columnEntry.getKey().endsWith(":") ? columnEntry.getKey()
: columnEntry.getKey() + ":");
// get the table descriptor so we can get the old column descriptor
HTableDescriptor tDesc = getTableDescByName(admin, tableName);
HColumnDescriptor oldColumnDesc = tDesc.families().get(columnName);
// combine the options specified in the shell with the options
// from the exiting descriptor to produce the new descriptor
columnDesc = getColumnDescriptor(columnName.toString(), columnEntry
.getValue(), oldColumnDesc);