> BTW, is it possible (in the future) to alter the database design 
> with Kexi without losing data? 

Yes, this is hot TODO for 1.1 (KOffice 1.6). Could you please file a WISH just for this?

SVN commit 527984 by staniek:

Table Designer
- More intrusive warning when altering table design

1.0: ported (except the message)
2.0: ported

CCMAIL:125216-done@bugs.kde.org



 M  +3 -2      kexialtertabledialog.cpp  
 M  +1 -1      kexitablepart.cpp  


--- branches/koffice/1.6/koffice/kexi/plugins/tables/kexialtertabledialog.cpp #527983:527984
@@ -565,10 +565,11 @@
 
 //			KexiDB::Connection *conn = mainWin()->project()->dbConnection();
 			bool emptyTable;
-			int r = KMessageBox::questionYesNoCancel(this,
+			int r = KMessageBox::warningYesNoCancel(this,
 				i18n("Saving changes for existing table design is now required.")
 				+"\n"+messageForSavingChanges(emptyTable), QString::null,
-				KStdGuiItem::save(), KStdGuiItem::discard());
+				KStdGuiItem::save(), KStdGuiItem::discard(), QString::null, 
+				KMessageBox::Notify|KMessageBox::Dangerous);
 			if (r == KMessageBox::Cancel)
 				res = cancelled;
 			else
--- branches/koffice/1.6/koffice/kexi/plugins/tables/kexitablepart.cpp #527983:527984
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
 
 	if (dlg->currentViewMode()==Kexi::DesignViewMode && !dlg->neverSaved()
 		&& englishMessage==":additional message before saving design")
-		return i18n("Note: Any data in this table will be removed upon design's saving.");
+		return i18n("Warning! Any data in this table will be removed upon design's saving!");
 
 	return englishMessage;
 }