Hive db = context.getHive();
Table tbl = db.getTable(tableName);
if(partSpec == null){
// File format is for table; not for partition.
tbl.getTTable().getParameters().putAll(howlProps);
db.alterTable(tableName, tbl);
}else{
Partition part = db.getPartition(tbl,partSpec,false);
Map<String,String> partParams = part.getParameters();
if(partParams == null){
partParams = new HashMap<String, String>();