Techniques for redefining a group of related objects in a relational database system by redefining a table belonging to the group of related objects and then redefining the other related objects in the group so that they are in conformity with the redefined table. The techniques permit DDL to be used to redefine a view and are also useful in a versioned relational database system for redefining the table from which the versions are generated. In the versioned relational database system which employs the technique, the versions are generated from a view. To redefine the view, the technique is employed as follows: the view's definition in the relational database system is used to make a base table that has a form which is substantially similar to that of the view. DDL is then applied to the base table to redefine it. The redefined base table definition and the definitions of the objects belonging to the versioned relational database system are then used to redefine the definitions of the objects belonging to the versioned relational database system so that they are in conformity with the base table as redefined by the DDL.