -- fails
-ALTER TYPE test_type2 RENAME ATTRIBUTE b TO bb; -- fails
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 DROP ATTRIBUTE b CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+\d test_tbl2
+
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 RENAME ATTRIBUTE a TO aa; -- fails
+ALTER TYPE test_type2 RENAME ATTRIBUTE a TO aa CASCADE;
+\d test_type2
+\d test_tbl2
 
 CREATE TYPE test_type_empty AS ();
 DROP TYPE test_type_empty;