diff --git a/symmetric-client/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/SymmetricAdmin.java b/symmetric-client/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/SymmetricAdmin.java
index 0576d22135..b76bb74083 100644
--- a/symmetric-client/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/SymmetricAdmin.java
+++ b/symmetric-client/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/SymmetricAdmin.java
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ public class SymmetricAdmin extends AbstractCommandLauncher {
     private static final String OPTION_EXCLUDE_DEFAULTS = "exclude-defaults";
     private static final String OPTION_EXCLUDE_LOG4J = "exclude-log4j";
     private static final String OPTION_EXTERNAL_SECURITY = "external-security";
+    private static final String OPTION_ALTERS = "alters";
     private static final int WIDTH = 120;
     private static final int PAD = 3;
 
@@ -252,6 +253,9 @@ private void printHelpCommand(CommandLine line) {
                 addOption(options, null, OPTION_EXCLUDE_LOG4J, false);
                 addOption(options, null, OPTION_EXTERNAL_SECURITY, false);
             }
+            if (cmd.equals(CMD_EXPORT_SYM_TABLES)) {
+                addOption(options, null, OPTION_ALTERS, false);
+            }
             if (options.getOptions().size() > 0) {
                 format.printWrapped(writer, WIDTH, "\nOptions:");
                 format.printOptions(writer, WIDTH, options, PAD, PAD);
@@ -287,6 +291,7 @@ protected void buildOptions(Options options) {
         addOption(options, null, OPTION_EXCLUDE_DEFAULTS, false);
         addOption(options, null, OPTION_EXCLUDE_LOG4J, false);
         addOption(options, null, OPTION_EXTERNAL_SECURITY, false);
+        addOption(options, null, OPTION_ALTERS, false);
         buildCryptoOptions(options);
     }
 
@@ -704,10 +709,14 @@ private void generateWar(CommandLine line, List<String> args) throws Exception {
 
     private void exportSymTables(CommandLine line, List<String> args) throws IOException {
         OutputStreamWriter os = getWriter(args);
-        os.write(getSymmetricEngine().getSymmetricDialect().getCreateSymmetricDDL());
+        if (line.hasOption(OPTION_ALTERS)) {
+            os.write(getSymmetricEngine().getSymmetricDialect().getSymmetricDdlChanges());
+        } else {
+            os.write(getSymmetricEngine().getSymmetricDialect().getCreateSymmetricDDL());
+        }
         os.close();
     }
-
+    
     private void exportDefaultProperties(CommandLine line, List<String> args) throws IOException {
         OutputStreamWriter os = getWriter(args);
         BufferedReader is = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(
diff --git a/symmetric-client/src/main/resources/symmetric-messages.properties b/symmetric-client/src/main/resources/symmetric-messages.properties
index 4d63575b81..4b32fd464c 100644
--- a/symmetric-client/src/main/resources/symmetric-messages.properties
+++ b/symmetric-client/src/main/resources/symmetric-messages.properties
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ SymAdmin.Usage.uninstall=
 SymAdmin.Usage.backup-config=
 SymAdmin.Usage.restore-config=
 SymAdmin.Usage.module=[install <module> | remove <module> | list-files <module> | list | list-all | upgrade | convert] 
-SymAdmin.Help.export-sym-tables=Output the SQL to create the SymmetricDS tables.  If a filename is given, the SQL statements are written to it, otherwise standard output is used.
+SymAdmin.Help.export-sym-tables=Output the SQL to create the SymmetricDS tables.  If --alters is specified, then alters to the existing tables will be output.  If a filename is given, the SQL statements are written to it, otherwise standard output is used.
 SymAdmin.Help.run-job=Run one of the scheduled jobs immediately.
 SymAdmin.Help.list-engines=List each engine name and properties file configured on this instance.
 SymAdmin.Help.run-purge=Run the purge process against the configured database.
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ SymAdmin.Option.exclude-fk=Don't send foreign key constraints
 SymAdmin.Option.exclude-indices=Don't send indices
 SymAdmin.Option.exclude-log4j=Exclude log4j logging framework and configuration
 SymAdmin.Option.external-security=Use security files outside of the WAR file for encryption keys and certificates
+SymAdmin.Option.alters=DDL changes necessary to alter tables will be output
 
 DbExport.Option.compatible=Change export to be compatible with given database: db2, db2zos, derby, firebird, greenplum, h2, hsqldb, hsqldb2, informix, interbase, mssql, mysql, oracle, postgres, sybase.
 DbExport.Option.add-drop-table=Add drop table commands to output.
diff --git a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/AbstractSymmetricDialect.java b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/AbstractSymmetricDialect.java
index 3145d7051a..7e89f6b5b1 100644
--- a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/AbstractSymmetricDialect.java
+++ b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/AbstractSymmetricDialect.java
@@ -139,6 +139,18 @@ public AbstractSymmetricDialect(IParameterService parameterService, IDatabasePla
             return valueMap;
         });
     }
+    
+    public String getSymmetricDdlChanges() {
+        Database modelFromXml = readSymmetricSchemaFromXml();
+        Database modelFromDatabase = readSymmetricSchemaFromDatabase();
+        List<IAlterDatabaseInterceptor> alterDatabaseInterceptors = extensionService
+                .getExtensionPointList(IAlterDatabaseInterceptor.class);
+        IAlterDatabaseInterceptor[] interceptors = alterDatabaseInterceptors
+                .toArray(new IAlterDatabaseInterceptor[alterDatabaseInterceptors.size()]);
+        IDdlBuilder builder = platform.getDdlBuilder();
+        String alterSql = builder.alterDatabase(modelFromDatabase, modelFromXml, interceptors);
+        return alterSql;
+    }
 
     public boolean requiresAutoCommitFalseToSetFetchSize() {
         return false;
diff --git a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/ISymmetricDialect.java b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/ISymmetricDialect.java
index b779ec0ea8..c6ccc19211 100644
--- a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/ISymmetricDialect.java
+++ b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/db/ISymmetricDialect.java
@@ -255,6 +255,8 @@ public List<String> createPurgeSqlForMultipleTables(Node node, TriggerRouter tri
     public String getTablePrefix();
 
     public Database readSymmetricSchemaFromXml();
+    
+    public String getSymmetricDdlChanges();
 
     public String getTemplateNumberPrecisionSpec();