InterBase 5 Server

Programmer’s
Guide

InterBase
SOFTWARE CORPORATION
®

1800 Green Hills Road Scotts Valley, CA 95066 http://www.interbase.com

February 27, 1998 (D:\5.1\5PGuide\PGTitle.fm5)

InterBase Software Corp. and Borland International may have patents and/or pending patent applications
covering subject matter in this document. The furnishing of this document does not convey any license to these
patents.
Copyright 1998 InterBase Software Corporation. All rights reserved. All InterBase products are trademarks or
registered trademarks of InterBase Software Corporation. All Borland products are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Borland International, Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.
INT0050WW21003 5E3R0298
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Table of Contents

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Chapter 1 Using the Programmer’s Guide Chapter 3 Working with Databases

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Chapter Description
Chapter 1, “Using the Programmer’s Guide” Introduces the structure of the book and describes its intended
audience.
Chapter 2, “Application Requirements” Describes elements common to programming all SQL and DSQL
applications.
Chapter 3, “Working with Databases” Describes using SQL statements that deal with databases.
Chapter 4, “Working with Transactions” Explains how to use and control transactions with SQL statements.
Chapter 5, “Working with Data Definition Describes how to embed SQL data definition statements in
Statements” applications.
Chapter 6, “Working with Data” Explains how to select, insert, update, and delete standard SQL data in
applications.
Chapter 7, “Working with Dates” Describes how to select, insert, update, and delete DATE data in
applications.
Chapter 8, “Working with Blob Data” Describes how to select, insert, update, and delete Blob data in
applications.
Chapter 9, “Using Arrays” Describes how to select, insert, update, and delete array data in
applications.
Chapter 10, “Working with User-Defined Functions” Describes how to write UDFs, how to call UDFs in applications, how to
write Blob filters, and how to create Blob filter libraries.
Chapter 11, “Working with Stored Procedures” Explains how to call stored procedures in applications.
Chapter 12, “Working with Events” Explains how triggers interact with applications. Describes how to
register interest in events, wait on them, and respond to them in
applications.
Chapter 13, “Error Handling and Recovery” Describes how to trap and handle SQL statement errors in
applications.
TABLE 1.1 Chapters in the InterBase 5 Programmer’s Guide

2 INTERBASE 5
SAMPLE DATABASE AND APPLICATIONS

Chapter Description
Chapter 14, “Using Dynamic SQL” Describes how to write DSQL applications.
Chapter 15, “Preprocessing, Compiling, Describes how to convert source code into an executable application.
and Linking”
Appendix A, “InterBase Document Conventions” Lists typefaces and special characters used in this book to describe
syntax and identify object types.
TABLE 1.1 Chapters in the InterBase 5 Programmer’s Guide (continued)

Sample database and applications

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 3
 CHAPTER

Application Requirements
Chapter2
2
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Requirements for all applications

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5
 CHAPTER 2 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

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Porting considerations for SQL

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)RUDGGLWLRQDOSRUWDELOLW\GHFODUHDOOKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHVZLWKLQVHFWLRQV

Porting considerations for DSQL

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64/GHVFULSWRUDUHD 64/'$ PXVWEHPRGLILHGWRDFFRPPRGDWHWKHH[WHQGHG64/'$
;64/'$ XVHGE\,QWHU%DVH

Declaring host variables

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FROXPQ&28175<
… WHERE COUNTRY = "Mexico";
… WHERE COUNTRY = :country;

6 INTERBASE 5
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICATIONS

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´:RUNLQJZLWK'DWDµ
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IROORZDOOVWDQGDUGKRVWODQJXDJHUXOHVIRUGHFODUDWLRQLQLWLDOL]DWLRQDQGPDQLSXODWLRQ)RU
H[DPSOHLQ&YDULDEOHVPXVWEHGHFODUHGEHIRUHWKH\FDQEHXVHGDVKRVWYDULDEOHVLQ64/
VWDWHPHQWV
int empno; char fname[26], lname[26];
)RUFRPSDWLELOLW\ZLWKRWKHU64/YDULDQWVKRVWYDULDEOHVFDQDOVREHGHFODUHGEHWZHHQ
%(*,1'(&/$5(6(&7,21DQG(1''(&/$5(6(&7,21VWDWHPHQWV

4 6HFWLRQGHFODUDWLRQV
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6(&7,21DQG(1''(&/$5(6(&7,21VWDWHPHQWV)RUSRUWDELOLW\DQGFRPSDWLELOLW\
,QWHU%DVHVXSSRUWVVHFWLRQGHFODUDWLRQVXVLQJWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
<hostvar>;
. . .
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
int empno;
char fname[26];
char lname[26];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

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'(&/$5(6(&7,21 VWDWHPHQWV

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 7
 CHAPTER 2 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

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,QWHU%DVHVXSSRUWVDGHFODUDWLYHFODXVH%$6('21IRUFUHDWLQJ&ODQJXDJHFKDUDFWHU
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%$6('21XVHVWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
BASED ON <dbcolumn> hostvar;

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BASED ON EMP.FIRSTNAME fname;
BASED ON EMP.LASTNAME lname;

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char fname[26];
char lname[26];

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WREHGUDZQ
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EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CONNECT EMP;
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
int empno;
BASED ON EMP.FIRSTNAME fname;
BASED ON EMP.LASTNAME lname;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

8 INTERBASE 5
DECLARING AND INITIALIZING DATABASES

4 +RVWODQJXDJHGDWDVWUXFWXUHV
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struct
{
char fname[25];
char lname[25];
char street[30];
char city[20];
char state[3];
char zip[11];
} billing_address;

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VWUXFWXUHPXVWEHUHDGIURPRUZULWWHQWRLQGLYLGXDOGDWDPHPEHUVLQ64/VWDWHPHQWV)RU
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VWUXFWXUH%,//,1*B$''5(66
EXEC SQL
SELECT FNAME, LNAME, STREET, CITY, STATE, ZIP
INTO :billing_address.fname, :billing_address.lname,
:billing_address.street, :billing_address.city,
:billing_address.state, :billing_address.zip
FROM ADDRESSES WHERE CITY = "Brighton";

Declaring and initializing databases

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OLQH

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 9
 CHAPTER 2 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

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64/SURJUDPVVHH&KDSWHU´:RUNLQJZLWK'DWDEDVHVµ

Using SET DATABASE

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SURJUDPXVHWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE handle = "<dbname>";

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VWDWHPHQWVGHFODUHDKDQGOH'%IRUWKHHPSOR\HHJGEGDWDEDVHDQGDQRWKHUKDQGOH'%IRU
HPSOR\HHJGE
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB2 = "employee2.gdb";

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Note 6(7'$7$%$6(DOVRVXSSRUWVXVHUQDPHDQGSDVVZRUGRSWLRQV)RUDFRPSOHWH
GLVFXVVLRQRI6(7'$7$%$6(RSWLRQVVHH&KDSWHU´:RUNLQJZLWK'DWDEDVHVµ

Using CONNECT
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UHVRXUFHVIRULW$GDWDEDVHPXVWEHRSHQHGEHIRUHLWVWDEOHVFDQEHXVHG7RLQFOXGH
&211(&7LQDSURJUDPXVHWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
EXEC SQL
CONNECT handle;

10 INTERBASE 5
DECLARING AND INITIALIZING DATABASES

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PXOWLSOHGDWDEDVHV)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVFRQQHFWWRWZRGDWDEDVHV
EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB1;
EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB2;
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EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB1, DB2;

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'DWDEDVHVµ

Working with a single database

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IROORZLQJVWHSV
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LQWKHSURJUDP)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJGHFODUDWLRQLOOXVWUDWHVDQHPSW\
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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
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GDWDEDVHQHHGQRWEHVSHFLILHGLIDSURJUDPFRQWDLQVD&5($7('$7$%$6(
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´:RUNLQJZLWK'DWDEDVHVµ

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 11
 CHAPTER 2 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

SQL statements
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5HIHUHQFH

Error handling and recovery

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64/&2'(LVGHFODUHGDXWRPDWLFDOO\IRU64/SURJUDPVGXULQJSUHSURFHVVLQJZLWKgpre7R
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´(UURU+DQGOLQJDQG5HFRYHU\µ

Closing transactions
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12 INTERBASE 5
CLOSING TRANSACTIONS

Accepting changes
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XVHUVDQGFORVHVFXUVRUV$&200,7LVXVHGWRSUHVHUYHFKDQJHVZKHQDOORIDWUDQVDFWLRQ·V
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EXEC SQL
COMMIT TRANSACTION name;

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EXEC SQL
COMMIT TRANSACTION MYTRANS;

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7UDQVDFWLRQVµ

Undoing changes
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V\QWD[
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK TRANSACTION name;

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EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK TRANSACTION MYTRANS;

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EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;

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7UDQVDFWLRQVµ

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 13
 CHAPTER 2 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Closing databases
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DSQL requirements
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14 INTERBASE 5
DSQL REQUIREMENTS

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Declaring an XSQLDA
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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
XSQLDA inxsqlda;
XSQLDA outxsqlda;
. . .
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 15
 CHAPTER 2 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

DSQL limitations
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Using database handles

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(QRXJKKDQGOHVPXVWEHGHFODUHGWRVDWLVI\WKHH[SHFWHGQHHGVRIXVHUV2QFHDKDQGOHLV
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LQWKHIROORZLQJ&FRGHIUDJPHQW
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "dummydb.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB2 = "dummydb.gdb";
. . .
printf("Specify first database to open: ");
gets(fname1);
printf("\nSpecify second database to open: ");
gets(fname2);
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = :fname1;
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB2 = :fname2;
. . .

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16 INTERBASE 5
DSQL LIMITATIONS

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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION:
long first, second; /* declare transaction names */
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
first = second = 0L; /* initialize names to zero */
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION first; /* start transaction 1 */
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION second; /* start transaction 2 */
printf("\nSQL> ");
gets(userstatement);
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE TRANSACTION first userstatement;
. . .

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 17
 CHAPTER 2 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

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18 INTERBASE 5
 CHAPTER

Working with Databases

Chapter3
3
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19
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

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EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "employee.gdb";

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EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "/interbase/examples/employee.gdb";

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EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "jupiter:/usr/interbase/examples/employee.gdb";

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EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "//venus/C:/Interbase/examples/employee.gdb";

Declaring multiple databases

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20 INTERBASE 5
DECLARING A DATABASE

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5(/($6(
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. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB2 = "employee2.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "employee.gdb";
. . .

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. . .
EXEC SQL
DECLARE IDMATCH CURSOR FOR
SELECT TESTNO INTO :matchid FROM TEST.EMPLOYEE
WHERE TESTNO > 100;
EXEC SQL
DECLARE EIDMATCH CURSOR FOR
SELECT EMPNO INTO :empid FROM EMP.EMPLOYEE
WHERE EMPNO = :matchid;
. . .

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 21
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

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Preprocessing and run time databases

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EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = COMPILETIME "employee.gdb";

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22 INTERBASE 5
DECLARING A DATABASE

EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = COMPILETIME "employee.gdb"
RUNTIME "employee2.gdb";

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. . .
char db_name[125];
. . .
printf("Enter the desired database name, including node and path):\n");
gets(db_name);
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = COMPILETIME "employee.gdb" RUNTIME :db_name;
. . .
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Controlling SET DATABASE scope

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JOREDOO\GHFODUHGGDWDEDVHLQDQRWKHUPRGXOH,IWKH(;7(51NH\ZRUGLVXVHGWKHQDQRWKHU
PRGXOHPXVWFRQWDLQWKHDFWXDO6(7'$7$%$6(VWDWHPHQWRUDQHUURURFFXUVGXULQJ
FRPSLODWLRQ
7KH67$7,&NH\ZRUGLVXVHGLQDPXOWLPRGXOHSURJUDPWRUHVWULFWGDWDEDVHKDQGOHDFFHVVWR
WKHVLQJOHPRGXOHZKHUHLWLVGHFODUHG7KHIROORZLQJH[DPSOHLOOXVWUDWHVWKHXVHRIWKH
67$7,&NH\ZRUG
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = STATIC "employee.gdb";

7KH(;7(51NH\ZRUGLVXVHGLQDPXOWLPRGXOHSURJUDPWRVLJQDOWKDW6(7'$7$%$6(LQ
RQHPRGXOHLVQRWDQDFWXDOGHFODUDWLRQEXWUHIHUVWRDGHFODUDWLRQPDGHLQDGLIIHUHQW
PRGXOHgpreXVHVWKLVLQIRUPDWLRQGXULQJSUHSURFHVVLQJ7KHIROORZLQJH[DPSOHLOOXVWUDWHV
WKHXVHRIWKH(;7(51NH\ZRUG

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 23
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = EXTERN "employee.gdb";

,IDQDSSOLFDWLRQFRQWDLQVDQ(;7(51UHIHUHQFHWKHQZKHQLWLVXVHGDWUXQWLPHWKHDFWXDO
6(7'$7$%$6(GHFODUDWLRQPXVWEHSURFHVVHGILUVWDQGWKHGDWDEDVHFRQQHFWHGEHIRUHRWKHU
PRGXOHVFDQDFFHVVLW
$VLQJOH6(7'$7$%$6(VWDWHPHQWFDQFRQWDLQHLWKHUWKH67$7,&RU(;7(51NH\ZRUGEXW
QRWERWK$VFRSHGHFODUDWLRQLQ6(7'$7$%$6(DSSOLHVWRERWK
&203,/(7,0(DQG5817,0(GDWDEDVHV

Specifying a connection character set

:KHQDFOLHQWDSSOLFDWLRQFRQQHFWVWRDGDWDEDVHLWPD\KDYHLWVRZQFKDUDFWHUVHW
UHTXLUHPHQWV7KHVHUYHUSURYLGLQJGDWDEDVHDFFHVVWRWKHFOLHQWGRHVQRWNQRZDERXWWKHVH
UHTXLUHPHQWVXQOHVVWKHFOLHQWVSHFLILHVWKHP7KHFOLHQWDSSOLFDWLRQVSHFLILHVLWVFKDUDFWHUVHW
UHTXLUHPHQWXVLQJWKH6(71$0(6VWDWHPHQWEHIRUHLWFRQQHFWVWRWKHGDWDEDVH
6(71$0(6VSHFLILHVWKHFKDUDFWHUVHWWKHVHUYHUVKRXOGXVHZKHQWUDQVODWLQJGDWDIURPWKH
GDWDEDVHWRWKHFOLHQWDSSOLFDWLRQ6LPLODUO\ZKHQWKHFOLHQWVHQGVGDWDWRWKHGDWDEDVHWKH
VHUYHUWUDQVODWHVWKHGDWDIURPWKHFOLHQW·VFKDUDFWHUVHWWRWKHGDWDEDVH·VGHIDXOWFKDUDFWHUVHW
RUWKHFKDUDFWHUVHWIRUDQLQGLYLGXDOFROXPQLILWGLIIHUVIURPWKHGDWDEDVH·VGHIDXOWFKDUDFWHU
VHW 
)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVVSHFLI\WKDWWKHFOLHQWLVXVLQJWKH'26FKDUDFWHU
VHWWKHQFRQQHFWWRWKHGDWDEDVH
EXEC SQL
SET NAMES DOS437;
EXEC SQL
CONNECT "europe.gdb" USER "JAMES" PASSWORD "U4EEAH";

)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWFKDUDFWHUVHWVVHHWKH'DWD'HILQLWLRQ*XLGH)RUWKHFRPSOHWH
V\QWD[RI6(71$0(6DQG&211(&7VHHWKH/DQJXDJH5HIHUHQFH

Opening a database
$IWHUDGDWDEDVHLVGHFODUHGLWPXVWEHDWWDFKHGZLWKD&211(&7VWDWHPHQWEHIRUHLWFDQEH
XVHG&211(&7
g $OORFDWHVV\VWHPUHVRXUFHVIRUWKHGDWDEDVH

24 INTERBASE 5
OPENING A DATABASE

g 'HWHUPLQHVLIWKHGDWDEDVHILOHLVORFDOUHVLGLQJRQWKHVDPHKRVWZKHUHWKHDSSOLFDWLRQLWVHOI
LVUXQQLQJRUUHPRWHUHVLGLQJRQDGLIIHUHQWKRVW
g 2SHQVWKHGDWDEDVHDQGH[DPLQHVLWWRPDNHVXUHLWLVYDOLG
,QWHU%DVHSURYLGHVWUDQVSDUHQWDFFHVVWRDOOGDWDEDVHVZKHWKHUORFDORUUHPRWH,IWKH
GDWDEDVHVWUXFWXUHLVLQYDOLGWKHRQGLVNVWUXFWXUH 2'6 QXPEHUGRHVQRWFRUUHVSRQGWRWKH
RQHUHTXLUHGE\,QWHU%DVHRULIWKHGDWDEDVHLVFRUUXSW,QWHU%DVHUHSRUWVDQHUURUDQG
SHUPLWVQRIXUWKHUDFFHVV
2SWLRQDOO\&211(&7FDQEHXVHGWRVSHFLI\
g $XVHUQDPHDQGSDVVZRUGFRPELQDWLRQWKDWLVFKHFNHGDJDLQVWWKHVHUYHU·VVHFXULW\GDWDEDVH
EHIRUHDOORZLQJWKHFRQQHFWWRVXFFHHG8VHUQDPHVFDQEHXSWRFKDUDFWHUV3DVVZRUGV
DUHUHVWULFWHGWRFKDUDFWHUV
g $Q64/UROHQDPHWKDWWKHXVHUDGRSWVRQFRQQHFWLRQWRWKHGDWDEDVHSURYLGHGWKDWWKHXVHU
KDVSUHYLRXVO\EHHQJUDQWHGPHPEHUVKLSLQWKHUROH5HJDUGOHVVRIUROHPHPEHUVKLSV
JUDQWHGWKHXVHUEHORQJVWRQRUROHXQOHVVVSHFLILHGZLWKWKLV52/(FODXVH7KHFOLHQWFDQ
VSHFLI\DWPRVWRQHUROHSHUFRQQHFWLRQDQGFDQQRWVZLWFKUROHVH[FHSWE\UHFRQQHFWLQJ
g 7KHVL]HRIWKHGDWDEDVHEXIIHUFDFKHWRDOORFDWHWRWKHDSSOLFDWLRQZKHQWKHGHIDXOWFDFKH
VL]HLVLQDSSURSULDWH

Using simple CONNECT statements

,QLWVVLPSOHVWIRUP&211(&7UHTXLUHVRQHRUPRUHGDWDEDVHSDUDPHWHUVHDFKVSHFLI\LQJ
WKHQDPHRIDGDWDEDVHWRRSHQ7KHQDPHRIWKHGDWDEDVHFDQEHD
g 'DWDEDVHKDQGOHGHFODUHGLQDSUHYLRXV6(7'$7$%$6(VWDWHPHQW
g +RVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOH
g +DUGFRGHGILOHQDPH

4 8VLQJDGDWDEDVHKDQGOH
,IDSURJUDPXVHV6(7'$7$%$6(WRSURYLGHGDWDEDVHKDQGOHVWKRVHKDQGOHVVKRXOGEHXVHG
LQVXEVHTXHQW&211(&7VWDWHPHQWVLQVWHDGRIKDUGFRGHGQDPHV)RUH[DPSOH
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB2 = "employee2.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB1;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 25
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB2;
. . .

7KHUHDUHVHYHUDODGYDQWDJHVWRXVLQJDGDWDEDVHKDQGOHZLWK&211(&7
g /RQJILOHVSHFLILFDWLRQVFDQEHUHSODFHGE\VKRUWHUPQHPRQLFKDQGOHV
g +DQGOHVFDQEHXVHGWRTXDOLI\WDEOHQDPHVLQPXOWLGDWDEDVHWUDQVDFWLRQV'64/
DSSOLFDWLRQVGRQRWVXSSRUWPXOWLGDWDEDVHWUDQVDFWLRQV
g +DQGOHVFDQEHUHDVVLJQHGWRRWKHUGDWDEDVHVDVQHHGHG
g 7KHQXPEHURIGDWDEDVHFDFKHEXIIHUVFDQEHVSHFLILHGDVDQDGGLWLRQDO&211(&7
SDUDPHWHU
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWVHWWLQJWKHQXPEHURIGDWDEDVHFDFKHEXIIHUVVHH´6HWWLQJ
GDWDEDVHFDFKHEXIIHUVµRQSDJH 

4 8VLQJVWULQJVRUKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHV
,QVWHDGRIXVLQJDGDWDEDVHKDQGOH&211(&7FDQXVHDGDWDEDVHQDPHVXSSOLHGDWUXQWLPH
7KHGDWDEDVHQDPHFDQEHVXSSOLHGDVHLWKHUDKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHRUDKDUGFRGHGTXRWHG
VWULQJ
7KHIROORZLQJ&FRGHGHPRQVWUDWHVKRZDSURJUDPDFFHVVLQJRQO\DVLQJOHGDWDEDVHPLJKW
LPSOHPHQW&211(&7XVLQJDILOHQDPHVROLFLWHGIURPDXVHUDWUXQWLPH
. . .
char fname[125];
. . .
printf("Enter the desired database name, including node and path):\n");
gets(fname);
. . .
EXEC SQL
CONNECT :fname;
. . .

7,3 7KLVWHFKQLTXHLVHVSHFLDOO\XVHIXOIRUSURJUDPVWKDWDUHGHVLJQHGWRZRUNZLWKPDQ\
LGHQWLFDOO\VWUXFWXUHGGDWDEDVHVRQHDWDWLPHVXFKDV&$'&$0RUDUFKLWHFWXUDO
GDWDEDVHV

MULTIPLE DATABASE IMPLEMENTATION

7RXVHDGDWDEDVHVSHFLILHGE\WKHXVHUDVDKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHLQD&211(&7VWDWHPHQW
LQPXOWLGDWDEDVHSURJUDPVIROORZWKHVHVWHSV

26 INTERBASE 5
OPENING A DATABASE

 'HFODUHDGDWDEDVHKDQGOHXVLQJWKHIROORZLQJ6(7'$7$%$6(V\QWD[
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE handle = COMPILETIME "dbname";

+HUHKDQGOHLVDKDUGFRGHGGDWDEDVHKDQGOHVXSSOLHGE\WKHSURJUDPPHUGEQDPHLVD
TXRWHGKDUGFRGHGGDWDEDVHQDPHXVHGE\gpreGXULQJSUHSURFHVVLQJ
 3URPSWWKHXVHUIRUDGDWDEDVHWRRSHQ
 6WRUHWKHGDWDEDVHQDPHHQWHUHGE\WKHXVHULQDKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOH
 8VHWKHKDQGOHWRRSHQWKHGDWDEDVHDVVRFLDWLQJWKHKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHZLWK
WKHKDQGOHXVLQJWKHIROORZLQJ&211(&7V\QWD[
EXEC SQL
CONNECT :variable AS handle;

7KHIROORZLQJ&FRGHLOOXVWUDWHVWKHVHVWHSV
. . .
char fname[125];
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "employee.gdb";
printf("Enter the desired database name, including node and path):\n");
gets(fname);
EXEC SQL
CONNECT :fname AS DB1;
. . .

,QWKLVH[DPSOH6(7'$7$%$6(SURYLGHVDKDUGFRGHGGDWDEDVHILOHQDPHIRUSUHSURFHVVLQJ
ZLWKgpre:KHQDXVHUUXQVWKHSURJUDPWKHGDWDEDVHVSHFLILHGLQWKHYDULDEOHIQDPHLVXVHG
LQVWHDG

4 8VLQJDKDUGFRGHGGDWDEDVHQDPHV
IN SINGE-DATABASE PROGRAMS
,QDVLQJOHGDWDEDVHSURJUDPWKDWRPLWV6(7'$7$%$6(&211(&7PXVWFRQWDLQD
KDUGFRGHGTXRWHGILOHQDPHLQWKHIROORZLQJIRUPDW
EXEC SQL
CONNECT "[host[path]]filename";

KRVWLVRQO\UHTXLUHGLIDSURJUDPDQGDGDWDEDVHILOHLWXVHVUHVLGHRQGLIIHUHQWQRGHV6LPLODUO\
SDWKLVRQO\UHTXLUHGLIWKHGDWDEDVHILOHGRHVQRWUHVLGHLQWKHFXUUHQWZRUNLQJGLUHFWRU\)RU
H[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJ&211(&7VWDWHPHQWFRQWDLQVDKDUGFRGHGILOHQDPHWKDWLQFOXGHV
ERWKD8QL[KRVWQDPHDQGDSDWKQDPH

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 27
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

EXEC SQL
CONNECT "valdez:usr/interbase/examples/employee.gdb";
Note +RVWV\QWD[LVVSHFLILFWRHDFKVHUYHUSODWIRUP

,03257$17 $SURJUDPWKDWDFFHVVHVPXOWLSOHGDWDEDVHVFDQQRWXVHWKLVIRUPRI&211(&7

IN MULTI-DATABASE PROGRAMS
$SURJUDPWKDWDFFHVVHVPXOWLSOHGDWDEDVHVPXVWGHFODUHKDQGOHVIRUHDFKRIWKHPLQVHSDUDWH
6(7'$7$%$6(VWDWHPHQWV7KHVHKDQGOHVPXVWEHXVHGLQVXEVHTXHQW&211(&7VWDWHPHQWV
WRLGHQWLI\VSHFLILFGDWDEDVHVWRRSHQ
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB1 = "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE DB2 = "employee2.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB1;
EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB2;
. . .

/DWHUZKHQWKHSURJUDPFORVHVWKHVHGDWDEDVHVWKHGDWDEDVHKDQGOHVDUHQRORQJHULQXVH
7KHVHKDQGOHVFDQEHUHDVVLJQHGWRRWKHUGDWDEDVHVE\KDUGFRGLQJDILOHQDPHLQD
VXEVHTXHQW&211(&7VWDWHPHQW)RUH[DPSOH
. . .
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT DB1, DB2;
EXEC SQL
CONNECT "project.gdb" AS DB1;
. . .

28 INTERBASE 5
OPENING A DATABASE

Additional CONNECT syntax

&211(&7VXSSRUWVVHYHUDOIRUPDWVIRURSHQLQJGDWDEDVHVWRSURYLGHSURJUDPPLQJ
IOH[LELOLW\7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHRXWOLQHVHDFKSRVVLEOHV\QWD[SURYLGHVGHVFULSWLRQVDQG
H[DPSOHVDQGLQGLFDWHVZKHWKHU&211(&7FDQEHXVHGLQSURJUDPVWKDWDFFHVVVLQJOHRU
PXOWLSOHGDWDEDVHV

Single Multiple
Syntax Description Example access access
CONNECT “dbfile”; Open a single, hard-coded database file, dbfile. EXEC SQL Yes No
CONNECT
“employee.gdb”;
CONNECT handle; Open the database file associated with a EXEC SQL Yes Yes
previously declared database handle. This is the CONNECT EMP;
preferred CONNECT syntax.
CONNECT “dbfile” AS Open a hard-coded database file, dbfile, and EXEC SQL Yes Yes
handle; assign a previously declared database handle to CONNECT
it. “employee.gdb”
AS EMP;
CONNECT :varname AS Open the database file stored in the EXEC SQL Yes Yes
handle; host-language variable, varname, and assign a CONNECT :fname AS
previously declared database handle to it. EMP;

TABLE 3.1 CONNECT syntax summary

)RUDFRPSOHWHGLVFXVVLRQRI&211(&7V\QWD[DQGLWVXVHVVHHWKH/DQJXDJH5HIHUHQFH

Attaching to multiple databases

&211(&7FDQDWWDFKWRPXOWLSOHGDWDEDVHV7RRSHQDOOGDWDEDVHVVSHFLILHGLQSUHYLRXV6(7
'$7$%$6(VWDWHPHQWVXVHHLWKHURIWKHIROORZLQJ&211(&7V\QWD[RSWLRQV
EXEC SQL
CONNECT ALL;

EXEC SQL
CONNECT DEFAULT;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 29
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

&211(&7FDQDOVRDWWDFKWRDVSHFLILHGOLVWRIGDWDEDVHV6HSDUDWHHDFKGDWDEDVHUHTXHVWIURP
RWKHUVZLWKFRPPDV)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWRSHQVWZRGDWDEDVHVVSHFLILHGE\
WKHLUKDQGOHV
EXEC SQL
CONNECT DB1, DB2;

7KHQH[WVWDWHPHQWRSHQVWZRKDUGFRGHGGDWDEDVHILOHVDQGDOVRDVVLJQVWKHPWRSUHYLRXVO\
GHFODUHGKDQGOHV
EXEC SQL
CONNECT "employee.gdb" AS DB1, "employee2.gdb" AS DB2;

7,3 2SHQLQJPXOWLSOHGDWDEDVHVZLWKDVLQJOH&211(&7LVPRVWHIIHFWLYHZKHQDSURJUDP·V
GDWDEDVHDFFHVVLVVLPSOHDQGFOHDU,QFRPSOH[SURJUDPVWKDWRSHQDQGFORVHVHYHUDO
GDWDEDVHVWKDWVXEVWLWXWHGDWDEDVHQDPHVZLWKKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHVRUWKDWDVVLJQ
PXOWLSOHKDQGOHVWRWKHVDPHGDWDEDVHXVHVHSDUDWH&211(&7VWDWHPHQWVWRPDNHSURJUDP
FRGHHDVLHUWRUHDGGHEXJDQGPRGLI\

Handling CONNECT errors

7KH:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWVKRXOGEHXVHGWRWUDSDQGKDQGOHUXQWLPHHUURUVWKDWRFFXU
GXULQJGDWDEDVHGHFODUDWLRQ7KHIROORZLQJ&FRGHIUDJPHQWLOOXVWUDWHVDQHUURUKDQGOLQJ
URXWLQHWKDWGLVSOD\VHUURUPHVVDJHVDQGHQGVWKHSURJUDPLQDQRUGHUO\IDVKLRQ
. . .
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR
GOTO error_exit;
. . .
:error_exit
isc_print_sqlerr(sqlcode, status_vector);
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
exit(1);
. . .

)RUDFRPSOHWHGLVFXVVLRQRI64/HUURUKDQGOLQJVHH&KDSWHU´(UURU+DQGOLQJDQG
5HFRYHU\µ

30 INTERBASE 5
OPENING A DATABASE

Setting database cache buffers

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GDWDEDVHIRUWKDWFRQQHFWLRQ:KHQDSURJUDPHVWDEOLVKHVDFRQQHFWLRQWRDGDWDEDVH
,QWHU%DVHDOORFDWHVV\VWHPPHPRU\WRXVHDVDSULYDWHEXIIHU7KHEXIIHUVDUHXVHGWRVWRUH
DFFHVVHGGDWDEDVHSDJHVWRVSHHGSHUIRUPDQFH7KHQXPEHURIEXIIHUVDVVLJQHGIRUD
SURJUDPGHWHUPLQHKRZPDQ\VLPXOWDQHRXVGDWDEDVHSDJHVLWFDQKDYHDFFHVVWRLQWKH
PHPRU\SRRO%XIIHUVUHPDLQDVVLJQHGXQWLODSURJUDPILQLVKHVZLWKDGDWDEDVH
7KHGHIDXOWQXPEHURIGDWDEDVHFDFKHEXIIHUVDVVLJQHGWRDGDWDEDVHLV7KLVGHIDXOWFDQ
EHFKDQJHGHLWKHUIRUDVSHFLILFGDWDEDVHRUIRUDQHQWLUHVHUYHU
g 8VHWKHgfixXWLOLW\WRVHWDQHZGHIDXOWFDFKHEXIIHUVL]HIRUDGDWDEDVH6HHWKH2SHUDWLRQV
*XLGHIRUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWVHWWLQJGDWDEDVHEXIIHUVL]HZLWKgfix
g &KDQJHWKHYDOXHRI'$7$%$6(B&$&+(B3$*(6LQWKH,QWHU%DVHFRQILJXUDWLRQILOHWRFKDQJH
WKHGHIDXOWFDFKHEXIIHUVL]HRQDVHUYHUZLGHEDVLV8VHWKLVRSWLRQZLWKFDUHVLQFHLWPDNHV
LWHDV\WRRYHUXVHPHPRU\RUFUHDWHXQXVDEO\VPDOOFDFKHV

4 6HWWLQJLQGLYLGXDOGDWDEDVHEXIIHUV
)RUSURJUDPVWKDWDFFHVVRUFKDQJHPDQ\URZVLQPDQ\GDWDEDVHVSHUIRUPDQFHFDQ
VRPHWLPHVEHLPSURYHGE\LQFUHDVLQJWKHQXPEHURIEXIIHUV7KHPD[LPXPQXPEHURI
EXIIHUVDOORZHGLVV\VWHPGHSHQGHQW
g 8VHWKH&$&+(QSDUDPHWHUZLWK&211(&7WRFKDQJHWKHQXPEHURIEXIIHUVDVVLJQHGWRD
GDWDEDVHIRUWKHGXUDWLRQRIWKHFRQQHFWLRQZKHUHQLVWKHQXPEHURIEXIIHUVWRUHVHUYH7R
VHWWKHQXPEHURIEXIIHUVIRUDQLQGLYLGXDOGDWDEDVHSODFH&$&+(QDIWHUWKHGDWDEDVHQDPH
7KHIROORZLQJ&211(&7VSHFLILHVEXIIHUVIRUWKHGDWDEDVHSRLQWHGWRE\WKH(03
KDQGOH
EXEC SQL
CONNECT EMP CACHE 500;

Note ,I\RXVSHFLI\DEXIIHUVL]HWKDWLVOHVVWKDQWKHVPDOOHVWRQHFXUUHQWO\LQXVHIRUWKH
GDWDEDVHWKHUHTXHVWLVLJQRUHG
7KHQH[WVWDWHPHQWRSHQVWZRGDWDEDVHV7(67DQG(03%HFDXVH&$&+(LVQRWVSHFLILHGIRU
7(67LWVEXIIHUVGHIDXOWWR(03LVRSHQHGZLWKWKH&$&+(FODXVHVSHFLI\LQJEXIIHUV
EXEC SQL
CONNECT TEST, EMP CACHE 400;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 31
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

4 6SHFLI\LQJEXIIHUVIRUDOOGDWDEDVHV
7RVSHFLI\WKHVDPHQXPEHURIEXIIHUVIRUDOOGDWDEDVHVXVH&211(&7$//ZLWKWKH&$&+(
QSDUDPHWHU)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVFRQQHFWWRWZRGDWDEDVHV(03DQG
(03DQGDOORWEXIIHUVWRHDFKRIWKHP
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP2 = "test.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CONNECT ALL CACHE 400;
. . .

7KHVDPHHIIHFWFDQEHDFKLHYHGE\VSHFLI\LQJWKHVDPHDPRXQWRIFDFKHIRULQGLYLGXDO
GDWDEDVHV
. . .
EXEC SQL
CONNECT EMP CACHE 400, TEST CACHE 400;
. . .

Accessing an open database

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g 2QHGDWDEDVHFDQEHDFFHVVHGLQDVLQJOHWUDQVDFWLRQ
g 2QHGDWDEDVHFDQEHDFFHVVHGLQPXOWLSOHWUDQVDFWLRQV
g 0XOWLSOHGDWDEDVHVFDQEHDFFHVVHGLQDVLQJOHWUDQVDFWLRQ
g 0XOWLSOHGDWDEDVHVFDQEHDFFHVVHGLQPXOWLSOHWUDQVDFWLRQV
)RUJHQHUDOLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWXVLQJWUDQVDFWLRQVVHH&KDSWHU´:RUNLQJZLWK
7UDQVDFWLRQVµ

Differentiating table names

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HQVXUHLQWHQGHGEHKDYLRU:KHQWZRRUPRUHGDWDEDVHVKDYHWDEOHVWKDWVKDUHWKHVDPHQDPH
DGDWDEDVHKDQGOHPXVWEHSUHIL[HGWRWKRVHWDEOHQDPHVWRGLIIHUHQWLDWHWKHPIURPRQH
DQRWKHULQWUDQVDFWLRQV

32 INTERBASE 5
CLOSING A DATABASE

$WDEOHQDPHGLIIHUHQWLDWHGE\DGDWDEDVHKDQGOHWDNHVWKHIRUP
handle.table

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DQRWKHU(03/2<((WDEOHLQ(037(67DQG(03DUHXVHGDVSUHIL[HVWRLQGLFDWHZKLFK
(03/2<((WDEOHVKRXOGEHUHIHUHQFHG
. . .
EXEC SQL
DECLARE IDMATCH CURSOR FOR
SELECT TESTNO INTO :matchid FROM TEST.EMPLOYEE
WHERE (SELECT EMPNO FROM EMP.EMPLOYEE WHERE EMPNO = TESTNO);
. . .
Note '64/GRHVQRWVXSSRUWDFFHVVWRPXOWLSOHGDWDEDVHVLQDVLQJOHVWDWHPHQW

Closing a database
:KHQDSURJUDPLVILQLVKHGZLWKDGDWDEDVHWKHGDWDEDVHVKRXOGEHFORVHG,Q64/D
GDWDEDVHFDQEHFORVHGLQHLWKHURIWKHIROORZLQJZD\V
g ,VVXHD',6&211(&7WRGHWDFKDGDWDEDVHDQGFORVHILOHV
g $SSHQGD5(/($6(RSWLRQWRD&200,7RU52//%$&.WRGLVFRQQHFWIURPDGDWDEDVHDQG
FORVHILOHV
',6&211(&7&200,75(/($6(DQG52//%$&.5(/($6(SHUIRUPWKHIROORZLQJWDVNV
g &ORVHRSHQGDWDEDVHILOHV
g 'LVFRQQHFWIURPUHPRWHGDWDEDVHFRQQHFWLRQV
g 5HOHDVHWKHPHPRU\WKDWKROGVGDWDEDVHPHWDGDWDGHVFULSWLRQVDQG,QWHU%DVH
HQJLQHFRPSLOHGUHTXHVWV
Note &ORVLQJGDWDEDVHVZLWK',6&211(&7LVSUHIHUUHGIRUFRPSDWLELOLW\ZLWKWKH64/
VWDQGDUG'RQRWFORVHDGDWDEDVHXQWLOLWLVQRORQJHUQHHGHG2QFHFORVHGDGDWDEDVHPXVW
EHUHRSHQHGDQGLWVUHVRXUFHVUHDOORFDWHGEHIRUHLWFDQEHXVHGDJDLQ

With DISCONNECT
7RFORVHDOORSHQGDWDEDVHVE\GLVFRQQHFWLQJIURPWKHPXVHWKHIROORZLQJ',6&211(&7
V\QWD[
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT {ALL | DEFAULT};

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 33
 CHAPTER 3 WORKING WITH DATABASES

)RUH[DPSOHHDFKRIWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVFORVHVDOORSHQGDWDEDVHVLQD
SURJUDP
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT DEFAULT;

7RFORVHVSHFLILFGDWDEDVHVVSHFLI\WKHLUKDQGOHVDVFRPPDGHOLPLWHGSDUDPHWHUVXVLQJWKH
IROORZLQJV\QWD[
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT handle [, handle ...];

)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWGLVFRQQHFWVIURPWZRGDWDEDVHV
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT DB1, DB2;
Note $GDWDEDVHVKRXOGQRWEHFORVHGXQWLODOOWUDQVDFWLRQVDUHILQLVKHGZLWKLWRULWPXVWEH
UHRSHQHGDQGLWVUHVRXUFHVUHDOORFDWHG

With COMMIT and ROLLBACK

7RFORVHDOORSHQGDWDEDVHVZKHQ\RX&200,7RU52//%$&.XVHWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
EXEC SQL
{COMMIT | ROLLBACK} RELEASE;

)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJ&200,7FORVHVDOORSHQGDWDEDVHV
EXEC SQL
COMMIT RELEASE;

7RFORVHVSHFLILFGDWDEDVHVSURYLGHWKHLUKDQGOHVDVSDUDPHWHUVIROORZLQJWKH5(/($6(
RSWLRQZLWK&200,7RU52//%$&.XVLQJWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
EXEC SQL
COMMIT | ROLLBACK RELEASE handle [, handle ...];

,QWKHIROORZLQJH[DPSOHWKH52//%$&.VWDWHPHQWFORVHVWZRGDWDEDVHV
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK RELEASE DB1, DB2;

34 INTERBASE 5
 CHAPTER

Working with Transactions

Chapter4
4
$OO64/GDWDGHILQLWLRQDQGGDWDPDQLSXODWLRQVWDWHPHQWVWDNHSODFHZLWKLQWKHFRQWH[WRID
WUDQVDFWLRQDVHWRI64/VWDWHPHQWVWKDWZRUNVWRFDUU\RXWDVLQJOHWDVN7KLVFKDSWHUH[SODLQV
KRZWRRSHQFRQWURODQGFORVHWUDQVDFWLRQVXVLQJWKHIROORZLQJ64/WUDQVDFWLRQ
PDQDJHPHQWVWDWHPHQWV

35
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

Statement Purpose
SET TRANSACTION Starts a transaction, assigns it a name, and specifies its behavior. The following
behaviors can be specified:
Access mode describes the actions a transaction’s statements can perform.
Lock resolution describes how a transaction should react if a lock conflict occurs.
Isolation level describes the view of the database given a transaction as it relates
to actions performed by other simultaneously occurring transactions.
Table reservation, an optional list of tables to lock for access at the start of the
transaction rather than at the time of explicit reads or writes.
Database specification, an optional list limiting the open databases to which a
transaction may have access.
COMMIT Saves a transaction’s changes to the database and ends the transaction.
ROLLBACK Undoes a transaction’s changes before they have been committed to the
database, and ends the transaction.
TABLE 4.1 SQL transaction management statements

7UDQVDFWLRQPDQDJHPHQWVWDWHPHQWVGHILQHWKHEHJLQQLQJDQGHQGRIDWUDQVDFWLRQ7KH\DOVR
FRQWUROLWVEHKDYLRUDQGLQWHUDFWLRQZLWKRWKHUVLPXOWDQHRXVO\UXQQLQJWUDQVDFWLRQVWKDWVKDUH
DFFHVVWRWKHVDPHGDWDZLWKLQDQGDFURVVDSSOLFDWLRQV
7KHUHDUHWZRW\SHVRIWUDQVDFWLRQVLQ,QWHU%DVH
g JGVBBWUDQVLVDGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQWKDW,QWHU%DVHXVHVZKHQLWHQFRXQWHUVDVWDWHPHQW
UHTXLULQJDWUDQVDFWLRQZLWKRXWILUVWILQGLQJD6(775$16$&7,21VWDWHPHQW$GHIDXOW
EHKDYLRULVGHILQHGIRUJGVBBWUDQVEXWLWFDQEHFKDQJHGE\VWDUWLQJWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQ
ZLWK6(775$16$&7,21DQGVSHFLI\LQJDOWHUQDWLYHEHKDYLRUDVSDUDPHWHUV7UHDWJGVBBWUDQV
DVDJOREDOYDULDEOHRIW\SHLVFBWUBKDQGOH
Note :KHQXVLQJWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQZLWKRXWH[SOLFLWO\VWDUWLQJLWZLWK6(7
75$16$&7,21DSSOLFDWLRQVPXVWEHSUHSURFHVVHGZLWKRXWWKH gprePVZLWFK
g 1DPHGWUDQVDFWLRQVDUHDOZD\VVWDUWHGZLWK6(775$16$&7,21VWDWHPHQWV7KHVHVWDWHPHQWV
SURYLGHXQLTXHQDPHVIRUHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQDQGXVXDOO\LQFOXGHSDUDPHWHUVWKDWVSHFLI\D
WUDQVDFWLRQ·VEHKDYLRU
([FHSWIRUQDPLQJFRQYHQWLRQVDQGXVHLQPXOWLWUDQVDFWLRQSURJUDPVERWKWKHGHIDXOWDQG
QDPHGWUDQVDFWLRQVRIIHUWKHVDPHFRQWURORYHUWUDQVDFWLRQV6(775$16$&7,21KDV
RSWLRQDOSDUDPHWHUVIRUVSHFLI\LQJDFFHVVPRGHORFNUHVROXWLRQDQGLVRODWLRQOHYHO

36 INTERBASE 5
STARTING THE DEFAULT TRANSACTION

)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWgpreVHH&KDSWHU´3UHSURFHVVLQJ&RPSLOLQJDQG /LQNLQJµ
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWWUDQVDFWLRQEHKDYLRUVHH´6SHFLI\LQJ6(775$16$&7,21
EHKDYLRUµRQSDJH 

Starting the default transaction

,IDWUDQVDFWLRQLVVWDUWHGZLWKRXWDVSHFLILHGEHKDYLRUWKHIROORZLQJGHIDXOWEHKDYLRULVXVHG
READ WRITE WAIT ISOLATION LEVEL SNAPSHOT

7KHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQLVHVSHFLDOO\XVHIXOIRUSURJUDPVWKDWXVHRQO\DVLQJOHWUDQVDFWLRQ,W
LVDXWRPDWLFDOO\VWDUWHGLQSURJUDPVWKDWUHTXLUHDWUDQVDFWLRQFRQWH[WZKHUHQRQHLVH[SOLFLWO\
SURYLGHG,WFDQDOVREHH[SOLFLWO\VWDUWHGLQDSURJUDPZLWK6(775$16$&7,21
7ROHDUQPRUHDERXWWUDQVDFWLRQEHKDYLRUVHH´6WDUWLQJWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQµRQSDJH 

Starting without SET TRANSACTION

6LPSOHVLQJOHWUDQVDFWLRQSURJUDPVFDQRPLW6(775$16$&7,217KHIROORZLQJSURJUDP
IUDJPHQWLVVXHVD6(/(&7VWDWHPHQWZLWKRXWVWDUWLQJDWUDQVDFWLRQ
. . .
EXEC SQL
SELECT * FROM CITIES
WHERE POPULATION > 4000000
ORDER BY POPULATION, CITY;
. . .

$SURJUDPPHUQHHGRQO\VWDUWWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQH[SOLFLWO\LQDVLQJOHWUDQVDFWLRQ
SURJUDPWRPRGLI\LWVRSHUDWLQJFKDUDFWHULVWLFVRUZKHQZULWLQJD'64/DSSOLFDWLRQWKDWLV
SUHSURFHVVHGZLWKWKHgpre -mVZLWFK
'XULQJSUHSURFHVVLQJZKHQgpreHQFRXQWHUVDVWDWHPHQWVXFKDV6(/(&7WKDWUHTXLUHVD
WUDQVDFWLRQFRQWH[WZLWKRXWILUVWILQGLQJD6(775$16$&7,21VWDWHPHQWLWDXWRPDWLFDOO\
JHQHUDWHVDGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQDVORQJDVWKH-mVZLWFKLVQRWVSHFLILHG$GHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQ
VWDUWHGE\gpreXVHVDSUHGHILQHGRUGHIDXOWEHKDYLRUWKDWGLFWDWHVKRZWKHWUDQVDFWLRQ
LQWHUDFWVZLWKRWKHUVLPXOWDQHRXVWUDQVDFWLRQVDWWHPSWLQJWRDFFHVVWKHVDPHGDWD

,03257$17 '64/SURJUDPVVKRXOGEHSUHSURFHVVHGZLWKWKHgpre -mVZLWFKLIWKH\VWDUWDWUDQVDFWLRQ

WKURXJK'64/,QWKLVPRGHgpreGRHVQRWJHQHUDWHWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQDVQHHGHGEXW
LQVWHDGUHSRUWVDQHUURULIWKHUHLVQRWUDQVDFWLRQ

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 37
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWWUDQVDFWLRQEHKDYLRUVWKDWFDQEHPRGLILHGVHH´6SHFLI\LQJ
6(775$16$&7,21EHKDYLRUµRQSDJH )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWXVLQJWKHgpre
-mVZLWFKVHH&KDSWHU´3UHSURFHVVLQJ&RPSLOLQJDQG /LQNLQJµ

Starting with SET TRANSACTION

6(775$16$&7,21LVVXHGZLWKRXWSDUDPHWHUVVWDUWVWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQJGVBBWUDQVZLWK
WKHIROORZLQJGHIDXOWEHKDYLRU
READ WRITE WAIT ISOLATION LEVEL SNAPSHOT

7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHVXPPDUL]HVWKHVHVHWWLQJV

Parameter Setting Purpose

Access mode READ WRITE Access mode. This transaction can select, insert, update, and delete
data.
Lock resolution WAIT Lock resolution. This transaction waits for locked tables and rows to
be released to see if it can then update them before reporting a lock
conflict.
Isolation level ISOLATION LEVEL SNAPSHOT This transaction receives a stable, unchanging view of the database
as it is at the moment the transaction starts; it never sees changes
made to the database by other active transactions.
TABLE 4.2 Default transaction default behavior

Note ([SOLFLWO\VWDUWLQJWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQLVJRRGSURJUDPPLQJSUDFWLFH,WPDNHVD
SURJUDP·VVRXUFHFRGHHDVLHUWRXQGHUVWDQG
7KHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVDUHHTXLYDOHQW7KH\ERWKVWDUWWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQZLWKWKH
GHIDXOWEHKDYLRU
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME gds__trans READ WRITE WAIT ISOLATION LEVEL
SNAPSHOT;

7RVWDUWWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQEXWFKDQJHLWVFKDUDFWHULVWLFV6(775$16$&7,21PXVWEH
XVHGWRVSHFLI\WKRVHFKDUDFWHULVWLFVWKDWGLIIHUIURPWKHGHIDXOW&KDUDFWHULVWLFVWKDWGRQRW
GLIIHUIURPWKHGHIDXOWFDQEHRPLWWHG)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVWDUWVWKHGHIDXOW
WUDQVDFWLRQIRU5($'21/<DFFHVV:$,7ORFNUHVROXWLRQDQG,62/$7,21/(9(/
61$36+27

38 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION READ ONLY;

$VWKLVH[DPSOHLOOXVWUDWHVWKH1$0(FODXVHFDQEHRPLWWHGZKHQVWDUWLQJWKHGHIDXOW
WUDQVDFWLRQ

,03257$17 ,Q'64/FKDQJLQJWKHFKDUDFWHULVWLFVRIWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQLVDFFRPSOLVKHGDVZLWK
35(3$5(DQG(;(&87(LQDPDQQHUVLPLODUWRWKHRQHGHVFULEHGEXWWKHSURJUDPPXVWEH
SUHSURFHVVHGXVLQJWKHgpre -mVZLWFK
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWSUHSURFHVVLQJSURJUDPVZLWKWKH -mVZLWFKVHH&KDSWHU
´3UHSURFHVVLQJ&RPSLOLQJDQG /LQNLQJµ)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWWUDQVDFWLRQEHKDYLRU
DQGPRGLILFDWLRQVHH´6SHFLI\LQJ6(775$16$&7,21EHKDYLRUµRQSDJH 

Starting a named transaction

$VLQJOHDSSOLFDWLRQFDQVWDUWVLPXOWDQHRXVWUDQVDFWLRQV,QWHU%DVHH[WHQGVWUDQVDFWLRQ
PDQDJHPHQWDQGGDWDPDQLSXODWLRQVWDWHPHQWVWRVXSSRUWWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVXQLTXHLGHQWLILHUV
WKDWVSHFLI\ZKLFKWUDQVDFWLRQFRQWUROVDJLYHQVWDWHPHQWDPRQJWKRVHWUDQVDFWLRQVWKDWDUH
DFWLYH
7UDQVDFWLRQQDPHVPXVWEHXVHGWRGLVWLQJXLVKRQHWUDQVDFWLRQIURPDQRWKHULQSURJUDPV
WKDWXVHWZRRUPRUHWUDQVDFWLRQVDWDWLPH(DFKWUDQVDFWLRQVWDUWHGZKLOHRWKHUWUDQVDFWLRQV
DUHDFWLYHUHTXLUHVDXQLTXHQDPHDQGLWVRZQ6(775$16$&7,21VWDWHPHQW6(7
75$16$&7,21FDQLQFOXGHRSWLRQDOSDUDPHWHUVWKDWPRGLI\DWUDQVDFWLRQ·VEHKDYLRU
7KHUHDUHIRXUVWHSVIRUXVLQJWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVLQDSURJUDP
 'HFODUHDXQLTXHKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHIRUHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQQDPH,Q&DQG
&WUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVVKRXOGEHGHFODUHGDVORQJSRLQWHUV
 ,QLWLDOL]HHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHWR]HUR
 8VH6(775$16$&7,21WRVWDUWHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQXVLQJDQDYDLODEOHWUDQVDFWLRQ
QDPH
 ,QFOXGHWKHWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHLQVXEVHTXHQWWUDQVDFWLRQPDQDJHPHQWDQGGDWD
PDQLSXODWLRQVWDWHPHQWVWKDWVKRXOGEHFRQWUROOHGE\DVSHFLILHGWUDQVDFWLRQ

,03257$17 8VLQJQDPHGWUDQVDFWLRQVLQG\QDPLF64/VWDWHPHQWVLVVRPHZKDWGLIIHUHQW)RU
LQIRUPDWLRQDERXWQDPHGWUDQVDFWLRQVLQ'64/VHH´:RUNLQJZLWKPXOWLSOHWUDQVDFWLRQVLQ
'64/µRQSDJH 
)RUDGGLWLRQDOLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWFUHDWLQJPXOWLSOHWUDQVDFWLRQSURJUDPVVHH´:RUNLQJZLWK
PXOWLSOHWUDQVDFWLRQVµRQSDJH 

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 39
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

Naming transactions
$WUDQVDFWLRQQDPHLVDSURJUDPPHUVXSSOLHGYDULDEOHWKDWGLVWLQJXLVKHVRQHWUDQVDFWLRQ
IURPDQRWKHULQ64/VWDWHPHQWV,IWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVDUHQRWXVHGLQ64/VWDWHPHQWVWKDW
FRQWUROWUDQVDFWLRQVDQGPDQLSXODWHGDWDWKHQWKRVHVWDWHPHQWVRSHUDWHRQO\RQWKHGHIDXOW
WUDQVDFWLRQJGVBBWUDQV
7KHIROORZLQJ&FRGHGHFODUHVDQGLQLWLDOL]HVWZRWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVXVLQJWKHLVFBWUBKDQGOH
GDWDW\SH,WWKHQVWDUWVWKRVHWUDQVDFWLRQVLQ6(775$16$&7,21 VWDWHPHQWV
. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
isc_tr_handle t1, t2; /* declare transaction names */
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
t1 = t2 = (isc_tr_handle) NULL; /* initialize names to zero */
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1; /* start trans. w. default behavior */
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t2; /* start trans2. w. default behavior */
. . .

(DFKRIWKHVHVWHSVLVIXOO\GHVFULEHGLQWKHIROORZLQJVHFWLRQV
$WUDQVDFWLRQQDPHFDQEHLQFOXGHGDVDQRSWLRQDOSDUDPHWHULQDQ\GDWDPDQLSXODWLRQDQG
WUDQVDFWLRQPDQDJHPHQWVWDWHPHQW,QPXOWLWUDQVDFWLRQSURJUDPVRPLWWLQJDWUDQVDFWLRQ
QDPHFDXVHVDVWDWHPHQWWREHH[HFXWHGIRUWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQJGVBBWUDQV
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWXVLQJWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVZLWKGDWDPDQLSXODWLRQVWDWHPHQWVVHH
&KDSWHU´:RUNLQJZLWK'DWDµ

4 'HFODULQJWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHV
7UDQVDFWLRQQDPHVPXVWEHGHFODUHGEHIRUHWKH\FDQEHXVHG$QDPHLVGHFODUHGDVD
KRVWODQJXDJHSRLQWHU,Q&DQG&WUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVVKRXOGEHGHFODUHGDVORQJSRLQWHUV
7KHIROORZLQJFRGHLOOXVWUDWHVKRZWRGHFODUHWZRWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHV
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
isc_tr_handle t1;
isc_tr_handle t2;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

40 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

Note ,QWKLVH[DPSOHWKHWUDQVDFWLRQGHFODUDWLRQRFFXUVZLWKLQDQ64/VHFWLRQGHFODUDWLRQ
:KLOH,QWHU%DVHGRHVQRWUHTXLUHWKDWKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHVRFFXUZLWKLQDVHFWLRQ
GHFODUDWLRQSXWWLQJWKHPWKHUHJXDUDQWHHVFRPSDWLELOLW\ZLWKRWKHU64/LPSOHPHQWDWLRQV
WKDWGRUHTXLUHVHFWLRQGHFODUDWLRQV
7UDQVDFWLRQQDPHVDUHXVXDOO\GHFODUHGJOREDOO\DWWKHPRGXOHOHYHO,IDWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHLV
GHFODUHGORFDOO\HQVXUHWKDW
g 7KHWUDQVDFWLRQXVLQJWKHQDPHLVFRPSOHWHO\FRQWDLQHGZLWKLQWKHIXQFWLRQZKHUHWKHQDPH
LVGHFODUHG,QFOXGHDQHUURUKDQGOLQJURXWLQHWRUROOEDFNWUDQVDFWLRQVZKHQHUURUVRFFXU
52//%$&.UHOHDVHVDWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHDQGVHWVLWVYDOXHWR18//
g 7KHWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHLVQRWXVHGRXWVLGHWKHIXQFWLRQZKHUHLWLVGHFODUHG
7RUHIHUHQFHDWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHGHFODUHGLQDQRWKHUPRGXOHSURYLGHDQH[WHUQDOGHFODUDWLRQ
IRULW)RUH[DPSOHLQ&WKHH[WHUQDOGHFODUDWLRQIRUWDQGWPLJKWEHDVIROORZV
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
extern isc_tr_handle t1, t2;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

4 ,QLWLDOL]LQJWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHV
2QFHWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVDUHGHFODUHGWKH\VKRXOGEHLQLWLDOL]HGWR]HUREHIRUHEHLQJXVHGIRU
WKHILUVWWLPH7KHIROORZLQJ&FRGHLOOXVWUDWHVKRZWRVHWDVWDUWLQJYDOXHIRUWZRGHFODUHG
WUDQVDFWLRQQDPHV
t1 = t2 = (isc_tr_handle) NULL; /* initialize transaction names to zero */

2QFHDWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHLVGHFODUHGDQGLQLWLDOL]HGLWFDQEHXVHGWR
g 6WDUWDQGQDPHDWUDQVDFWLRQ8VLQJDWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHIRUDOOWUDQVDFWLRQVH[FHSWIRUWKH
GHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQLVUHTXLUHGLIDSURJUDPUXQVPXOWLSOHVLPXOWDQHRXVWUDQVDFWLRQV
g 6SHFLI\ZKLFKWUDQVDFWLRQVFRQWUROGDWDPDQLSXODWLRQVWDWHPHQWV7UDQVDFWLRQQDPHVDUH
UHTXLUHGLQPXOWLWUDQVDFWLRQSURJUDPVXQOHVVDVWDWHPHQWDIIHFWVRQO\WKHGHIDXOW
WUDQVDFWLRQ
g &RPPLWRUUROOEDFNVSHFLILFWUDQVDFWLRQVLQDPXOWLWUDQVDFWLRQSURJUDP

Specifying SET TRANSACTION behavior

8VH6(775$16$&7,21WRVWDUWDQDPHGWUDQVDFWLRQDQGRSWLRQDOO\VSHFLI\LWVEHKDYLRU7KH
V\QWD[IRUVWDUWLQJDQDPHGWUDQVDFWLRQXVLQJGHIDXOWEHKDYLRULV
SET TRANSACTION NAME name;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 41
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

)RUDVXPPDU\RIWKHGHIDXOWEHKDYLRUIRUDWUDQVDFWLRQVWDUWHGZLWKRXWVSHFLI\LQJEHKDYLRU
SDUDPHWHUVVHHWDEOHRQSDJH7KHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVDUHHTXLYDOHQWWKH\ERWKVWDUW
WKHWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHGWXVLQJGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQEHKDYLRU
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE WAIT ISOLATION LEVEL SNAPSHOT;
7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHOLVWVWKHRSWLRQDO6(775$16$&7,21SDUDPHWHUVIRUVSHFLI\LQJWKH
EHKDYLRURIWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQ

Parameter Setting Purpose

Access Mode READ ONLY or READ WRITE Describes the type of access this transaction is permitted
for a table. For more information about access mode, see
“Access mode” on page 44.
Lock Resolution WAIT or NO WAIT Specifies what happens when this transaction
encounters a locked row during an update or delete. It
either waits for the lock to be released so it can attempt
to complete its actions, or it returns an immediate lock
conflict error message. For more information about lock
resolution, see “Lock resolution” on page 50.
TABLE 4.3 SET TRANSACTION parameters

42 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

Parameter Setting Purpose

Isolation Level SNAPSHOT provides a view of the database at the Determines this transaction’s interaction with other
moment this transaction starts, but prevents simultaneous transactions attempting to access the
viewing changes made by other active same tables.
transactions.
READ COMMITTED isolation level also enables a user to
SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY prevents other specify which version of a row it can read. There are two
transactions from making changes to tables that options:
this transaction is reading and updating, but
• RECORD_VERSION: the transaction immediately reads the
permits them to read rows in the table. latest committed version of a requested row, even if a
READ COMMITTED reads the most recently more recent uncommitted version also resides on disk.
committed version of a row during updates and • NO RECORD_VERSION: if an uncommitted version of the
deletions, and allows this transaction to make requested row is present and WAIT lock resolution is
changes if there is no update conflict with other specified, the transaction waits until the committed
transactions. version of the row is also the latest version; if NO WAIT is
specified, the transaction immediately returns an error
(“deadlock”) if the committed version is not the most
recent version.
Table RESERVING RESERVING specifies a subset of available tables to lock
Reservation immediately for this transaction to access.
Database USING USING specifies a subset of available databases that this
Specification transaction can access; it cannot access any other
databases. The purpose of this option is to reduce the
amount of system resources used by this transaction.
Note: USING is not available in DSQL.
TABLE 4.3 SET TRANSACTION parameters (continued)

7KHFRPSOHWHV\QWD[RI6(775$16$&7,21LV
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION [NAME name]
[READ WRITE| READ ONLY]
[WAIT | NO WAIT]
[[ISOLATION LEVEL] {SNAPSHOT [TABLE STABILITY]
| READ COMMITTED [[NO] RECORD_VERSION]}]
[RESERVING <reserving_clause>
| USING dbhandle [, dbhandle ...]];
<reserving_clause> = table [, table ...]
[FOR [SHARED | PROTECTED] {READ | WRITE}] [, <reserving_clause>]

7UDQVDFWLRQRSWLRQVDUHIXOO\GHVFULEHGLQWKHIROORZLQJVHFWLRQV

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 43
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

4 $FFHVVPRGH
7KHDFFHVVPRGHSDUDPHWHUVSHFLILHVWKHW\SHRIDFFHVVDWUDQVDFWLRQKDVIRUWKHWDEOHVLWXVHV
7KHUHDUHWZRSRVVLEOHVHWWLQJV
g 5($'21/<VSHFLILHVWKDWDWUDQVDFWLRQFDQVHOHFWGDWDIURPDWDEOHEXWFDQQRWLQVHUW
XSGDWHRUGHOHWHWDEOHGDWD
g 5($':5,7(VSHFLILHVWKDWDWUDQVDFWLRQFDQVHOHFWLQVHUWXSGDWHDQGGHOHWHWDEOHGDWD7KLV
LVWKHGHIDXOWVHWWLQJLIQRQHLVVSHFLILHG
,QWHU%DVHDVVXPHVWKDWPRVWWUDQVDFWLRQVERWKUHDGDQGZULWHGDWD:KHQVWDUWLQJD
WUDQVDFWLRQIRUUHDGLQJDQGZULWLQJ5($':5,7(FDQEHRPLWWHGIURP6(775$16$&7,21
VWDWHPHQW)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVVWDUWDWUDQVDFWLRQWIRU5($':5,7(
DFFHVV
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE;

7,3 ,WLVJRRGSURJUDPPLQJSUDFWLFHWRVSHFLI\DWUDQVDFWLRQ·VDFFHVVPRGHHYHQZKHQLWLV
5($':5,7(,WPDNHVDQDSSOLFDWLRQ·VVRXUFHFRGHHDVLHUWRUHDGDQGGHEXJEHFDXVHWKH
SURJUDP·VLQWHQWLRQVDUHFOHDUO\VSHOOHGRXW
6WDUWDWUDQVDFWLRQIRU5($'21/<DFFHVVZKHQ\RXRQO\QHHGWRUHDGGDWD5($'21/<
PXVWEHVSHFLILHG)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVWDUWVDWUDQVDFWLRQWIRUUHDGRQO\
DFFHVV
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ ONLY;

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44 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHGHVFULEHVWKHWKUHHLVRODWLRQOHYHOVVXSSRUWHGE\,QWHU%DVH

Isolation level Purpose

SNAPSHOT The default isolation level: provides a stable, committed view of the database at the time the
transaction starts. Other simultaneous transactions can UPDATE and INSERT rows, but this
transaction cannot see those changes. For updated rows, this transaction sees versions of
those rows as they existed at the start of the transaction. If this transaction attempts to update
or delete rows changed by another transaction, an update conflict is reported.
SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY Provides a transaction sole insert, update, and delete access to the tables it uses. Other
simultaneous transactions may still be able to select rows from those tables.
READ COMMITTED Enables the transaction to see all committed data in the database, and to update rows
updated and committed by other simultaneous transactions without causing lost update
problems.
TABLE 4.4 ISOLATION LEVEL options

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RIORFNFRQIOLFWVVHH´,VRODWLRQOHYHOLQWHUDFWLRQVµRQSDJH 

COMPARING SNAPSHOT, READ COMMITTED,

AND SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 45
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

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IRURWKHUVLPXOWDQHRXVWUDQVDFWLRQV

Problem SNAPSHOT, READ COMMITTED SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY

Lost updates Other transactions cannot update rows already Other transactions cannot update tables
updated by this transaction. controlled by this transaction.
Dirty reads Other SNAPSHOT transactions can only read a Other transactions cannot access tables updated
previous version of a row updated by this by this transaction.
transaction.
Other READ COMMITTED transactions can only read
a previous version, or committed updates.
TABLE 4.5 InterBase management of classic transaction conflicts

46 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

Problem SNAPSHOT, READ COMMITTED SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY

Non-reproducible SNAPSHOT and SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY SNAPSHOT and SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY
reads transactions can only read versions of rows transactions can only read versions of rows
committed when they started. committed when they started.
READ COMMITTED transactions must expect that Other transactions cannot access tables updated
reads cannot be reproduced. by this transaction.
Phantom rows READ COMMITTED transactions may encounter Other transactions cannot access tables
phantom rows. controlled by this transaction.
Update side effects Other SNAPSHOT transactions can only read a Other transactions cannot update tables
previous version of a row updated by this controlled by this transaction.
transaction.
Use triggers and integrity constraints to avoid
Other READ COMMITTED transactions can only read any problems with interleaved transactions.
a previous version, or committed updates.
Use triggers and integrity constraints to try to
avoid any problems with interleaved
transactions.
TABLE 4.5 InterBase management of classic transaction conflicts (continued)

CHOOSING BETWEEN SNAPSHOT AND READ COMMITTED

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 47
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

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STARTING A TRANSACTION WITH SNAPSHOT ISOLATION LEVEL

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EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE SNAPSHOT;

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SURJUDP·VLQWHQWLRQVDUHFOHDUO\VSHOOHGRXW

STARTING A TRANSACTION WITH READ COMMITTED ISOLATION LEVEL

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LVRODWLRQOHYHOWR5($'&200,77('

48 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE READ COMMITTED;

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g 125(&25'B9(56,21WKHGHIDXOWVSHFLILHVWKDWWKHWUDQVDFWLRQFDQRQO\UHDGWKHODWHVW
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5(&25'B9(56,21
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE READ COMMITTED;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE READ COMMITTED
NO RECORD_VERSION;

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5($'&200,77('5(&25'B9(56,21
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE READ COMMITTED
RECORD_VERSION;

STARTING A TRANSACTION WITH

SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY ISOLATION LEVEL
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EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 49
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

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DUHSUHVHQW

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OLNHOLKRRGRIORFNFRQIOLFWV

ISOLATION LEVEL INTERACTIONS

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GDWDEDVHHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQ·VLVRODWLRQOHYHODQGDFFHVVPRGHPXVWEHFRQVLGHUHG7KH
IROORZLQJWDEOHVXPPDUL]HVSRVVLEOHFRPELQDWLRQV

SNAPSHOT or READ COMMITTED SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY

UPDATE SELECT UPDATE SELECT
SNAPSHOT or UPDATE Some simultaneous — Always conflicts Always conflicts.
READ COMMITTED updates may conflict
SELECT — — — —
SNAPSHOT TABLE UPDATE Always conflicts — Always conflicts Always conflicts.
STABILITY
SELECT Always conflicts — Always conflicts —
TABLE 4.6 Isolation level Interaction with SELECT and UPDATE

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50 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

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EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE READ COMMITTED;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE WAIT READ COMMITTED;

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EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE NO WAIT READ SNAPSHOT;

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RSWLRQDOLVRODWLRQOHYHOSDUDPHWHU

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 51
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

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EXWQRWERWK8VHWKH6(775$16$&7,21V\QWD[WRUHVHUYHWDEOHVIRUDWUDQVDFWLRQ
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION [NAME name]
[READ WRITE| READ ONLY]
[WAIT | NO WAIT]
[[ISOLATION LEVEL] {SNAPSHOT [TABLE STABILITY]
| READ COMMITTED [[NO] RECORD_VERSION]}]
RESERVING <reserving_clause>;
<reserving_clause> = table [, table ...]
[FOR [SHARED | PROTECTED] {READ | WRITE}] [, <reserving_clause>]

(DFKWDEOHVKRXOGRQO\DSSHDURQFHLQWKH5(6(59,1*FODXVH(DFKWDEOHRUDOLVWRIWDEOHV
VHSDUDWHGE\FRPPDVPXVWEHIROORZHGE\DFODXVHGHVFULELQJWKHW\SHRIUHVHUYDWLRQ
UHTXHVWHG7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHOLVWVWKHVHUHVHUYDWLRQRSWLRQV

Reservation option Purpose

PROTECTED READ Prevents other transactions from updating rows. All transactions can select from
the table.
PROTECTED WRITE Prevents other transactions from updating rows.
SNAPSHOT and READ COMMITTED transactions can select from the table, but only
this transaction can update rows.
SHARED READ Any transaction can select from this table. Any READ WRITE transaction can update
this table. This is the most liberal reservation mode.
SHARED WRITE Any SNAPSHOT or READ COMMITTED READ WRITE transaction can update this table.
Other SNAPSHOT and READ COMMITTED transactions can also select from this table.
TABLE 4.7 Table reservation options for the RESERVING clause

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UHVHUYHVDVLQJOHWDEOHIRU3527(&7(':5,7(DFFHVV
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE WAIT SNAPSHOT
RESERVING EMPLOYEE FOR PROTECTED WRITE;

7KHQH[WVWDWHPHQWVWDUWVD5($'&200,77('WUDQVDFWLRQWIRU5($':5,7(DFFHVVDQG
UHVHUYHVWZRWDEOHVRQHIRU6+$5(':5,7(DQGDQRWKHUIRU3527(&7('5($'
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1 READ WRITE WAIT READ COMMITTED
RESERVING EMPLOYEES FOR SHARED WRITE, EMP_PROJ
FOR PROTECTED READ;

52 INTERBASE 5
STARTING A NAMED TRANSACTION

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UHVWULFWLYHDFFHVVWRWDEOHVIRURWKHUVLPXOWDQHRXVWUDQVDFWLRQV61$36+277$%/(67$%,/,7<
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4 86,1*FODXVH
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WRDOLVWHGVXEVHWRIDOORSHQGDWDEDVHVXVLQJWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION [NAME name]
[READ WRITE | READ ONLY]
[WAIT | NO WAIT]
[[ISOLATION LEVEL] {SNAPSHOT [TABLE STABILITY]
| READ COMMITTED [[NO] RECORD_VERSION]}]
USING dbhandle> [, dbhandle ...];

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EXWQRWERWK
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DVVLJQLQJWKHPWRWKHGDWDEDVHKDQGOHV7(675(6($5&+DQG(03UHVSHFWLYHO\7KHQLW
VWDUWVWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQDQGUHVWULFWVLWVDFFHVVWR7(67DQG(03
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE ATLAS = "test.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE RESEARCH = "research.gdb";
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE EMP = "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CONNECT TEST, RESEARCH, EMP; /* Open all databases */
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION USING TEST, EMP;
. . .

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 53
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

Using transaction names in data statements

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23(1VWDWHPHQWVWRVSHFLI\ZKLFKWUDQVDFWLRQFRQWUROVWKHVWDWHPHQW)RUH[DPSOHWKH
IROORZLQJ&FRGHIUDJPHQWGHFODUHVWZRWUDQVDFWLRQKDQGOHVP\WUDQVDQGP\WUDQVLQLWLDOL]HV
WKHPWR]HURVWDUWVWKHWUDQVDFWLRQVDQGWKHQXVHVWKHWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVWRTXDOLI\WKHGDWD
PDQLSXODWLRQVWDWHPHQWVWKDWIROORZ
. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
long *mytrans1, *mytrans2;
char city[26];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
mytrans1 = 0L;
mytrans2 = 0L;
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE ATLAS = "atlas.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CONNECT;
EXEC SQL
DECLARE CITYLIST CURSOR FOR
SELECT CITY FROM CITIES
WHERE COUNTRY = "Mexico";
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME mytrans1;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION mytrans2 READ ONLY READ COMMITTED;
. . .
printf("Mexican city to add to database: ");
gets(city);
EXEC SQL
INSERT TRANSACTION mytrans1 INTO CITIES (CITY, COUNTRY)
VALUES :city, "Mexico";
EXEC SQL
COMMIT mytrans1;
EXEC SQL
OPEN TRANSACTION mytrans2 CITYLIST;
EXEC SQL
FETCH CITYLIST INTO :city;
while (!SQLCODE)

54 INTERBASE 5
ENDING A TRANSACTION

{
printf("%s\n", city);
EXEC SQL
FETCH CITYLIST INTO :city;
}
EXEC SQL
CLOSE CITYLIST;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
. . .

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Note 7KH'64/(;(&87(DQG(;(&87(,00(',$7(VWDWHPHQWVDOVRVXSSRUWWUDQVDFWLRQ
QDPHV
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWXVLQJWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVZLWKGDWDPDQLSXODWLRQVWDWHPHQWVVHH
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'64/µRQSDJH 

Ending a transaction
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g &200,7PDNHVDWUDQVDFWLRQ·VFKDQJHVSHUPDQHQWLQWKHGDWDEDVH,WVLJQDOVWKDWD
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SURJUDP

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 55
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

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LQWHQWLRQPDNHDSURJUDPHDVLHUWRXQGHUVWDQGDQGPRVWLPSRUWDQWO\DVVXUHWKDWD
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HUURUVRFFXU,WFDQDOVREHXVHGWRUROOEDFNDSDUWLDOO\FRPSOHWHGWUDQVDFWLRQSULRUWRUHWU\LQJ
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XQUHFRYHUDEOHHUURU

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GDWDEDVHVDUHQRWFORVHG,IDSURJUDPHQGVZLWKRXWFORVLQJWKHGDWDEDVHGDWDORVVRU
FRUUXSWLRQLVSRVVLEOH7KHUHIRUHRSHQGDWDEDVHVVKRXOGDOZD\VEHFORVHGE\LVVXLQJH[SOLFLW
',6&211(&7&200,75(/($6(RU52//%$&.5(/($6(VWDWHPHQWV
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXW',6&211(&7&200,75(/($6(DQG52//%$&.5(/($6(
VHH&KDSWHU´:RUNLQJZLWK'DWDEDVHVµ

Using COMMIT
8VH&200,7WRZULWHWUDQVDFWLRQFKDQJHVSHUPDQHQWO\WRDGDWDEDVH
&200,7FORVHVWKHUHFRUGVWUHDPVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHWUDQVDFWLRQUHVHWVWKHWUDQVDFWLRQ
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EXEC SQL
COMMIT [TRANSACTION name] [RETAIN [SNAPSHOT] | RELEASE dbhandle
[, dbhandle ...]]

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HPSOR\HHVZKRKDYHZRUNHGVLQFH'HFHPEHUDFRVWRIOLYLQJVDODU\LQFUHDVH
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. . .
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY;
EXEC SQL
UPDATE EMPLOYEE
SET SALARY = SALARY * 1.043
WHERE HIRE_DATE < "1-JAN-1993";
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
. . .

56 INTERBASE 5
ENDING A TRANSACTION

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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
isc_tr_handle TR1, TR2;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
TR1 = (isc_tr_handle) NULL;
TR2 = (isc_tr_handle) NULL;
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME TR1;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME TR2;
. . .
/* do actual processsing here */
. . .
EXEC SQL
COMMIT TRANSACTION TR1;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT TRANSACTION TR2;
. . .

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 57
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

4 &RPPLWWLQJZLWKRXWIUHHLQJDWUDQVDFWLRQ
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PXOWLXVHUHQYLURQPHQWUHWDLQLQJWKHVQDSVKRWVSHHGVXSSURFHVVLQJDQGXVHVIHZHUV\VWHP
UHVRXUFHVWKDQFORVLQJDQGVWDUWLQJDQHZWUDQVDFWLRQIRUHDFKDFWLRQ7KHGLVDGYDQWDJHRI
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EXEC SQL
COMMIT [TRANSACTION name] RETAIN [SNAPSHOT];

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SUHVHUYLQJWKHFXUUHQWFXUVRUVWDWXVDQGV\VWHPUHVRXUFHV
. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char country[26], city[26], asciimult[10];
int multiplier;
long pop;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
main ()
{
EXEC SQL
DECLARE CHANGEPOP CURSOR FOR
SELECT CITY, POPULATION
FROM CITIES
WHERE COUNTRY = :country;
printf("Enter country with city populations needing adjustment: ");
gets(country);
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION;
EXEC SQL
OPEN CHANGEPOP;
EXEC SQL
FETCH CHANGEPOP INTO :city, :pop;

58 INTERBASE 5
ENDING A TRANSACTION

while(!SQLCODE)
{
printf("City: %s Population: %ld\n", city, pop);
printf("\nPercent change (100%% to -100%%:");
gets(asciimult);
multiplier = atoi(asciimult);
EXEC SQL
UPDATE CITIES
SET POPULATION = POPULATION * (1 + :multiplier / 100)
WHERE CURRENT OF CHANGEPOP;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT RETAIN; /* commit changes, save current state */
EXEC SQL
FETCH CHANGEPOP INTO :city, :pop;
if (SQLCODE && (SQLCODE != 100))
{
isc_print_sqlerror(SQLCODE, isc_$status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
exit(1);
}
}
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
}

Note ,I\RXH[HFXWHD52//%$&.DIWHUD&200,75(7$,1LWUROOVEDFNRQO\XSGDWHVDQG
ZULWHVWKDWRFFXUUHGDIWHUWKH&200,75(7$,1

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 59
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

Using ROLLBACK
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52//%$&.DOVRFORVHVWKHUHFRUGVWUHDPVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHWUDQVDFWLRQUHVHWVWKH
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XVHV52//%$&.W\SLFDOO\DSSHDUVLQHUURUKDQGOLQJURXWLQHV7KHV\QWD[IRU52//%$&.LV
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK [TRANSACTION name] [RELEASE [dbhandle [, dbhandle ...]]];

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DGMXVWPHQW,IDOOTXDOLILHGHPSOR\HHUHFRUGVDUHVXFFHVVIXOO\XSGDWHGWKHWUDQVDFWLRQLV
FRPPLWWHGDQGWKHFKDQJHVDUHDFWXDOO\DSSOLHGWRWKHGDWDEDVH,IDQHUURURFFXUVDOO
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SULRUWRWKHVWDUWRIWKHWUDQVDFWLRQ
. . .
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION SNAPSHOT TABLE STABILITY;
EXEC SQL
UPDATE EMPLOYEES
SET SALARY = SALARY * 1.043
WHERE HIRE_DATE < "1-JAN-1993";
if (SQLCODE && (SQLCODE != 100))
{
isc_print_sqlerror(SQLCODE, isc_$status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
exit(1);
}
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
. . .

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52//%$&.

60 INTERBASE 5
WORKING WITH MULTIPLE TRANSACTIONS

Working with multiple transactions

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WUDQVDFWLRQVDWRQFHDVQHFHVVDU\WRFDUU\RXWLWVZRUN(DFKVLPXOWDQHRXVWUDQVDFWLRQLQD
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 'HFODUHDXQLTXHKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHIRUHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQQDPH
 ,QLWLDOL]HHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQYDULDEOHWR]HUR
 8VH6(775$16$&7,21WRVWDUWHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQXVLQJDQDYDLODEOHWUDQVDFWLRQ
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 8VHWKHWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHVDVSDUDPHWHUVLQVXEVHTXHQWWUDQVDFWLRQPDQDJHPHQW
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WUDQVDFWLRQ

The default transaction

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DVWDWHPHQWGXULQJSUHSURFHVVLQJWRVWDUWLW

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 61
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

Using cursors
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WUDQVDFWLRQZLWKDFXUVRULQFOXGHWKHWUDQVDFWLRQQDPHDVDQRSWLRQDOSDUDPHWHULQWKH
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H[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWVGHFODUHDFXUVRUDQGRSHQLWDVVRFLDWLQJLWZLWKWKH
WUDQVDFWLRQW
. . .
EXEC SQL
DECLARE S CURSOR FOR
SELECT COUNTRY, CUST_NO, SUM(QTY_ORDERED)
FROM SALES
GROUP BY CUST_NO
WHERE COUNTRY = "Mexico";
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION t1 READ ONLY READ COMMITTED;
. . .
EXEC SQL
OPEN TRANSACTION t1 S;
. . .

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FRQWURORIWKHGHIDXOWWUDQVDFWLRQJGVBBWUDQV
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&/26(IRUWKH6FXUVRUDIWHULWLVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHQDPHGWUDQVDFWLRQW
. . .
EXEC SQL
OPEN TRANSACTION t2 S;
EXEC SQL
FETCH S INTO :country, :cust_no, :qty;
while (!SQLCODE)
{
printf("%s %d %d\n", country, cust_no, qty);
EXEC SQL
FETCH S INTO :country, :cust_no, :qty;
}
EXEC SQL
CLOSE S;
. . .

62 INTERBASE 5
WORKING WITH MULTIPLE TRANSACTIONS

0XOWLSOHFXUVRUVFDQEHFRQWUROOHGE\DVLQJOHWUDQVDFWLRQRUHDFKWUDQVDFWLRQFDQFRQWUROD
VLQJOHFXUVRUDFFRUGLQJWRDSURJUDP·VQHHGV

A multi-transaction example
7KHIROORZLQJ&FRGHLOOXVWUDWHVWKHVWHSVUHTXLUHGWRFUHDWHDVLPSOHPXOWLWUDQVDFWLRQ
SURJUDP,WGHFODUHVWZRWUDQVDFWLRQKDQGOHVP\WUDQVDQGP\WUDQVLQLWLDOL]HVWKHPWR]HUR
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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
long *mytrans1 = 0L, *mytrans2 = 0L;
char city[26];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
EXEC SQL
DECLARE CITYLIST CURSOR FOR
SELECT CITY FROM CITIES
WHERE COUNTRY = "Mexico";
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME mytrans1;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION mytrans2 READ ONLY READ COMMITTED;
. . .
printf("Mexican city to add to database: ");
gets(city);
EXEC SQL
INSERT TRANSACTION mytrans1 INTO CITIES
VALUES :city, "Mexico", NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT mytrans1;
EXEC SQL
OPEN TRANSACTION mytrans2 CITYLIST;
EXEC SQL
FETCH CITYLIST INTO :city;
while (!SQLCODE)
{
printf("%s\n", city);
EXEC SQL

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 63
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

FETCH CITYLIST INTO :city;

}
EXEC SQL
CLOSE CITYLIST;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT mytrans2;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT
. . .

Working with multiple transactions in DSQL

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64 INTERBASE 5
WORKING WITH MULTIPLE TRANSACTIONS IN DSQL

Modifying transaction behavior with “?”

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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char usertrans[512], query[1024];

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 65
 CHAPTER 4 WORKING WITH TRANSACTIONS

char deftrans[] = {"SET TRANSACTION READ WRITE WAIT SNAPSHOT"};

EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
printf("\nEnter SQL statement: ");
gets(query);
printf("\nChange transaction behavior (Y/N)? ");
gets(usertrans);
if (usertrans[0] == "Y" || usertrans[0] == "y")
{
printf("\nEnter \"SET TRANSACTION\" and desired behavior: ");
gets(usertrans);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT usertrans;
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE usertrans;
}
else
{
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE deftrans;
}
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE query;
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE deftrans;
. . .

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66 INTERBASE 5
 CHAPTER

Working with Data

Chapter5
5
Definition Statements

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67
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

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DSSOLFDWLRQVFDQXVHWKHIROORZLQJVXEVHWRIGDWDGHILQLWLRQVWDWHPHQWV

CREATE statement ALTER statement DROP statement

CREATE DATABASE ALTER DATABASE —

CREATE DOMAIN ALTER DOMAIN DROP DOMAIN

CREATE GENERATOR SET GENERATOR —

CREATE INDEX ALTER INDEX DROP INDEX

CREATE SHADOW ALTER SHADOW DROP SHADOW

CREATE TABLE ALTER TABLE DROP TABLE

CREATE VIEW — DROP VIEW

DECLARE EXTERNAL — DROP EXTERNAL

DECLARE FILTER — DROP FILTER

TABLE 5.1 Data definition statements supported for embedded applications

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EXEC SQL
CREATE DATABASE "<filespec>";

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EXEC SQL
CREATE DATABASE "employee.gdb";
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 69
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

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EXEC SQL
CREATE DATABASE "europe.gdb" DEFAULT CHARACTER SET ISO8859_1;

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70 INTERBASE 5
CREATING METADATA

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EXEC SQL
CREATE DOMAIN name AS <datatype>;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE DOMAIN FIRSTNAME AS VARCHAR(15);
EXEC SQL
CREATE DOMAIN LASTNAME AS VARCHAR(20);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE EMPLOYEE
(
. . .
FIRST_NAME FIRSTNAME NOT NULL,
LAST_NAME LASTNAME NOT NULL;
. . .
);

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 71
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE name (<col_def> | <table_constraint>
[, <col_def> | <table_constraint> ...]);

FROBGHI!GHILQHVDFROXPQXVLQJWKHIROORZLQJV\QWD[
col {<datatype> | COMPUTED [BY] (<expr>) | domain}
<col_constraint> COLLATE collation

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EXEC SQL
CREATE DATABASE "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE EMPLOYEE_PROJECT
(
EMP_NO SMALLINT NOT NULL,
PROJ_ID CHAR(5) NOT NULL,
DUTIES Blob SUBTYPE 1 SEGMENT SIZE 240
);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE EMPLOYEE
(
. . .
FIRST_NAME VARCHAR(10) NOT NULL,
LAST_NAME VARCHAR(15) NOT NULL,
. . .
FULL_NAME COMPUTED BY (LAST_NAME || ", " || FIRST_NAME)
);

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE EMPLOYEE_PROJECT TABLE
(
EMP_NO SMALLINT,
PROJ_ID CHAR(5),
DUTIES Blob(240, 1)
);
EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE EMPLOYEE_PROJECT
(
EMP_NO SMALLINT,
PROJ_ID CHAR(5),

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 73
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

DUTIES Blob(240, 1)
);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW name [(view_col [, view_col ...)] AS
<select> [WITH CHECK OPTION];

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EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW PHONE_LIST AS
SELECT EMP_NO, FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, LOCATION, PHONE_NO
FROM EMPLOYEE, DEPARTMENT
WHERE EMPLOYEE.DEPT_NO = DEPARTMENT.DEPT_NO;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW HIGH_CITIES AS

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 75
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

SELECT CITY, COUNTRY_NAME, ALTITUDE FROM CITIES

WHERE ALTITUDE >= 2640;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO HIGH_CITIES (CITY, COUNTRY_NAME, ALTITUDE)
VALUES ("Santa Cruz", "United States", "23");

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EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW HIGH_CITIES AS
SELECT CITY, COUNTRY_NAME, ALTITUDE FROM CITIES
WHERE ALTITUDE > 2640 WITH CHECK OPTION;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE [UNIQUE] [ASC[ENDING] | DESC[ENDING]] INDEX <index> ON
table (col [, col ...]);

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EXEC SQL
CREATE INDEX NAMEX ON EMPLOYEE (LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME);
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EXEC SQL
CREATE UNIQUE INDEX PRODTYPEX ON PROJECT (PRODUCT, PROJ_NAME);

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EXEC SQL
CREATE DESCENDING INDEX CHANGEX ON SALARY_HISTORY (CHANGE_DATE);
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EXEC SQL
CREATE GENERATOR name;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE GENERATOR EMP_NO_GEN;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 77
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

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EXEC SQL
DROP INDEX name;

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EXEC SQL
DROP INDEX NEEDX;
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COMMIT;
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EXEC SQL
DROP VIEW name;

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EXEC SQL
DROP VIEW EMPLOYEE_SALARY;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
DROP TABLE name;

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EXEC SQL
DROP TABLE EMPLOYEE;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 79
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

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EXEC SQL

80 INTERBASE 5
ALTERING METADATA

ALTER TABLE name {ADD colname <datatype> [NOT NULL]

| DROP colname | ADD CONSTRAINT constraintname tableconstraint
| DROP CONSTRAINT constraintname};
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EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE name ADD colname <datatype> colconstraint
[, ADD colname datatype colconstraint ...];

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EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE EMPLOYEE ADD EMP_NO EMPNO NOT NULL;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE EMPLOYEE
ADD EMP_NO EMPNO NOT NULL,
ADD FULL_NAME COMPUTED BY (LAST_NAME || ’, ’ || FIRST_NAME);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

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EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE name DROP colname [, colname ...];

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EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE EMPLOYEE DROP EMP_NO;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE EMPLOYEE
DROP EMP_NO,
DROP FULL_NAME;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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DGDWDW\SHRI&+$5  DQGVXSSRVHWKDWWKHVL]HRIWKHFROXPQQHHGVWREHLQFUHDVHGE\RQH
7KHIROORZLQJQXPEHUHGVHTXHQFHGHVFULEHVHDFKVWHSDQGSURYLGHVVDPSOHFRGH
 )LUVWFUHDWHDWHPSRUDU\FROXPQWRKROGWKHGDWDLQ2)),&(B12GXULQJWKH
PRGLILFDWLRQSURFHVV
EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE EMPLOYEE ADD TEMP_NO CHAR(3);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
 0RYHH[LVWLQJGDWDIURP2)),&(B12WR7(03B12WRSUHVHUYHLW
EXEC SQL
UPDATE EMPLOYEE
SET TEMP_NO = OFFICE_NO;
 $IWHUWKHGDWDLVPRYHGGURSWKH2)),&(B12FROXPQ
EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE DROP OFFICE_NO;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
 $GGDQHZFROXPQGHILQLWLRQIRU2)),&(B12VSHFLI\LQJWKHGDWDW\SHDQG
QHZVL]H
EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE ADD OFFICE_NO CHAR (4);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
 0RYHWKHGDWDIURP7(03B12WR2)),&(B12
EXEC SQL
UPDATE EMPLOYEE
SET OFFICE_NO = TEMP_NO;
 )LQDOO\GURSWKH7(03B12FROXPQ
EXEC SQL
ALTER TABLE DROP TEMP_NO;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 83
 CHAPTER 5 WORKING WITH DATA DEFINITION STATEMENTS

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FROXPQµRQSDJH )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWDGGLQJFROXPQGHILQLWLRQVVHH´$GGLQJD
QHZFROXPQWRDWDEOHµRQSDJH 

Altering a view
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EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW EMPLOYEE_SALARY AS
SELECT EMP_NO, LAST_NAME, CURRENCY, SALARY
FROM EMPLOYEE, COUNTRY
WHERE EMPLOYEE.COUNTRY_CODE = COUNTRY.CODE;

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GURSWKHFXUUHQWYLHZGHILQLWLRQ
EXEC SQL
DROP EMPLOYEE_SALARY;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW EMPLOYEE_SALARY AS
SELECT EMP_NO, FULL_NAME, CURRENCY, SALARY
FROM EMPLOYEE, COUNTRY
WHERE EMPLOYEE.COUNTRY_CODE = COUNTRY.CODE;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

Altering an index
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 8VH$/7(5,1'(;WRPDNHWKHFXUUHQWLQGH[LQDFWLYH
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84 INTERBASE 5
ALTERING METADATA

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EXEC SQL
CREATE INDEX NAMEX ON EMPLOYEE (LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME);

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)LUVWPDNHWKHFXUUHQWLQGH[LQDFWLYHWKHQGURSLW
EXEC SQL
ALTER INDEX NAMEX INACTIVE;
EXEC SQL
DROP INDEX NAMEX;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
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81,48(NH\ZRUG
EXEC SQL
CREATE UNIQUE INDEX NAMEX ON EMPLOYEE (LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT

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LQGH[WRSHUPLWGXSOLFDWHHQWULHV
EXEC SQL
ALTER INDEX NAMEX DUPLICATE;

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PRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWFUHDWLQJDQLQGH[VHH´&UHDWLQJDQLQGH[µRQSDJH 

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 85
 CHAPTER

Working with Data

Chapter6
6
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87
 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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Supported datatypes
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LWFRQWDLQVDQGZKDWGDWDW\SHVDUHGHILQHGIRUWKRVHFROXPQV,QWHU%DVHVXSSRUWVWHQ
IXQGDPHQWDOGDWDW\SHVGHVFULEHGLQWKHIROORZLQJWDEOH

Name Size Range/Precision Description

Blob Variable None. Blob segment size is limited to 64K. Binary large object. Stores large data,
such as graphics, text, and digitized voice.
Basic structural unit: segment. Blob
subtype describes Blob contents.
CHAR(n) n characters 1 to 32,767 bytes. Fixed length CHAR or text string type.
Character set character size determines Alternate keyword: CHARACTER.
the maximum number of characters that
can fit in 32K.
DATE 64 bits 1 Jan 100 to 11 Dec 5941. Also includes time information.
DECIMAL (precision, Variable precision = 1 to 15. Specifies at least Number with a decimal point scale digits
scale) precision digits of precision to store. from the right. For example, DECIMAL(10,
scale = 1 to 15. Specifies number of 3) holds numbers accurately in the
following format:
decimal places for storage. Must be less
than or equal to precision. ppppppp.sss
DOUBLE PRECISION 64 bitsa 1.7 x 10–308 to 1.7 x 10308. Scientific: 15 digits of precision.
FLOAT 32 bits 3.4 x 10–38 to 3.4 x 1038. Single precision: 7 digits of precision.
INTEGER 32 bits –2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. Signed long (longword).
TABLE 6.1 Datatypes supported by InterBase

88 INTERBASE 5
SUPPORTED DATATYPES

Name Size Range/Precision Description

NUMERIC (precision, Variable precision = 1 to 15. Specifies exactly Number with a decimal point scale digits
scale) precision digits of precision to store. from the right. For example,
NUMERIC(10,3) holds numbers accurately
scale = 1 to 15. Specifies number of
in the following format:
decimal places for storage. Must be less
than or equal to precision. ppppppp.sss
SMALLINT 16 bits –32,768 to 32,767. Signed short (word).
VARCHAR (n) n characters 1 to 32,765 bytes. Variable length CHAR or text string type.
Character set character size determines Alternate keywords: CHAR VARYING,
the maximum number of characters that CHARACTER VARYING.
can fit in 32K.
TABLE 6.1 Datatypes supported by InterBase (continued)

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 89
 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Understanding SQL expressions

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FRQFDWHQDWHRUFRPELQHWZRVWULQJVWRSURGXFHDVLQJOHVWULQJIRULQVHUWLRQRUXSGDWLQJ
7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHGHVFULEHVWKHHOHPHQWVWKDWFDQEHXVHGLQH[SUHVVLRQV

Element Description
Column names Columns from specified tables, against which to search or compare values, or
from which to calculate values.
Host-language variables Program variables containing changeable values. Host-language variables
must be preceded by a colon (:).
Constants Hard-coded numbers or quoted strings, like 507 or “Tokyo”.
Concatenation operator ||, used to combine character strings.
Arithmetic operators +, –, *, and /, used to calculate and evaluate values.
Logical operators Keywords, NOT, AND, and OR, used within simple search conditions, or to
combine simple search conditions to make complex searches. A logical
operation evaluates to true or false. Usually used only in search conditions.
TABLE 6.2 Elements of SQL expressions

90 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

Element Description
Comparison operators <, >, <=, >=, =, and <>, used to compare a value on the left side of the
operator to another on the right. A comparative operation evaluates to true or
false.
Other, more specialized comparison operators include ALL, ANY, BETWEEN,
CONTAINING, EXISTS, IN, IS, LIKE, NULL, SINGULAR, SOME, and STARTING WITH. These
operators can evaluate to True, False, or Unknown. They are usually used only
in search conditions.
COLLATE clause Comparisons of CHAR and VARCHAR values can sometimes take advantage of a
COLLATE clause to force the way text values are compared.

Stored procedures Reusable SQL statement blocks that can receive and return parameters, and
that are stored as part of a database’s metadata.
Subqueries SELECT statements, typically nested in WHERE clauses, that return values to be
compared with the result set of the main SELECT statement.
Parentheses Used to group expressions into hierarchies; operations inside parentheses are
performed before operations outside them. When parentheses are nested,
the contents of the innermost set is evaluated first and evaluation proceeds
outward.
Date literals String values that can be entered in quotes and be interpreted as date values
in SELECT, INSERT, and UPDATE operations. Possible strings are ‘TODAY’, ‘NOW’,
‘YESTERDAY’, and ‘TOMORROW’.
The USER pseudocolumn References the name of the user who is currently logged in. For example, USER
can be used as a default in a column definition or to enter the current user’s
name in an INSERT. When a user name is present in a table, it can be referenced
with USER in SELECT and DELETE statements.
TABLE 6.2 Elements of SQL expressions (continued)

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HPSOR\HHVZLWKVDODULHVEHWZHHQDQG
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Publications" AND
(SALARY > 60000 AND SALARY < 120000)

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 91
 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

EXEC SQL
DECLARE WELL_PAID CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPT_NO
INTO :wellpaid
FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE SALARY > (SELECT AVG(SALARY) FROM DEPARTMENT);

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DJJUHJDWHFROXPQLQIRUPDWLRQµRQSDJH 

Using the string operator in expressions

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VWULQJWREHEXLOWIURPWZRRUPRUHFKDUDFWHUVWULQJV&KDUDFWHUVWULQJVFDQEHFRQVWDQWVRU
YDOXHVUHWULHYHGIURPDFROXPQ)RUH[DPSOH
char strbuf[80];
. . .
EXEC SQL
SELECT LAST_NAME || " is the manager of publications."
INTO :strbuf
FROM DEPARTMENT, EMPLOYEE
WHERE DEPT_NO = 5900 AND MNGR_NO = EMP_NO;

7KHVWULQJRSHUDWRUFDQDOVREHXVHGLQ,16(57RU83'$7(VWDWHPHQWV
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO DEPARTMENT (MANAGER_NAME)
VALUES(:fname || :lname);

92 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

Using arithmetic operators in expressions

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OLVWHGLQWKHIROORZLQJWDEOH

Precedenc Precedenc
Operator Purpose e Operator Purpose e
* Multiplication 1 + Addition 3
/ Division 2 – Subtraction 4
TABLE 6.3 Arithmetic operators

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VXEWUDFWLRQV 
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GHWHUPLQHLIWKDWYDOXHLVJUHDWHUWKDQ
DECLARE RAINCITIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT CITYNAME, COUNTRYNAME
INTO :cityname, :countryname
FROM CITIES
WHERE JANUARY_RAIN + FEBRUARY_RAIN > 10;

Using logical operators in expressions

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 93
 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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FRPELQHVLPSOHVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQV)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJTXHU\UHWXUQVDQ\HPSOR\HH
ZKRVHODVWQDPHLVQRW´6PLWKµ
DECLARE NOSMITH CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME
INTO :lname
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE NOT LNAME = "Smith";

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LVWREHUHWULHYHG7KHIROORZLQJTXHU\UHWXUQVDQ\HPSOR\HHZKRVHODVWQDPHLVQHLWKHU
´6PLWKµQRU´-RQHVµ
DECLARE NO_SMITH_OR_JONES CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME
INTO :lname
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE NOT LNAME = "Smith" AND NOT LNAME = "Jones";

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TXHU\UHWXUQVDQ\HPSOR\HHQDPHG´6PLWKµRU´-RQHVµ
DECLARE ALL_SMITH_JONES CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
INTO :lname, :fname
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LNAME = "Smith" OR LNAME = "Jones";

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SUHFHGHQFHRIRSHUDWRUVµRQSDJH 

Using comparison operators in expressions

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XVHGDQGSURYLGHVVDPSOHVRIWKHLUXVH

94 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

Note &RPSDULVRQVHYDOXDWHWR8QNQRZQLID18//YDOXHLVHQFRXQWHUHG
)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXW&$67 VHH´8VLQJ&$67 IRUGDWDW\SHFRQYHUVLRQVµRQ
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WKHVHRSHUDWRUVDQGGHVFULEHVKRZWKH\DUHXVHG

Operator Purpose
ALL Determines if a value is equal to all values returned by a subquery.
ANY and SOME Determines if a value is equal to any values returned by a subquery.
EXISTS Determines if a value exists in at least one value returned by a subquery.
SINGULAR Determines if a value exists in exactly one value returned by a subquery.
TABLE 6.4 InterBase comparison operators requiring subqueries

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<value> [NOT] BETWEEN <value> AND <value>

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FROXPQVIRUHPSOR\HHVZLWKVDODULHVEHWZHHQDQGLQFOXVLYH
EXEC SQL
DECLARE LARGE_SALARIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE SALARY BETWEEN 100000 AND 250000;

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IROORZLQJFXUVRUGHFODUDWLRQUHWULHYHVWKHQDPHVRIHPSOR\HHVZLWKVDODULHVOHVVWKDQ
DQGJUHDWHUWKDQ
EXEC SQL
DECLARE EXTREME_SALARIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE SALARY NOT BETWEEN 30000 AND 150000;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 95
 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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<value> [NOT] CONTAINING "<string>"

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QDPHVFRQWDLQWKHWKUHHOHWWHUFRPELQDWLRQ´ODVµ DQG´/$6µRU´/DVµ 
EXEC SQL
DECLARE LAS_EMP CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME CONTAINING "las";

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FRQWDLQ´ODVµ DOVR´/$6µRU´/DVµ 
EXEC SQL
DECLARE NOT_LAS_EMP CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME NOT CONTAINING "las";

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<value> [NOT] IN (<value> [, <value> ...])

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DFFRXQWLQJSD\UROODQGKXPDQUHVRXUFHVGHSDUWPHQWV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE ACCT_PAY_HR CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPARTMENT, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, EMP_NO
FROM EMPLOYEE EMP, DEPTARTMENT DEP

96 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

WHERE EMP.DEPT_NO = DEP.DEPT_NO AND

DEPARTMENT IN ("Accounting", "Payroll", "Human Resources")
GROUP BY DEPARTMENT;

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE NOT_ACCT_PAY_HR CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPARTMENT, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, EMP_NO
FROM EMPLOYEE EMP, DEPTARTMENT DEP
WHERE EMP.DEPT_NO = DEP.DEPT_NO AND
DEPARTMENT NOT IN ("Accounting", "Payroll",
"Human Resources")
GROUP BY DEPARTMENT;

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IROORZLQJFXUVRUGHFODUDWLRQUHWULHYHVDOOFLWLHVLQ(XURSH
EXEC SQL
DECLARE NON_JFG_CITIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT C.COUNTRY, C.CITY, C.POPULATION
FROM CITIES C
WHERE C.COUNTRY NOT IN (SELECT O.COUNTRY FROM COUNTRIES O
WHERE O.CONTINENT <> "Europe")
GROUP BY C.COUNTRY;

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UHFRJQL]HVWZRZLOGFDUGV\PEROV
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<value> [NOT] LIKE <value> [ESCAPE "symbol"]

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WKHWKUHHOHWWHUFRPELQDWLRQ´WRQµ EXWQRW´7RQµ 
EXEC SQL
DECLARE TON_EMP CURSOR FOR

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 97
 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, EMP_NO

FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME LIKE "%ton%";

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 3UHFHGHWKH RUBZLWKDQRWKHUV\PERO IRUH[DPSOH# LQWKHTXRWHG
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LQWKHLUQDPHV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE UNDER_TABLE CURSOR FOR
SELECT RDB$RELATION_NAME
FROM RDB$RELATIONS
WHERE RDB$RELATION_NAME LIKE "%@_%" ESCAPE "@";

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE NOT_UNDER_TABLE CURSOR FOR
SELECT RDB$RELATION_NAME
FROM RDB$RELATIONS
WHERE RDB$RELATION_NAME NOT LIKE "%@_%" ESCAPE "@";

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FODXVHLV
<value> IS [NOT] NULL

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE MISSING_PHONE CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE PHONE_EXT IS NULL;
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UHWULHYHVWKHSKRQHQXPEHUVRIDOOHPSOR\HHVWKDWKDYHSKRQHH[WHQVLRQV

98 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

EXEC SQL
DECLARE PHONE_LIST CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, PHONE_EXT
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE PHONE_EXT IS NOT NULL
ORDER BY LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME;

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<value> [NOT] STARTING WITH <value>

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TO_EMP CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME STARTING WITH "To";

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE NOT_TO_EMP CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME NOT STARTING WITH "To";

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<value> <comparison_operator> ALL (<subquery>)

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE MORE_THAN_VP CURSOR FOR

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 99
 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, SALARY

FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE SALARY > ALL (SELECT SALARY FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE DEPT_NO = 7734);

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE MORE_CHANNEL CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE SALARY > ANY (SELECT SALARY FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE DEPT_NO = 7734);

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[NOT] EXISTS (SELECT * FROM <tablelist> WHERE <search_condition>)

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE RIVER_COUNTRIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT COUNTRY
FROM COUNTRIES C

100 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

WHERE EXISTS (SELECT * FROM RIVERS R

WHERE R.COUNTRY = C.COUNTRY);

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VXETXHU\7KHIROORZLQJFXUVRUUHWULHYHVDOOFRXQWULHVZLWKRXWULYHUV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE NON_RIVER_COUNTRIES COUNTRIES FOR
SELECT COUNTRY
FROM COUNTRIES C
WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM RIVERS R
WHERE R.COUNTRY = C.COUNTRY);

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[NOT] SINGULAR (SELECT * FROM <tablelist> WHERE <search_condition>)

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE SINGLE_CAPITAL CURSOR FOR
SELECT COUNTRY
FROM COUNTRIES COU
WHERE SINGULAR (SELECT * FROM CITIES CIT
WHERE CIT.CITY = COU.CAPITAL);

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WKHVXETXHU\)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJFXUVRUUHWULHYHVDOOFRXQWULHVZLWKPRUHWKDQRQH
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EXEC SQL
DECLARE MULTI_CAPITAL CURSOR FOR
SELECT COUNTRY
FROM COUNTRIES COU
WHERE NOT SINGULAR (SELECT * FROM CITIES CIT
WHERE CIT.CITY = COU.CAPITAL);

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 101

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Determining precedence of operators

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AMONG OPERATORS OF DIFFERENT TYPES
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HYDOXDWHG KLJKHVWSUHFHGHQFH WRODVWHYDOXDWHG ORZHVWSUHFHGHQFH 

Operator type Precedence Explanation

String Highest Strings are always concatenated before all other operations take
place.
Mathematical ? Math is performed after string concatenation, but before
comparison and logical operations.
Comparison ? Comparison operations are evaluated after string concatenation
and math, but before logical operations.
Logical Lowest Logical operations are evaluated after all other operations.
TABLE 6.5 Operator precedence by operator type

AMONG OPERATORS OF THE SAME TYPE

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102 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

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ORZHVW

Operator Precedence Explanation

* Highest Multiplication is performed before all other mathematical operations.
/ ? Division is performed before addition and subtraction.
+ ? Addition is performed before subtraction.
– Lowest Subtraction is performed after all other mathematical operations.
TABLE 6.6 Mathematical operator precedence

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WKHHYDOXDWLRQRUGHUIRUFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRUVIURPKLJKHVWWRORZHVW

Operator Precedence Explanation

=, == Highest Equality operations are evaluated before all other
comparison operations.
<>, !=, ~=, ^= ?
> ?
< ?
>= ?
<= ?
!>, ~>, ^> ?
!<, ~<, ^< Lowest Not less than operations are evaluated after all other
comparison operations.
TABLE 6.7 Comparison operator precedence

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 103

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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DFFRUGLQJWRDKLHUDUFK\GHWDLOHGLQWKHIROORZLQJWDEOH

Operator Precedence Explanation

NOT Highest NOT operations are evaluated before all other logical operations.
AND ? AND operations are evaluated after NOT operations, and before OR
operations.
OR Lowest OR operations are evaluated after all other logical operations.
TABLE 6.8 Logical operator precedence

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(3 + 2) * 6 = 30

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RUGHURIHYDOXDWLRQLVGHVLUHG([SOLFLWO\JURXSHGH[SUHVVLRQVDUHHDVLHUWRXQGHUVWDQGDQG
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Using CAST() for datatype conversions

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CAST (<value> | NULL AS datatype)

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,17(59,(:B'$7(WRD'$7(GDWDW\SHWRFRPSDUHDJDLQVWD'$7(GDWDW\SH+,5(B'$7(
WHERE HIRE_DATE = CAST(INTERVIEW_DATE AS DATE);

104 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING SQL EXPRESSIONS

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From datatype To datatype

NUMERIC CHARACTER, DATE

CHARACTER NUMERIC, DATE

DATE CHARACTER, NUMERIC

TABLE 6.9 Compatible datatypes for CAST()

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Using UPPER() on text data

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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char response[26];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
printf("Enter new department name: ");
response[0] = ’\0’;
gets(response);
if (response)
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO DEPARTMENT(DEPT_NO, DEPARTMENT)
VALUES(GEN_ID(GDEPT_NO, 1), UPPER(:response));
. . .

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EXEC SQL
SELECT DEPT_NO, UPPER(DEPARTMENT)
FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE UPPER(DEPARTMENT) STARTING WITH ’A’;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 105

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Understanding data retrieval with SELECT

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EXEC SQL
SELECT EMP_NO, FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME
INTO :emp_no, :fname, :lname
FROM EMPLOYEE WHERE EMP_NO = 1888;

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)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWGHFODULQJKRVWYDULDEOHVVHH&KDSWHU´$SSOLFDWLRQ
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SUHVFULEHVWKHLUXVHLQVLQJOHWRQDQGPXOWLURZVHOHFWV

Singleton Multi-row
Clause Purpose SELECT SELECT
SELECT Lists columns to retrieve. Required Required
INTO Lists host variables for storing retrieved columns. Required Not allowed
FROM Identifies the tables to search for values. Required Required
WHERE Specifies the search conditions used to restrict retrieved rows Optional Optional
to a subset of all available rows. A WHERE clause can contain its
own SELECT statement, referred to as a subquery.
TABLE 6.10 SELECT statement clauses

106 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING DATA RETRIEVAL WITH SELECT

Singleton Multi-row
Clause Purpose SELECT SELECT
GROUP BY Groups related rows based on common column values. Used in Optional Optional
conjunction with HAVING.
HAVING Restricts rows generated by GROUP BY to a subset of those rows. Optional Optional
UNION Combines the results of two or more SELECT statements to Optional Optional
produce a single, dynamic table without duplicate rows.
PLAN Specifies the query plan that should be used by the query Optional Optional
optimizer instead of one it would normally choose.
ORDER BY Specifies the sort order of rows returned by a SELECT, either Optional Optional
ascending (ASC), the default, or descending (DESC).
FOR UPDATE Specifies columns listed after the SELECT clause of a DECLARE Not allowed Optional
CURSOR statement that can be updated using a WHERE CURRENT
OF clause.

TABLE 6.10 SELECT statement clauses (continued)

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V\QWD[VHHWKH/DQJXDJH5HIHUHQFH

Listing columns to retrieve with SELECT

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EXEC SQL
SELECT EMP_NO, FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME
INTO :emp_no, :fname, :lname
FROM EMPLOYEE WHERE EMP_NO = 2220;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 107

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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(03/2<((WDEOH
EXEC SQL
SELECT *
INTO :emp_no, :fname, :lname, :phone_ext, :hire, :dept_no,
:job_code, :job_grade, :job_country, :salary, :full_name
FROM EMPLOEE WHERE EMP_NO = 1888;

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ZLWKWKHODVWQDPH60,7+PLJKWORFDWHPDQ\VXFKURZV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE SMITH CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME = "Smith";

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE SMITH CURSOR FOR
SELECT DISTINCT LAST_NAME
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME = "Smith";

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UNDERSTANDING DATA RETRIEVAL WITH SELECT

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UHWULHYLQJHDFKYDOXHVHSDUDWHO\7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHOLVWVWKHDJJUHJDWHIXQFWLRQVVXSSRUWHG
E\,QWHU%DVH

Function Purpose
AVG() Calculates the average numeric value for a set of values.
MIN() Retrieves the minimum value in a set of values.
MAX() Retrieves the maximum value in a set of values.
SUM() Calculates the total of numeric values in a set of values.
COUNT() Calculates the number of rows that satisfy the query’s search condition
(specified in the WHERE clause).
TABLE 6.11 Aggregate functions in SQL

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(03/2<((WDEOH
EXEC SQL
SELECT AVG(SALARY)
INTO :avg_sal
FROM EMPLOYEE;

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WDEOHDQGWKHWRWDOVDODU\RIDOOHPSOR\HHVLQWKHWDEOH
EXEC SQL
SELECT COUNT(*), MAX(EMP_NO), MIN(EMP_NO), SUM(SALARY)
INTO :counter, :maxno, :minno, :total_salary
FROM EMPLOYEE;

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VHH´*URXSLQJURZVZLWK*5283%<µRQSDJH 

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 109

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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SELECT TRANSACTION name <col> [, <col> ...]

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EXEC SQL
SELECT TRANSACTION T1:
COUNT(*), MAX(EMP_NO), MIN(EMP_NO), SUM(SALARY)
INTO :counter, :maxno, :minno, :total_salary
FROM EMPLOYEE;

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7UDQVDFWLRQVµ

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 DQGVHSDUDWHGIURPWKHQH[WE\DFRPPD
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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
long salary;
char lname[20], fname[15];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
EXEC SQL
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, SALARY
INTO :lanem, :fname, :salary
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LNAME = "Smith";
. . .
Note ,QDPXOWLURZVHOHFWWKH,172FODXVHLVSDUWRIWKH)(7&+VWDWHPHQWQRWWKH6(/(&7
VWDWHPHQW)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWWKH,172FODXVHLQ)(7&+VHH´)HWFKLQJURZVZLWK
DFXUVRUµRQSDJH 

Listing tables to search with FROM

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SURFHGXUHVIURPZKLFKGDWDLVWREHUHWULHYHG7KHFRPSOHWHV\QWD[RIWKH)520FODXVHLV
FROM table | view | procedure [alias] [, table | view | procedure [alias]
...]

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 111

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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NH\ZRUG:KHQUHWULHYLQJGDWDIURPPXOWLSOHVRXUFHVHDFKVRXUFHPXVWEHOLVWHGDVVLJQHG
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WRUHWULHYHGDWD
EXEC SQL
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, SALARY
INTO :lanem, :fname, :salary
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LNAME = "Smith";

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UHWULHYDOLQVWHDGRIDWDEOH)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJ6(/(&7VSHFLILHVDVHOHFWSURFHGXUH
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URZZKHUHWKH'(37B12FROXPQLV
EXEC SQL
SELECT DEPT_NO, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, SALARY
INTO :lname, :fname, :salary
FROM MVIEW
WHERE DEPT_NO = 430;

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6WRUHG 3URFHGXUHVµ

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 7KHQDPHRIHDFKUHIHUHQFHGFROXPQLVXQLTXHDFURVVDOOWDEOHV
 7KHQDPHVRIRQHRUPRUHUHIHUHQFHGFROXPQVH[LVWLQWZRRUPRUHWDEOHV
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EXEC SQL
SELECT DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, EMP_NO
INTO :dept_name, :dept_no, :lname, :fname, :empno

112 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING DATA RETRIEVAL WITH SELECT

FROM DEPARTMENT, EMPLOYEE

WHERE DEPT_NO = "Publications" AND MNGR_NO = EMP_NO;

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(03/2<((WKHQWKHSUHYLRXVTXHU\PXVWEHUHFDVWDVIROORZV
EXEC SQL
SELECT DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME,
EMLOYEE.EMP_NO
INTO :dept_name, :dept_no, :lname, :fname, :empno
FROM DEPARTMENT, EMPLOYEE
WHERE DEPT_NO = "Publications" AND
DEPARTMENT.EMP_NO = EMPLOYEE.EMP_NO;

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6(/(&7µRQSDJH 

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FROM DEPARTMENT DEPT, EMPLOYEE EMP

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EXEC SQL
SELECT DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME,
EMLOYEE.EMP_NO

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 113

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

INTO :dept_name, :dept_no, :lname, :fname, :empno

FROM DEPARTMENT DEPT, EMPLOYEE EMP
WHERE DEPT_NO = "Publications" AND DEPT.EMP_NO = EMP.EMP_NO;

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ILHOGHTXDOVDKDUGFRGHGFRQVWDQW
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Publications"

7KLVVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQKDVWKUHHHOHPHQWVDFROXPQQDPHDFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRU WKHHTXDO
VLJQ DQGDFRQVWDQW0RVWVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQVDUHPRUHFRPSOH[WKDQWKLV7KH\LQYROYH
DGGLWLRQDOHOHPHQWVDQGFRPELQDWLRQVRIVLPSOHVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQV7KHIROORZLQJWDEOH
GHVFULEHVH[SUHVVLRQHOHPHQWVWKDWFDQEHXVHGLQVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQV

Element Description
Column names Columns from tables listed in the FROM clause, against which to search or
compare values.
Host-language variables Program variables containing changeable values. When used in a SELECT,
host-language variables must be preceded by a colon (:).
Constants Hard-coded numbers or quoted strings, like 507 or “Tokyo”.
Concatenation operators ||, used to combine character strings.
Arithmetic operators +, –, *, and /, used to calculate and evaluate search condition values.
Logical operators Keywords, NOT, AND, and OR, used within simple search conditions, or to
combine simple search conditions to make complex searches. A logical
operation evaluates to true or false.
TABLE 6.12 Elements of WHERE clause SEARCH conditions

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 115

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Element Description
Comparison operators <, >, <=, >=, =, and <>, used to compare a value on the left side of the
operator to another on the right. A comparative operation evaluates to True
or False.
Other, more specialized comparison operators include ALL, ANY, BETWEEN,
CONTAINING, EXISTS, IN, IS, LIKE, NULL, SINGULAR, SOME, and STARTING WITH. These
operators can evaluate to True, False, or Unknown.
COLLATE clause Comparisons of CHAR and VARCHAR values can sometimes take advantage of a
COLLATE clause to force the way text values are compared.

Stored procedures Reusable SQL statement blocks that can receive and return parameters, and
that are stored as part of a database’s metadata. For more information about
stored procedures in queries, see Chapter 11, “Working with
Stored Procedures.”
Subqueries A SELECT statement nested within the WHERE clause to return or calculate
values against which rows searched by the main SELECT statement are
compared. For more information about subqueries, see “Using subqueries”
on page 140.
Parentheses Group related parts of search conditions which should be processed
separately to produce a single value which is then used to evaluate the search
condition. Parenthetical expressions can be nested.
TABLE 6.12 Elements of WHERE clause SEARCH conditions (continued)

&RPSOH[VHDUFKFRQGLWLRQVFDQEHFRQVWUXFWHGE\FRPELQLQJVLPSOHVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQVLQ
GLIIHUHQWZD\V)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJ:+(5(FODXVHXVHVDFROXPQQDPHWKUHH
FRQVWDQWVWKUHHFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRUVDQGDVHWRIJURXSLQJSDUHQWKHVHVWRUHWULHYHRQO\
WKRVHURZVIRUHPSOR\HHVZLWKVDODULHVEHWZHHQDQG
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Publications" AND
(SALARY > 60000 AND SALARY < 120000)

6HDUFKFRQGLWLRQVLQ:+(5(FODXVHVRIWHQFRQWDLQQHVWHG6(/(&7VWDWHPHQWVRUVXETXHULHV
)RUH[DPSOHLQWKHIROORZLQJTXHU\WKH:+(5(FODXVHFRQWDLQVDVXETXHU\WKDWXVHVWKH
DJJUHJDWHIXQFWLRQ$9* WRUHWULHYHDOLVWRIDOOGHSDUWPHQWVZLWKELJJHUWKDQDYHUDJH
VDODULHV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE WELL_PAID CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPT_NO
INTO :wellpaid
FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE SALARY > (SELECT AVG(SALARY) FROM DEPARTMENT);

116 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING DATA RETRIEVAL WITH SELECT

)RUDJHQHUDOGLVFXVVLRQRIEXLOGLQJVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQVIURP64/H[SUHVVLRQVVHH
´8QGHUVWDQGLQJ64/H[SUHVVLRQVµRQSDJH )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWXVLQJ
VXETXHULHVWRVSHFLI\VHDUFKFRQGLWLRQVVHH´8VLQJVXETXHULHVµRQSDJH )RUPRUH
LQIRUPDWLRQDERXWDJJUHJDWHIXQFWLRQVVHH´5HWULHYLQJDJJUHJDWHFROXPQLQIRUPDWLRQµRQ
SDJH 

4 &ROODWLRQRUGHULQFRPSDULVRQV
:KHQ&+$5RU9$5&+$5YDOXHVDUHFRPSDUHGLQD:+(5(FODXVHLWFDQEHQHFHVVDU\WR
VSHFLI\DFROODWLRQRUGHUIRUWKHFRPSDULVRQVLIWKHYDOXHVEHLQJFRPSDUHGXVHGLIIHUHQW
FROODWLRQRUGHUV
7RVSHFLI\WKHFROODWLRQRUGHUWRXVHIRUDYDOXHGXULQJDFRPSDULVRQLQFOXGHD&2//$7(
FODXVHDIWHUWKHYDOXH)RUH[DPSOHLQWKHIROORZLQJ:+(5(FODXVHIUDJPHQWIURPDQ
HPEHGGHGDSSOLFDWLRQWKHYDOXHWRWKHOHIWRIWKHFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRULVIRUFHGWREH
FRPSDUHGXVLQJDVSHFLILFFROODWLRQ
WHERE LNAME COLLATE FR_CA = :lname_search;

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WKH'DWD'HILQLWLRQ*XLGH

Sorting rows with ORDER BY

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LQWHUQDOWDEOHVWRUDJHLVXQRUGHUHGUHWULHYDOWRRLVOLNHO\WREHXQRUGHUHG7RVSHFLI\WKH
RUGHULQZKLFKURZVDUHUHWXUQHGE\DTXHU\XVHWKHRSWLRQDO25'(5%<FODXVHDWWKHHQGRI
D6(/(&7VWDWHPHQW
25'(5%<UHWULHYHVURZVEDVHGRQDFROXPQOLVW(YHU\FROXPQLQWKH25'(5%<FODXVH
PXVWDOVRDSSHDUVRPHZKHUHLQWKH6(/(&7FODXVHDWWKHVWDUWRIWKHVWDWHPHQW(DFKFROXPQ
FDQRSWLRQDOO\EHRUGHUHGLQDVFHQGLQJRUGHU $6&WKHGHIDXOW RUGHVFHQGLQJRUGHU '(6& 
7KHFRPSOHWHV\QWD[RI25'(5%<LV
ORDER BY col [COLLATE collation] [ASC | DESC]
[,col [COLLATE collation] [ASC | DESC] ...];

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FROXPQ%HFDXVH'(6&LVVSHFLILHGLQWKH25'(5%<FODXVHHPSOR\HHVDUHUHWULHYHGIURP=
WR$
EXEC SQL
DECLARE PHONE_LIST CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, PHONE_EXT
FROM EMPLOYEE

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 117

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

WHERE PHONE_EXT IS NOT NULL

ORDER BY LAST_NAME DESC, FIRST_NAME;

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/$67B1$0(LQGHVFHQGLQJRUGHUWKHQUHILQHVLWDOSKDEHWLFDOO\ZLWKLQ/$67B1$0(JURXSV
E\),567B1$0(LQDVFHQGLQJRUGHU
EXEC SQL
DECLARE PHONE_LIST CURSOR FOR
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, PHONE_EXT
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE PHONE_EXT IS NOT NULL
ORDER BY LAST_NAME DESC, FIRST_NAME ASC;

4 &ROODWLRQRUGHULQDQ25'(5%<FODXVH
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WRVSHFLI\DFROODWLRQRUGHUIRUWKHRUGHULQJHVSHFLDOO\LIFROXPQVXVHGIRURUGHULQJXVH
GLIIHUHQWFROODWLRQRUGHUV
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D&2//$7(FODXVHDIWHUWKHFROXPQQDPH)RUH[DPSOHLQWKHIROORZLQJ25'(5%<FODXVH
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. . .
ORDER BY LNAME COLLATE FR_CA, FNAME COLLATE FR_FR;

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WKH'DWD'HILQLWLRQ*XLGH

118 INTERBASE 5
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Grouping rows with GROUP BY

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RIURZVWKDWVKDUHFROXPQYDOXHVLQVWHDGRIUHWXUQLQJHDFKTXDOLI\LQJURZ7KHFRPSOHWH
V\QWD[RI*5283%<LV
GROUP BY col [COLLATE collation] [, col [COLLATE collation] ...]

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GHSDUWPHQWDQGHPSOR\HHQDPH
EXEC SQL
DECLARE DEPT_EMP CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPARTMENT, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM DEPARTMENT D, EMPLOYEE E
WHERE D.DEPT_NO = E.DEPT_NO"
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME;

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EDVHGRQGHSDUWPHQWQDPHVZKLOHWKH25'(5%<FODXVHDUUDQJHVUHWULHYHGURZV
DOSKDEHWLFDOO\E\GHSDUWPHQWQDPH
EXEC SQL
DECLARE AVG_DEPT_SAL CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPARTMENT, AVG(SALARY)
FROM DEPARTMENT D, EMPLOYEE E
WHERE D.DEPT_NO = E.DEPT_NO
GROUP BY DEPARTMENT
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT;

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. . .
GROUP BY LNAME COLLATE FR_CA, FNAME COLLATE FR_CA;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 119

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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Restricting grouped rows with HAVING

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EXEC SQL

120 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING DATA RETRIEVAL WITH SELECT

DECLARE SIXTY_THOU CURSOR FOR

SELECT DEPARTMENT, AVG(SALARY)
FROM DEPARTMENT D, EMPLOYEE E
WHERE D.DEPT_NO = E.DEPT_NO
GROUP BY DEPARTMENT
HAVING AVG(SALARY) > 60000
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT;
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UNION SELECT col [, col ...] | * FROM <tableref> [, <tableref> ...]

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE ALLCITIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT CIT.CITY FROM CITIES CIT
UNION SELECT COU.CAPITAL FROM COUNTRIES COU
UNION SELECT N.PARKCITY FROM NATIONAL_PARKS N;

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81,21

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 121

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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PLAN <plan_expr>
<plan_expr> =
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[, <plan_item> | <plan_expr> ...])
<plan_item> = {table | alias}
NATURAL | INDEX ( <index> [, <index> ...]) | ORDER <index>

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Selecting a single row

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SELECT <col> [, <col> ...]
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FROM table
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EXEC SQL
SELECT DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, HEAD_DEPT, BUDGET, LOCATION, PHONE_NO
INTO :deptname, :dept_no, :manager, :budget, :location, :phone
FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Publications";

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Selecting multiple rows

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HPSOR\HHV

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 123

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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Declaring a cursor
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&85625VWDWHPHQW'(&/$5(&85625LVDGHVFULSWLYHQRQH[HFXWDEOHVWDWHPHQW,QWHU%DVH
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7KHV\QWD[IRU'(&/$5(&85625LV
DECLARE cursorname CURSOR FOR
SELECT <col> [, <col> ...]
FROM table [, <table> ...]
WHERE <search_condition>
[GROUP BY col [, col ...]]
[HAVING <search_condition>]
[ORDER BY col [ASC | DESC] [, col ...] [ASC | DESC]
| FOR UPDATE OF col [, col ...]];

124 INTERBASE 5
SELECTING MULTIPLE ROWS

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DFWLYHFXUVRU
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g $6(/(&7LQD'(&/$5(&85625FDQRSWLRQDOO\LQFOXGHHLWKHUDQ25'(5%<FODXVHRUD
)2583'$7(FODXVH
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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TO_BE_HIRED CURSOR FOR
SELECT D.DEPARTMENT, D.LOCATION, P.DEPARTMENT
FROM DEPARTMENT D, DEPARTMENT P
WHERE D.MNGR_NO IS NULL
AND D.HEAD_DEPT = P.DEPT_NO;

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FDQEHPRGLILHG)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWGHFODUHVVXFKDFXUVRU
EXEC SQL
DECLARE H CURSOR FOR
SELECT CUST_NO
FROM CUSTOMER
WHERE ON_HOLD = "*"
FOR UPDATE OF ON_HOLD;

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XSGDWHG)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJTXHU\HQDEOHVXSGDWLQJIRUWZRFROXPQV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE H CURSOR FOR
SELECT CUST_NAME CUST_NO
FROM CUSTOMER
WHERE ON_HOLD = "*";

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URZVµRQSDJH 

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 125

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Opening a cursor
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EXEC SQL
OPEN DEPT_EMP;

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URZLQWKHUHVXOWVWDEOH

Fetching rows with a cursor

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WKH)(7&+VWDWHPHQW)(7&+
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)(7&+VWDWHPHQW
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FETCH <cursorname> INTO :variable [[INDICATOR] :variable]
[, :variable [[INDICATOR] :variable>] ...];

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EXEC SQL
FETCH DEPT_EMP
INTO :deptname, :lname, :fname;

126 INTERBASE 5
SELECTING MULTIPLE ROWS

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. . .
EXEC SQL
FETCH DEPT_EMP
INTO :deptname, :lname, :fname;
while (!SQLCODE)
{
printf("%s %s works in the %s department.\n", fname,
lname, deptname);
EXEC SQL
FETCH DEPT_EMP
INTO :deptname, :lname, :fname;
}
EXEC SQL
CLOSE DEPT_EMP;
. . .

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. . .
char department[26];

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 127

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

char manager[36];
short missing_manager;
. . .
FETCH GETCITY INTO :department, :manager INDICATOR :missing_manager;

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FETCH GETCITY INTO :department, :manager :missing_manager;

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FETCH GETCITY INTO :department, :manager:missing_manager;
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)(7&+PXVWHTXDOWKHQXPEHURIFROXPQVVSHFLILHGLQ'(&/$5(&85625LQGLFDWRU
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EXEC SQL
CLOSE DEPT_EMP;
EXEC SQL
OPEN DEPT_EMP;

Closing the cursor

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EXEC SQL
CLOSE DEPT_EMP;

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WRLQGLFDWHWKHUHDUHQRPRUHURZVWRUHWULHYH

128 INTERBASE 5
SELECTING MULTIPLE ROWS

A complete cursor example

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#include <stdio.h>
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char deptname[26];
char lname[16];
char fname[11];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

main ()
{
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR GO TO abend;
EXEC SQL
DECLARE DEPT_EMP CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPARTMENT, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME
FROM DEPARTMENT D, EMPLOYEE E
WHERE D.DEPT_NO = E.DEPT_NO"
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME;
EXEC SQL
OPEN DEPT_EMP;
EXEC SQL
FETCH DEPT_EMP
INTO :deptname, :lname, :fname;
while (!SQLCODE)
{
printf("%s %s works in the %s department.\n",fname,
lname, deptname);
EXEC SQL
FETCH DEPT_EMP
INTO :deptname, :lname, :fname;
}
EXEC SQL
CLOSE DEPT_EMP;
exit();

abend:

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 129

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

if (SQLCODE)
{
isc_print_sqlerror();
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
CLOSE_DEPT_EMP;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
exit(1)
}
else
{
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
exit()
}
}

Selecting rows with NULL values

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FROXPQ7KHIROORZLQJFXUVRUGHFODUDWLRQUHWULHYHVURZVIRUGHSDUWPHQWVZLWKRXWEXGJHWVIRU
SRVVLEOHXSGDWH
EXEC SQL
DECLARE NO_BUDGET CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPARTMENT, BUDGET
FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE BUDGET IS NULL
FOR UPDATE OF BUDGET;

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LQIRUPDWLRQDERXWLQGLFDWRUYDULDEOHVVHH´5HWULHYLQJLQGLFDWRUVWDWXVµRQSDJH 

130 INTERBASE 5
SELECTING MULTIPLE ROWS

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UHWULHYHVDOOGHSDUWPHQWEXGJHWVHYHQWKRVHZLWK18//YDOXHVZKLFKDUHUHSRUWHGDV]HUR
EXEC SQL
DECLARE ALL_BUDGETS CURSOR FOR
SELECT DEPARTMENT, BUDGET
FROM DEPARTMENT
ORDER BY BUDGET DESCENDING;

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Selecting rows through a view

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HPSOR\HHSKRQHQXPEHUVEDVHGRQWKH3+21(B9,(:YLHZ
EXEC SQL
DECLARE PHONE_LIST CURSOR FOR
SELECT FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, PHONE_EXT
FROM PHONE_VIEW
WHERE EMPLOYEE.DEPT_NO = DEPARTMENT.DEPT_NO;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 131

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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Selecting multiple rows in DSQL

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LQDQ;64/'$

132 INTERBASE 5
SELECTING MULTIPLE ROWS IN DSQL

g 'HFODUHDFXUVRUXVLQJWKHTXHU\DOLDV
7KHFRPSOHWHV\QWD[IRU'(&/$5(&85625LQ'64/LV
DECLARE cursorname CURSOR FOR queryname;

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XVHV48(5<
. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char querystring [512];
XSQLDA *InputSqlda, *OutputSqlda;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
printf("Enter query: "); /* prompt for query from user */
gets(querystring); /* get the string, store in querystring */
. . .
EXEC SQL
PREPARE QUERY INTO OutputSqlda FROM :querystring;
. . .
EXEC SQL
DECLARE C CURSOR FOR QUERY;

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Opening a DSQL cursor

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OPEN cursorname USING DESCRIPTOR sqldaname;

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EXEC SQL
OPEN C USING DESCRIPTOR InputSqlda;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 133

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Fetching rows with a DSQL cursor

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VWDWHPHQWLV
FETCH cursorname USING DESCRIPTOR descriptorname;

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RXWSXWDQGLOOXVWUDWHVKRZWKHRXWSXWVWUXFWXUHLVXVHGLQD)(7&+VWDWHPHQW
. . .
XSQLDA *InputSqlda, *OutputSqlda;
. . .
EXEC SQL
FETCH C USING DESCRIPTOR OutputSqlda;
. . .

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TXHULHVZLWK35(3$5(VHH&KDSWHU´8VLQJ'\QDPLF64/µ

Joining tables
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WDEOHVIURPZKLFKGDWDLVWREHH[WUDFWHGDUHOLVWHGLQWKH)520FODXVH2SWLRQDOV\QWD[LQWKH
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FDQIXUWKHUUHGXFHWKHQXPEHURIURZVUHWXUQHG
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WKHUHVXOWVRIWKHMRLQRSHUDWLRQWKHUHVXOWVWDEOHVRPHWLPHVDOVRFDOOHGDG\QDPLFRUYLUWXDOWDEOH
,QWHU%DVHVXSSRUWVWZREDVLFW\SHVRIMRLQV
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WKDWPDWFKWKHMRLQFRQGLWLRQV7KHUHDUHWKUHHW\SHVRILQQHUMRLQV
à (TXLMRLQVOLQNURZVEDVHGRQFRPPRQYDOXHVRUHTXDOLW\UHODWLRQVKLSVLQWKHMRLQFROXPQV
à -RLQVWKDWOLQNURZVEDVHGRQFRPSDULVRQVRWKHUWKDQHTXDOLW\LQWKHMRLQFROXPQV7KHUHLV
QRWDQRIILFLDOO\UHFRJQL]HGQDPHIRUWKHVHW\SHVRIMRLQVEXWIRUVLPSOLFLW\·VVDNHWKH\PD\
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à 5HIOH[LYHRUVHOIMRLQVFRPSDUHYDOXHVZLWKLQDFROXPQRIDVLQJOHWDEOH

134 INTERBASE 5
JOINING TABLES

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DQGVKRZDFOHDUUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQWZRRUPRUHWDEOHV2XWHUMRLQVKRZHYHUDUHXVHIXO
IRUYLHZLQJMRLQHGURZVDJDLQVWDEDFNJURXQGRIURZVWKDWGRQRWPHHWWKHMRLQFRQGLWLRQV

Choosing join columns

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35,0$5<.(<RUD)25(,*1.(<-RLQHGFROXPQVQHHGQRWKDYHWKHVDPHQDPHVEXWWKH\
PXVWEHRIFRPSDWLEOHGDWDW\SHV)RUH[DPSOH,17(*(5'(&,0$/180(5,&DQG)/2$7
GDWDW\SHVFDQEHFRPSDUHGWRRQHDQRWKHUEHFDXVHWKH\DUHDOOQXPEHUV6WULQJYDOXHVOLNH
&+$5DQG9$5&+$5FDQRQO\EHFRPSDUHGWRRWKHUVWULQJYDOXHVXQOHVVWKH\FRQWDLQ$6&,,
YDOXHVWKDWDUHDOOQXPEHUV7KH&$67 IXQFWLRQFDQEHXVHGWRIRUFHWUDQVODWLRQRIRQH
,QWHU%DVHGDWDW\SHWRDQRWKHUIRUFRPSDULVRQV)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXW&$67 VHH
´8VLQJ&$67 IRUGDWDW\SHFRQYHUVLRQVµRQSDJH 

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URZLQWKHUHVXOWVWDEOHXQOHVVSHUIRUPLQJDQRXWHUMRLQ

Using inner joins

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ZLWKH[LVWLQJ64/DSSOLFDWLRQV,QWHU%DVHFRQWLQXHVWRVXSSRUWWKHROG64/PHWKRGIRU
VSHFLI\LQJMRLQV,QROGHUYHUVLRQVRI64/WKHUHLVQRH[SOLFLWMRLQODQJXDJH$QLQQHUMRLQLV
VSHFLILHGE\OLVWLQJWDEOHVWRMRLQLQWKH)520FODXVHRID6(/(&7DQGWKHFROXPQVWR
FRPSDUHLQWKH:+(5(FODXVH
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IRUDQ\PDQDJHUZKRVHVDODU\DFFRXQWVIRURQHWKLUGRUPRUHRIWKHWRWDOVDODULHVRI
HPSOR\HHVLQWKDWGHSDUWPHQW
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BIG_SAL CURSOR FOR
SELECT D.DEPARTMENT, D.MNGR_NO, E.SALARY
FROM DEPARTMENT D, EMPLOYEE E
WHERE D.MNGR_NO = E.EMP_NO AND E.SALARY*2
>= (SELECT SUM(S.SALARY) FROM EMPLOYEE S
WHERE D.DEPT_NO = S.DEPT_NO)
ORDER BY D.DEPARTMENT;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 135

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

,QWHU%DVHDOVRLPSOHPHQWVQHZH[SOLFLWMRLQV\QWD[EDVHGRQ64/
SELECT col [, col ...] | *
FROM <tablerefleft> [INNER] JOIN <tablerefright>
[ON <searchcondition>]
[WHERE <searchcondition>];

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DSSHDULQJWRWKHOHIWRIWKH-2,1NH\ZRUGLVFDOOHGWKHOHIWWDEOHZKLOHWKHWDEOHWRWKHULJKWRI
WKH-2,1LVFDOOHGWKHULJKWWDEOH6HDUFKFRQGLWLRQVEDVHGRQDFROXPQLQWKHULJKWWDEOHFDQEH
VSHFLILHGLQDQRSWLRQDO21FODXVHIROORZLQJWKHULJKWWDEOHUHIHUHQFH)RUH[DPSOHXVLQJWKH
QHZMRLQV\QWD[WKHSUHYLRXVO\GHVFULEHGTXHU\FDQEHUHZULWWHQDV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BIG_SAL CURSOR FOR
SELECT D.DEPARTMENT, D.MNGR_NO, E.SALARY
FROM DEPARTMENT D INNER JOIN EMPLOYEE E
ON D.MNGR_NO = E.EMP_NO
AND E.SALARY*2 > (SELECT SUM(S.SALARY) FROM EMPLOYEE S
WHERE D.DEPT_NO = S.DEPT_NO)
ORDER BY D.DEPARTMENT;

The new join syntax offers several advantages. An explicit join declaration
makes the intention of the program clear when reading its source code.
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IXUWKHUUHVWULFWURZVEDVHGVROHO\RQFROXPQVLQWKHOHIWWDEOH
7KH)520FODXVHDOVRSHUPLWVWKHXVHRIWDEOHUHIHUHQFHVSDUHQWKHWLFDOQHVWHGMRLQVZKRVH
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)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWQHVWHGMRLQVVHH´8VLQJQHVWHGMRLQVµRQSDJH 

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ON t1.column = t2.column

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DOVRDSSHDULQWKH&,7,(6WDEOHDQGDOVRUHWXUQVWKHSRSXODWLRQVRIWKRVHFLWLHV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE CAPPOP CURSOR FOR
SELECT COU.NAME, COU.CAPITAL, CIT.POPULATION
FROM COUNTRIES COU JOIN CITIES CIT ON CIT.NAME = COU.CAPITAL

136 INTERBASE 5
JOINING TABLES

WHERE COU.CAPITAL NOT NULL

ORDER BY COU.NAME;

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:+(5(FODXVHUHVWULFWVURZVUHWULHYHGIURPWKH&28175,(6WDEOHWRWKRVHZKHUHWKH
&$3,7$/FROXPQFRQWDLQVDYDOXH

4 -RLQVEDVHGRQFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRUV
,QQHUMRLQVFDQFRPSDUHYDOXHVLQMRLQFROXPQVXVLQJRWKHUFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRUVEHVLGHVWKH
HTXDOLW\RSHUDWRU)RUH[DPSOHDMRLQPLJKWEHEDVHGRQDFROXPQLQRQHWDEOHKDYLQJDYDOXH
OHVVWKDQWKHYDOXHLQDFROXPQLQDQRWKHUWDEOH7KH21FODXVHLQDFRPSDULVRQMRLQDOZD\V
WDNHVWKHIRUP
ON t1.column <operator> t2.column

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´8VLQJFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRUVLQH[SUHVVLRQVµRQSDJH 
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WKDQWKHVWDWHRI$ODVNDLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BIGPROVINCE CURSOR FOR
SELECT S.STATE_NAME, S.AREA, P.PROVINCE_NAME, P.AREA
FROM STATES S JOIN PROVINCE P ON P.AREA > S.AREA AND
P.COUNTRY = "Canada"
WHERE S.STATE_NAME = "Alaska";

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SURYLQFHLVJUHDWHUWKDQWKHDUHDRIDQ\VWDWH WKH:+(5(FODXVHUHVWULFWVILQDORXWSXWWR
GLVSOD\RQO\LQIRUPDWLRQIRUSURYLQFHVWKDWDUHODUJHULQDUHDWKDQWKHVWDWHRI$ODVND 

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ULYHUVDQGZKDWWKHLUQDPHVDUHWKH
5,9(56WDEOHPXVWEHMRLQHGWRLWVHOI
EXEC SQL
DECLARE RIVERSTORIVERS CURSOR FOR
SELECT R1.RIVER, R2.RIVER
FROM RIVERS R1 JOIN RIVERS R2 ON R2.OUTFLOW = R1.RIVER
ORDER BY R1.RIVER, R2.SOURCE;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 137

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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FRUUHODWLRQQDPHVµRQSDJH 

Using outer joins

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VXEVHWRIURZVIURPDQRWKHUWDEOH$FWXDOO\RQHW\SHRIRXWHUMRLQUHWXUQVDOOURZVIURPHDFK
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VLPLODUWRWKDWRILQQHUMRLQV
SELECT col [, col ...] | *
FROM <tablerefleft> {LEFT | RIGHT | FULL} [OUTER] JOIN
<tablerefright> [ON <searchcondition>]
[WHERE <searchcondition>];

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SRVVLELOLWLHV
g $OHIWRXWHUMRLQUHWULHYHVDOOURZVIURPWKHOHIWWDEOHLQDMRLQDQGUHWULHYHVDQ\URZVIURPWKH
ULJKWWDEOHWKDWPDWFKWKHVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQVSHFLILHGLQWKH21FODXVH
g $ULJKWRXWHUMRLQUHWULHYHVDOOURZVIURPWKHULJKWWDEOHLQDMRLQDQGUHWULHYHVDQ\URZVIURP
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ULYHUVLWPD\EHLQWHUHVWLQJWRVHHWKRVHFRXQWULHVZKLFKDUHQRWWKHVRXUFHVRIULYHUVDVZHOO

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RXWHUMRLQUHWULHYHVWKRVHFRXQWULHVWKDWFRQWDLQWKHVRXUFHVRIULYHUVDQGLGHQWLILHVWKRVH
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EXEC SQL
DECLARE RIVSOURCE CURSOR FOR
SELECT C.COUNTRY, R.RIVER
FROM COUNTRIES C LEFT JOIN RIVERS R ON R.SOURCE = C.COUNTRY
ORDER BY C.COUNTRY;

138 INTERBASE 5
JOINING TABLES

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VHDUFKFRQGLWLRQWKDWIROORZVWKH21FODXVHLVWKHRQO\SODFHZKHUHUHWULHYDORIURZVFDQEH
UHVWULFWHGEDVHGRQFROXPQVDSSHDULQJLQWKHULJKWWDEOH7KH:+(5(FODXVHFDQEHXVHGWR
IXUWKHUUHVWULFWURZVEDVHGVROHO\RQFROXPQVLQWKHOHIW RXWHU WDEOH

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$ULJKWRXWHUMRLQUHWULHYHVDOOURZVIURPWKHULJKWWDEOHLQDMRLQDQGRQO\WKRVHURZVIURP
WKHOHIWWDEOHWKDWPDWFKWKHVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQVSHFLILHGLQWKH21FODXVH7KHIROORZLQJULJKW
RXWHUMRLQUHWULHYHVDOLVWRIULYHUVDQGWKHLUFRXQWULHVRIRULJLQEXWDOVRUHSRUWVWKRVH
FRXQWULHVWKDWDUHQRWWKHVRXUFHRIDQ\ULYHU
EXEC SQL
DECLARE RIVSOURCE CURSOR FOR
SELECT R.RIVER, C.COUNTRY
FROM RIVERS.R RIGHT JOIN COUNTRIES C ON C.COUNTRY = R.SOURCE
ORDER BY C.COUNTRY;

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WDEOHVDUHOLVWHG

4 8VLQJDIXOORXWHUMRLQ
$IXOORXWHUMRLQUHWXUQVDOOVHOHFWHGFROXPQVWKDWGRQRWFRQWDLQ18//YDOXHVIURPHDFKWDEOH
LQWKH)520FODXVHZLWKRXWUHJDUGWRVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQV,WLVXVHIXOWRFRQVROLGDWHVLPLODUGDWD
IURPGLVSDUDWHWDEOHV
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EHHQFUHDWHGWKDWHQVXUHWKDWDFLW\HQWHUHGLQRQHWDEOHLVDOVRHQWHUHGLQWKHRWKHUVWRZKLFK
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MRLQV7KHIROORZLQJH[DPSOHXVHVWZRIXOORXWHUMRLQVWRUHWULHYHWKHQDPHRIHYHU\FLW\OLVWHG
LQWKUHHWDEOHV&28175,(6&,7,(6DQG1$7,21$/B3$5.6
EXEC SQL
DECLARE ALLCITIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT DISTINCT CIT.CITY, COU.CAPITAL, N.PARKCITY
FROM (CITIES CIT FULL JOIN COUNTRIES COU) FULL
JOIN NATIONAL_PARKS N;
7KLVH[DPSOHXVHVDQHVWHGIXOORXWHUMRLQWRSURFHVVDOOURZVIURPWKH&,7,(6DQG&28175,(6
WDEOHV7KHUHVXOWWDEOHSURGXFHGE\WKDWRSHUDWLRQLVWKHQXVHGDVWKHOHIWWDEOHRIWKHIXOO
RXWHUMRLQZLWKWKH1$7,21$/B3$5.6WDEOH)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWXVLQJQHVWHGMRLQV
VHH´8VLQJQHVWHGMRLQVµRQSDJH 
Note ,QPRVWGDWDEDVHVZKHUHWDEOHVVKDUHVLPLODURUUHODWHGLQIRUPDWLRQWULJJHUVDUHXVXDOO\
FUHDWHGWRHQVXUHWKDWDOOWDEOHVDUHXSGDWHGZLWKVKDUHGLQIRUPDWLRQ)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ
DERXWWULJJHUVVHHWKH'DWD'HILQLWLRQ*XLGH

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 139

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Using nested joins

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WDEOHVRUWDEOHUHIHUHQFHVSDUHQWKHWLFDOQHVWHGMRLQVZKRVHUHVXOWVWDEOHVDUHFUHDWHGDQGWKHQ
SURFHVVHGDVLIWKH\ZHUHDFWXDOWDEOHVVWRUHGLQWKHGDWDEDVH7DEOHUHIHUHQFHVDUHIOH[LEOHDQG
SRZHUIXOHQDEOLQJWKHVXFFLQFWFUHDWLRQRIFRPSOH[MRLQVLQDVLQJOHORFDWLRQLQD6(/(&7
)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWFRQWDLQVDSDUHQWKHWLFDORXWHUMRLQWKDWFUHDWHVDUHVXOWV
WDEOHZLWKWKHQDPHVRIHYHU\FLW\LQWKH&,7,(6WDEOHHYHQLIWKHFLW\LVQRWDVVRFLDWHGZLWKD
FRXQWU\LQWKH&28175,(6WDEOH7KHUHVXOWVWDEOHLVWKHQSURFHVVHGDVWKHOHIWWDEOHRIDQ
LQQHUMRLQWKDWUHWXUQVRQO\WKRVHFLWLHVWKDWKDYHSURIHVVLRQDOVSRUWVWHDPVRIDQ\NLQGWKH
QDPHRIWKHWHDPDQGWKHVSRUWWKHWHDPSOD\V
DECLARE SPORTSCITIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT COU.COUNTRY, C.CITY, T.TEAM, T.SPORT
FROM (CITIES CIT LEFT JOIN COUNTRIES COU ON COU.COUNTRY =
CIT.COUNTRY) INNER JOIN TEAMS T ON T.CITY = C.CITY
ORDER BY COU.COUNTRY;

)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWOHIWMRLQVVHH´8VLQJRXWHUMRLQVµRQSDJH 

Using subqueries
$VXETXHU\LVDSDUHQWKHWLFDO6(/(&7VWDWHPHQWQHVWHGLQVLGHWKH:+(5(FODXVHRIDQRWKHU
6(/(&7VWDWHPHQWZKHUHLWIXQFWLRQVDVDVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQWRUHVWULFWWKHQXPEHURIURZV
UHWXUQHGE\WKHRXWHURUSDUHQWTXHU\$VXETXHU\FDQUHIHUWRWKHVDPHWDEOHRUWDEOHVDVLWV
SDUHQWTXHU\RUWRRWKHUWDEOHV
7KHHOHPHQWDU\V\QWD[IRUDVXETXHU\LV
SELECT [DISTINCT] col [, col ...]
FROM <tableref> [, <tableref> ...]
WHERE {expression {[NOT] IN | comparison_operator}
| [NOT] EXISTS} (SELECT [DISTINCT] col [, col ...]
FROM <tableref> [, <tableref> ...]
WHERE <search_condition>);

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WKHQXVHVWKHUHVXOWWRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHURUQRWDURZTXDOLILHVIRUUHWULHYDO7KHRQO\
H[FHSWLRQLVWKHFRUUHODWHGVXETXHU\ZKHUHWKHSDUHQWTXHU\SURYLGHVYDOXHVIRUWKHVXETXHU\WR
HYDOXDWH)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWFRUUHODWHGVXETXHULHVVHH´&RUUHODWHGVXETXHULHVµRQ
SDJH 

140 INTERBASE 5
USING SUBQUERIES

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IROORZLQJZD\V
g 3URGXFHVDOLVWRIYDOXHVIRUHYDOXDWLRQE\DQ,1RSHUDWRULQWKHSDUHQWTXHU\·V:+(5(FODXVH
RUZKHUHDFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRULVPRGLILHGE\WKH$//$1<RU620(RSHUDWRUV
g 5HWXUQVDVLQJOHYDOXHIRUXVHZLWKDFRPSDULVRQRSHUDWRU
g 7HVWVZKHWKHURUQRWGDWDPHHWVFRQGLWLRQVVSHFLILHGE\DQ(;,676RSHUDWRULQWKHSDUHQW
TXHU\·V:+(5(FODXVH
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RISDUHQWFKLOGTXHULHV

Simple subqueries
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LQDGHTXDWH)RUH[DPSOHLWLVLPSRVVLEOHWRUHWULHYHDOLVWRIWKRVHFRXQWULHVZLWKDODUJHUWKDQ
DYHUDJHDUHDE\MRLQLQJWKH&28175,(6WDEOHWRLWVHOI$VXETXHU\KRZHYHUFDQHDVLO\UHWXUQ
WKDWLQIRUPDWLRQ
EXEC SQL
DECLARE LARGECOUNTRIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT COUNTRY, AREA
FROM COUNTRIES
WHERE AREA > (SELECT AVG(AREA) FROM COUNTRIES);
ORDER BY AREA;

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FDQUHIHUWRGLIIHUHQWWDEOHVWRR)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJTXHU\UHIHUVWRWKH&,7,(6WDEOH
DQGLQFOXGHVDVXETXHU\WKDWUHIHUVWRWKH&28175,(6WDEOH
EXEC SQL
DECLARE EUROCAPPOP CURSOR FOR
SELECT CIT.CITY, CIT.POPULATION
FROM CITIES CIT
WHERE CIT.CITY IN (SELECT COU.CAPITAL FROM COUNTRIES COU
WHERE COU.CONTINENT = "Europe")
ORDER BY CIT.CITY;

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 141

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

Correlated subqueries
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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TRICITIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT COUNTRY
FROM COUNTRIES COU
WHERE 3 <= (SELECT COUNT (*)
FROM CITIES CIT
WHERE CIT.CITY = COU.CAPITAL);

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FRXQWULHVZKRVHDUHDVDUHODUJHUWKDQWKHDYHUDJHDUHDRIFRXQWULHVWKDWKDYHDWOHDVWRQHFLW\
ZLWKLQPHWHUVRIVHDOHYHO
EXEC SQL
DECLARE SEACOUNTRIES CURSOR FOR
SELECT CO1.COUNTRY, C01.CAPITAL, CI1.CITY
FROM COUNTRIES C01, CITIES CI1
WHERE CO1.COUNTRY = CI1.COUNTRY AND CI1.POPULATION =
(SELECT MAX(CI2.POPULATION)
FROM CITIES CI2 WHERE CI2.COUNTRY = CI1.COUNTRY)
AND CO1.AREA >
(SELECT AVG (CO2.AREA)
FROM COUNTRIES C02 WHERE EXISTS
(SELECT *
FROM CITIES CI3 WHERE CI3.COUNTRY = CO2.COUNTRY
AND CI3.ALTITUDE <= 30));

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142 INTERBASE 5
INSERTING DATA

Inserting data
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g $9$/8(6FODXVHWKDWFRQWDLQVDOLVWRIYDOXHVWRDGGHLWKHUWKURXJKKDUGFRGHGYDOXHVRU
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g $6(/(&7VWDWHPHQWWKDWUHWULHYHVYDOXHVIURPRQHWDEOHWRDGGWRDQRWKHU
7KHV\QWD[RI,16(57LVDVIROORZV
INSERT [TRANSACTION name] INTO table [(col [, col ...])]
{VALUES (<val>[:ind] [, <val>[:ind] ...])
| SELECT <clause>};

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ILOOHGZLWK]HURV

Using VALUES to insert columns

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)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWDGGVDQHZURZWRWKH'(3$570(17WDEOHXVLQJ
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EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO DEPARTMENT (DEPT_NO, DEPARTMENT)
VALUES (7734, "Marketing");

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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char department[26], dept_no[16];
int dept_num;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 143

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
printf("Enter name of department: ");
gets(department);
printf("\nEnter department number: ");
dept_num = atoi(gets(dept_no));
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO COUNTRIES (DEPT_NO, DEPARTMENT)
VALUES (:dept_num, :department);

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64/FDQGLVWLQJXLVKWKHPIURPWDEOHFROXPQQDPHV

Using SELECT to insert columns

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EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO DEPARTMENTS (DEPT_NO, DEPARTMENT, BUDGET)
SELECT DEPT_NO, "Publications", BUDGET
FROM OLDDEPT
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Documentation";

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),567B1$0(IURPWKHKRVWYDULDEOHVODVWQDPHDQGILUVWQDPH
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO EMPLOYEE (EMP_NO, LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME)
SELECT (MAX(EMP_NO) + 1, :lastname, :firstname)
FROM EMPLOYEE;

144 INTERBASE 5
INSERTING DATA

Inserting rows with NULL column values

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EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO DEPARTMENT (DEPT_NO, DEPARTMENT)
VALUES (:newdept_no, :newdept_name);

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EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO DEPARTMENT
(DEPT_NO, DEPARTMENT, HEAD_DEPT, MNGR_NO, BUDGET,
LOCATION, PHONE_NO)
VALUES (:dept_no, :dept_name, NULL, NULL, 1500000, NULL, NULL);

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 145

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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INSERT INTO table (<col> [, <col> ...])
VALUES (:variable [INDICATOR] :indicator
[, :variable [INDICATOR] :indicator ...]);
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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
short bi; /* indicator variable declaration */
char department[26], dept_no_ascii[26], budget_ascii[26];
long num_val; /* host variable for inserting budget */
short dept_no;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
printf("Enter new department name: ");
gets(cidepartment);

146 INTERBASE 5
INSERTING DATA

printf("\nEnter department number: ");

gets(dept_no_ascii);
printf("\nEnter department’s budget: ");
gets(budget_ascii);
if (budget_ascii = "")
{
bi = -1; num_val = 0;
}
else
{
bi = 0;
num_val = atoi(budget_ascii);
}
dept_no = atoi(dept_no_ascii);
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO DEPARTMENT (DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, BUDGET)
VALUES (:department, :dept_no, :num_val INDICATOR :bi);
. . .

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Inserting data through a view

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EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW PART_DEPT
(DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, BUDGET)
AS SELECT DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, BUDGET
FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE DEPT_NO NOT NULL AND BUDGET > 50000
WITH CHECK OPTION;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 147

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO PART_DEPT (DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, BUDGET)
VALUES ("Publications", "7735", 1500000);

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INSERT TRANSACTION name INTO table (col [, col ...])

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7
EXEC SQL
INSERT TRANSACTION T1 INTO DEPARTMENT (DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, BUDGET)
VALUES (:deptname, :deptno, :budget INDICATOR :bi);

148 INTERBASE 5
UPDATING DATA

Updating data
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DWDEOHDXVHURUSURFHGXUHPXVWKDYH83'$7(SULYLOHJHIRULW7KHV\QWD[RI83'$7(LV
UPDATE [TRANSACTION name] table
SET col = <assignment> [, col = <assignment> ...]
WHERE <search_condition> | WHERE CURRENT OF cursorname;

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RIURZVLQDWDEOH)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWPRGLILHVDVLQJOHURZ
EXEC SQL
UPDATE DEPARTMENT
SET DEPARTMENT = "Publications"
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Documentation";

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EXEC SQL
UPDATE DEPARTMENT
SET DEPARTMENT = "Publications"
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Documentation";

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g 7KHVHDUFKHGXSGDWHPHWKRGZKHUHWKHVDPHFKDQJHVDUHDSSOLHGWRDQXPEHURIURZVLVPRVW
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g 7KHSRVLWLRQHGXSGDWHPHWKRGZKHUHURZVDUHUHWULHYHGWKURXJKDFXUVRUDQGXSGDWHGURZE\
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 149

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char country[26], asciimult[10];
int multiplier;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
main ()
{
printf("Enter country with city populations needing adjustment: ");
gets(country);
printf("\nPercent change (100%% to -100%%:");
gets(asciimult);
multiplier = atoi(asciimult);
EXEC SQL
UPDATE CITIES
SET POPULATION = POPULATION * (1 + :multiplier / 100)
WHERE COUNTRY = :country;

if (SQLCODE && (SQLCODE != 100))

{
isc_print_sqlerr(SQLCODE, isc_status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK RELEASE;
}
else
{
EXEC SQL
COMMIT RELEASE;
}
}

150 INTERBASE 5
UPDATING DATA

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 'LVSOD\FXUUHQWYDOXHVDQGSURPSWIRUQHZYDOXHV
 8SGDWHWKHFXUUHQWO\VHOHFWHGURZXVLQJWKH:+(5(&855(172)FODXVH
 5HSHDWVWHSVWRXQWLODOOVHOHFWHGURZVDUHXSGDWHG
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XVHUVSHFLILHGDPRXQWVIRUFLWLHVLQWKH&,7,(6WDEOHWKDWDUHLQDFRXQWU\DOVRVSHFLILHGE\WKH
XVHU
. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char country[26], asciimult[10];
int multiplier;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
main ()
{
EXEC SQL
DECLARE CHANGEPOP CURSOR FOR
SELECT CITY, POPULATION
FROM CITIES
WHERE COUNTRY = :country;

printf("Enter country with city populations needing adjustment: ");

gets(country);
EXEC SQL
OPEN CHANGEPOP;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 151

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

EXEC SQL
FETCH CHANGEPOP INTO :country;
while(!SQLCODE)
{
printf("\nPercent change (100%% to -100%%:");
gets(asciimult);
multiplier = atoi(asciimult);
EXEC SQL
UPDATE CITIES
SET POPULATION = POPULATION * (1 + :multiplier / 100)
WHERE CURRENT OF CHANGEPOP;
EXEC SQL
FETCH CHANGEPOP INTO :country;
if (SQLCODE && (SQLCODE != 100))
{
isc_print_sqlerr(SQLCODE, isc_status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK RELEASE;
exit(1);
}
}
EXEC SQL
COMMIT RELEASE;
}

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WLPH,I)2583'$7(LVRPLWWHGURZVDUHIHWFKHGLQEDWFKHV

NULLing columns with UPDATE

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6(7FODXVH)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJ83'$7(VHWVWKHEXGJHWRIDOOGHSDUWPHQWVZLWKRXW
PDQDJHUVWR18//
EXEC SQL
UPDATE DEPARTMENT
SET BUDGET = NULL
WHERE MNGR_NO = NULL;

152 INTERBASE 5
UPDATING DATA

Updating through a view

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9DOXHVFDQRQO\EHXSGDWHGWKURXJKDYLHZIRUWKRVHFROXPQVQDPHGLQWKHYLHZ)RU
H[DPSOHVXSSRVHWKHYLHZ3$57B'(37LVGHILQHGDVIROORZV
EXEC SQL
CREATE VIEW PART_DEPT
(DEPARTMENT, NUMBER, BUDGET)
AS SELECT DEPARTMENT, DEPT_NO, BUDGET
FROM DEPARTMENT
WITH CHECK OPTION;

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LQWKHYLHZ7KH:,7+&+(&.237,21DVVXUHVWKDWDOOYDOXHVHQWHUHGWKURXJKWKHYLHZIDOO
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EXEC SQL
UPDATE PART_DEPT
SET BUDGET = 2505700
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Publications";

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6WDWHPHQWVµ)RUWKHFRPSOHWHV\QWD[RI&5($7(9,(:VHHWKH/DQJXDJH5HIHUHQFH
Note 6HHWKHFKDSWHURQWULJJHUVLQWKH'DWD'HILQLWLRQ*XLGHIRUWLSVRQXVLQJWULJJHUVWR
XSGDWHQRQXSGDWDEOHYLHZV

Specifying transaction names in UPDATE

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g (DFKWUDQVDFWLRQLVILUVWQDPHGZLWKD6(775$16$&7,21VWDWHPHQW)RUDFRPSOHWH
GLVFXVVLRQRIWUDQVDFWLRQKDQGOLQJDQGQDPLQJVHH&KDSWHU´:RUNLQJZLWK7UDQVDFWLRQVµ

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 153

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

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)(7&+DQG&/26( VSHFLILHVD75$16$&7,21FODXVHWKDWLGHQWLILHVWKHQDPHRIWKH
WUDQVDFWLRQXQGHUZKLFKLWRSHUDWHV
g 64/VWDWHPHQWVDUHQRWG\QDPLF '64/ '64/GRHVQRWVXSSRUWPXOWLSOHVLPXOWDQHRXV
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UPDATE [TRANSACTION name] table
SET col = <assignment> [, col = <assignment> ...]
WHERE <search_condition> | WHERE CURRENT OF cursorname;

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EXEC SQL
UPDATE TRANSACTION T1 DEPARTMENT
SET BUDGET = 2505700
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Publications";

Deleting data
7RUHPRYHURZVRIGDWDIURPDWDEOHXVHWKH'(/(7(VWDWHPHQW7RGHOHWHURZVDXVHURU
SURFHGXUHPXVWKDYH'(/(7(SULYLOHJHIRUWKHWDEOH
7KHV\QWD[RI'(/(7(LV
DELETE [TRANSACTION name] FROM table
WHERE <search_condition> | WHERE CURRENT OF cursorname;

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UHJDUGOHVVRIHDFKFROXPQ·VGDWDW\SH
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'(3$570(17WDEOH
EXEC SQL
DELETE FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE DEPARTMENT = "Channel Marketing:;

154 INTERBASE 5
DELETING DATA

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 WKH'(/(7(VWDWHPHQWZRXOGEHDVIROORZV
EXEC SQL
DELETE FROM DEPARTMENT
WHERE BUDGET < 1000000;

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7KH:+(5(FODXVHLQD'(/(7(VWDWHPHQWFDQFRQWDLQDVXETXHU\WKDWUHIHUHQFHVRQHRU
PRUHRWKHUWDEOHV)RUDGLVFXVVLRQRIVXETXHULHVVHH´8VLQJVXETXHULHVµRQSDJH 

Deleting multiple rows

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g 7KHVHDUFKHGGHOHWHPHWKRGZKHUHWKHVDPHGHOHWLRQFRQGLWLRQDSSOLHVWRDQXPEHURIURZVLV
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g 7KHSRVLWLRQHGGHOHWHPHWKRGZKHUHURZVDUHUHWULHYHGWKURXJKDFXUVRUDQGGHOHWHGURZE\
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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char country[26];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
. . .
main ()
{
printf("Enter country with cities to delete: ");
gets(country);
EXEC SQL
DELETE FROM CITIES

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 155

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

WHERE COUNTRY = :country;

if(SQLCODE && (SQLCODE != 100))

{
isc_print_sqlerr(SQLCODE, isc_status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK RELEASE;
}
else
{
EXEC SQL
COMMIT RELEASE;
}
}

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 2SHQWKHFXUVRU
 )HWFKDURZ
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. . .
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char cityname[26];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;
char response[5];
. . .

156 INTERBASE 5
DELETING DATA

main ()
{
EXEC SQL
DECLARE DELETECITY CURSOR FOR
SELECT CITY,
FROM CITIES
WHERE CONTINENT = "North America";
EXEC SQL
OPEN DELETECITY;
while (!SQLCODE)
{
EXEC SQL
FETCH DELETECITY INTO :cityname;
if (SQLCODE)
{
if (SQLCODE == 100)
{
printf("Deletions complete.");
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
EXEC SQL
CLOSE DELETECITY;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL:
}
isc_print_sqlerr(SQLCODE, isc_status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
exit(1);
}
printf("\nDelete %s (Y/N)?", cityname);
gets(response);
if(response[0] == ’Y’ || response == ’y’)
{
EXEC SQL
DELETE FROM CITIES
WHERE CURRENT OF DELETECITY;
if(SQLCODE && (SQLCODE != 100))
{
isc_print_sqlerr(SQLCODE, isc_status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 157

 CHAPTER 6 WORKING WITH DATA

EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
exit(1);
}
}
}

Deleting through a view

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EXEC SQL
DELETE FROM PART_DEPT
WHERE BUDGET < 1000000;

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158 INTERBASE 5
DELETING DATA

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)520FODXVHVSHFLI\LQJWKHWDEOHIURPZKLFKWRGHOHWH
DELETE TRANSACTION name FROM table ...

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EXEC SQL
DELETE TRANSACTION T1 FROM PART_DEPT
WHERE BUDGET < 1000000";

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 159

 CHAPTER

Working with Dates

Chapter7
7
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g isc_encode_date()WRFRQYHUWWKH&WLPHVWUXFWXUHWRWKHLQWHUQDO,QWHU%DVHGDWHIRUPDW
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Note ,QWHU%DVHGRHVQRWGLUHFWO\VXSSRUW64/'$7(7,0(DQG7,0(67$03GDWDW\SHV

161
 CHAPTER 7 WORKING WITH DATES

Selecting dates
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#include <time.h>;
. . .
struct tm hire_time;
. . .

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ISC_QUAD hire_date;

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 5HWULHYHDGDWHIURPDWDEOHLQWRWKH,6&B48$'YDULDEOH)RUH[DPSOH
EXEC SQL
SELECT LAST_NAME, FIRST_NAME, DATE_OF_HIRE
INTO :lname, :fname, :hire_date
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME = ’Smith’ AND FIRST_NAME = ’Margaret’;

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isc_decode_date(&hire_date, &hire_time);

162 INTERBASE 5
INSERTING DATES

Inserting dates
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 &UHDWHDKRVWYDULDEOHIRUD&WLPHVWUXFWXUH0RVW&DQG&FRPSLOHUVSURYLGH
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#include <time.h>;
. . .
struct tm hire_time;
. . .

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ISC_QUAD mydate;

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WKH,6&B48$'KRVWYDULDEOH KLUHBGDWHLQWKHH[DPSOH 7KLVIXQFWLRQLV
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isc_encode_date()UHTXLUHVWZRSDUDPHWHUVWKHDGGUHVVRIWKH8QL[WLPH
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)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJFRGHFRQYHUWVKLUHBWLPHWRKLUHBGDWH
isc_encode_date(&hire_time, &hire_date);

 ,QVHUWWKHGDWHLQWRDWDEOH)RUH[DPSOH
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO EMPLOYEE (EMP_NO, DEPARTMENT, DATE_OF_HIRE)
VALUES (:emp_no, :deptname, :hire_date);

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 163

 CHAPTER 7 WORKING WITH DATES

Updating dates
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,QWHU%DVHIRUPDWDQGWKHQVWRUHG7RFRQYHUWDKRVWYDULDEOHLQWR,QWHU%DVHIRUPDWVHH
´,QVHUWLQJGDWHVµRQSDJH 7KHDFWXDOXSGDWHLVSHUIRUPHGXVLQJDQ83'$7(VWDWHPHQW
)RUH[DPSOH
EXEC SQL
UPDATE EMPLOYEE
SET DATE_OF_HIRE = :hire_date
WHERE DATE_OF_HIRE < ’1 JAN 1994’

Using CAST() to convert dates

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LQWRD&+$5$&7(5RU180(5,&GDWDW\SHRUWRWUDQVODWH&+$5$&7(5DQG180(5,&
GDWDW\SHVLQWR'$7(GDWDW\SHV7\SLFDOO\&$67 LVXVHGLQWKH:+(5(FODXVHWRFRPSDUH
GLIIHUHQWGDWDW\SHV7KHV\QWD[IRU&$67 LV
CAST (<value> AS <datatype>)

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D'$7(GDWDW\SHWRFRPSDUHDJDLQVWD'$7(GDWDW\SH+,5(B'$7(
… WHERE HIRE_DATE = CAST(INTERVIEW_DATE AS DATE);

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… WHERE CAST(HIRE_DATE AS CHAR) = INTERVIEW_DATE;

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DFURVVWDEOHV

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CAST(INTERVIEW_DATE AS CHAR(7));

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164 INTERBASE 5
USING DATE LITERALS

Using date literals

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YDOXHVIRU6(/(&7,16(57DQG83'$7(RSHUDWLRQV 12: LVDGDWHOLWHUDOWKDWFRPELQHV
WRGD\·VGDWHDQGWLPHLQ,QWHU%DVHIRUPDW 72'$< LVWRGD\·VGDWHZLWKWLPHLQIRUPDWLRQVHW
WR]HUR6LPLODUO\ <(67(5'$< DQG 7202552: DUHWKHH[SHFWHGGDWHVZLWKWKHWLPH
LQIRUPDWLRQVHWWR]HUR
,Q6(/(&7 12: DQG 72'$< FDQEHXVHGLQWKHVHDUFKFRQGLWLRQRID:+(5(FODXVHWR
UHVWULFWWKHGDWDUHWULHYHG
EXEC SQL
SELECT * FROM CROSS_RATE WHERE UPDATE_DATE = ’TODAY’;

,Q,16(57DQG83'$7( 12: DQG 72'$< FDQEHXVHGWRHQWHUGDWHDQGWLPHYDOXHVLQVWHDG

RIUHO\LQJRQLVFFDOOVWRFRQYHUW&GDWHVWR,QWHU%DVHGDWHV
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO CROSS_RATE VALUES(:from, :to, :rate, ’NOW’);
EXEC SQL
UPDATE CROSS_RATE
SET CONV_RATE = 1.75,
SET UPDATE_DATE = ’NOW’
WHERE FROM_CURRENCY = ’POUND’ AND TO_CURRENCT = ’DOLLAR’
AND UPDATE_DATE < ’TODAY’;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 165

 CHAPTER

Working with Blob Data

Chapter8
8
7KLVFKDSWHUGHVFULEHVWKH%/2%GDWDW\SHDQGLWVVXEW\SHVKRZWRVWRUH%OREVKRZWRDFFHVV
WKHPZLWK64/'64/DQG$3,FDOOVDQGKRZWRILOWHU%OREV,WDOVRLQFOXGHVLQIRUPDWLRQ
RQZULWLQJ%OREILOWHUV

What is a Blob?
$%ORELVDG\QDPLFDOO\VL]DEOHGDWDW\SHWKDWKDVQRVSHFLILHGVL]HDQGHQFRGLQJ<RXFDQXVH
D%OREWRVWRUHODUJHDPRXQWVRIGDWDRIYDULRXVW\SHVLQFOXGLQJ
g %LWPDSSHGLPDJHV
g 9HFWRUGUDZLQJV
g 6RXQGVYLGHRVHJPHQWVDQGRWKHUPXOWLPHGLDLQIRUPDWLRQ
g 7H[WDQGGDWDLQFOXGLQJERRNOHQJWKGRFXPHQWV
'DWDVWRUHGLQWKH%OREGDWDW\SHFDQEHPDQLSXODWHGLQPRVWRIWKHVDPHZD\VDVGDWDVWRUHG
LQDQ\RWKHUGDWDW\SH,QWHU%DVHVWRUHV%OREGDWDLQVLGHWKHGDWDEDVHLQFRQWUDVWWRVLPLODU
RWKHUV\VWHPVWKDWVWRUHSRLQWHUVWRQRQGDWDEDVHILOHV)RUHDFK%OREWKHUHLVDXQLTXH
LGHQWLILFDWLRQKDQGOHLQWKHDSSURSULDWHWDEOHWRSRLQWWRWKHGDWDEDVHORFDWLRQRIWKH%ORE
%\PDLQWDLQLQJWKH%OREGDWDZLWKLQWKHGDWDEDVH,QWHU%DVHLPSURYHVGDWDPDQDJHPHQWDQG
DFFHVV

167
 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

7KHFRPELQDWLRQRIWUXHGDWDEDVHPDQDJHPHQWRI%OREGDWDDQGVXSSRUWIRUDYDULHW\RI
GDWDW\SHVPDNHV,QWHU%DVH%OREVXSSRUWLGHDOIRUWUDQVDFWLRQLQWHQVLYHPXOWLPHGLD
DSSOLFDWLRQV)RUH[DPSOH,QWHU%DVHLVDQH[FHOOHQWSODWIRUPIRULQWHUDFWLYHNLRVNDSSOLFDWLRQV
WKDWPLJKWSURYLGHKXQGUHGVRUWKRXVDQGVRISURGXFWGHVFULSWLRQVSKRWRJUDSKVDQGYLGHR
FOLSVLQDGGLWLRQWRSRLQWRIVDOHDQGRUGHUSURFHVVLQJFDSDELOLWLHV

How are Blob data stored?

%ORELVWKH,QWHU%DVHGDWDW\SHWKDWUHSUHVHQWVYDULRXVREMHFWVVXFKDVELWPDSSHGLPDJHV
VRXQGYLGHRDQGWH[W%HIRUH\RXVWRUHWKHVHLWHPVLQWKHGDWDEDVH\RXFUHDWHRUPDQDJH
WKHPDVSODWIRUPRUSURGXFWVSHFLILFILOHVRUGDWDVWUXFWXUHVVXFKDV
g 7,))3,&7%03:0)*(07$5*$RURWKHUELWPDSSHGRUYHFWRUJUDSKLFILOHV
g 0,',RU:$9VRXQGILOHV
g $XGLR9LGHR,QWHUOHDYHGIRUPDW $9, RU4XLFN7LPHYLGHRILOHV
g $6&,,0,)'2&57):3[RURWKHUWH[WILOHV
g &$'ILOHV
<RXPXVWORDGWKHVHILOHVIURPPHPRU\LQWRWKHGDWDEDVHSURJUDPPDWLFDOO\DV\RXGRDQ\
RWKHUKRVWODQJXDJHGDWDLWHPVRUUHFRUGV\RXLQWHQGWRVWRUHLQ,QWHU%DVH

168 INTERBASE 5
HOW ARE BLOB DATA STORED?

Blob subtypes
$OWKRXJK\RXPDQDJH%OREGDWDLQWKHVDPHZD\DVRWKHUGDWDW\SHV,QWHU%DVHSURYLGHVPRUH
IOH[LEOHGDWDW\SLQJUXOHVIRU%OREGDWD%HFDXVHWKHUHDUHPDQ\QDWLYHGDWDW\SHVWKDW\RXFDQ
GHILQHDV%OREGDWD,QWHU%DVHWUHDWVWKHPVRPHZKDWJHQHULFDOO\DQGDOORZV\RXWRGHILQH
\RXURZQGDWDW\SHNQRZQDVDVXEW\SH$OVR,QWHU%DVHSURYLGHVVHYHQVWDQGDUGVXEW\SHVZLWK
ZKLFK\RXFDQFKDUDFWHUL]H%OREGDWD

BLOB
subtype Description
0 Unstructured, generally applied to binary data or data of an indeterminate type
1 Text
2 Binary language representation (BLR)
3 Access control list
4 (Reserved for future use)
5 Encoded description of a table’s current metadata
6 Description of multi-database transaction that finished irregularly
TABLE 8.1 BLOB subtypes defined by InterBase

<RXFDQVSHFLI\XVHUGHILQHGVXEW\SHVDVQHJDWLYHQXPEHUVEHWZHHQ²DQG
²3RVLWLYHLQWHJHUVDUHUHVHUYHGIRU,QWHU%DVHVXEW\SHV
)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWGHILQHVWKUHH%OREFROXPQV%OREZLWKVXEW\SH WKH
GHIDXOW %OREZLWKVXEW\SH 7(;7 DQG%OREZLWKXVHUGHILQHGVXEW\SH²
EXEC SQL CREATE TABLE TABLE2
(
BLOB1 BLOB,
BLOB2 BLOB SUB_TYPE 1,
BLOB3 BLOB SUB_TYPE -1
);

7RVSHFLI\ERWKDGHIDXOWVHJPHQWOHQJWKDQGDVXEW\SHZKHQFUHDWLQJD%OREFROXPQXVHWKH
6(*0(176,=(RSWLRQDIWHUWKH68%B7<3(RSWLRQ)RUH[DPSOH
EXEC SQL CREATE TABLE TABLE2
(
BLOB1 BLOB SUB_TYPE 1 SEGMENT SIZE 100;
);

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 169

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

7KHRQO\UXOH,QWHU%DVHHQIRUFHVRYHUWKHVHXVHUGHILQHGVXEW\SHVLVWKDWZKHQFRQYHUWLQJ
D%OREIURPRQHVXEW\SHWRDQRWKHUWKRVHVXEW\SHVPXVWEHFRPSDWLEOH,QWHU%DVHGRHVQRW
RWKHUZLVHHQIRUFHVXEW\SHLQWHJULW\

Blob database storage

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VWRUHVWKHPPRVWHIILFLHQWO\XVLQJDPHWKRGRIVHJPHQWDWLRQ,WZRXOGEHDQLQHIILFLHQWXVH
RIGLVNVSDFHWRVWRUHHDFK%OREDVRQHFRQWLJXRXVPDVV,QVWHDG,QWHU%DVHVWRUHVHDFK%ORE
LQVHJPHQWVWKDWDUHLQGH[HGE\DKDQGOHWKDW,QWHU%DVHJHQHUDWHVZKHQ\RXFUHDWHWKH%ORE
7KLVKDQGOHLVNQRZQDVWKH%ORE,'DQGLVDTXDGZRUG ELW FRQWDLQLQJDXQLTXH
FRPELQDWLRQRIWDEOHLGHQWLILHUDQG%ORELGHQWLILHU
7KH%ORE,'IRUHDFK%ORELVVWRUHGLQLWVDSSURSULDWHILHOGLQWKHWDEOHUHFRUG7KH%ORE,'
SRLQWVWRWKHILUVWVHJPHQWRIWKH%ORERUWRDSDJHRISRLQWHUVHDFKRIZKLFKSRLQWVWRD
VHJPHQWRIRQHRUPRUH%OREILHOGV<RXFDQUHWULHYHWKH%ORE,'E\H[HFXWLQJD6(/(&7
VWDWHPHQWWKDWVSHFLILHVWKH%OREDVWKHWDUJHWDVLQWKHIROORZLQJH[DPSOH
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BLOBDESC CURSOR FOR
SELECT GUIDEBOOK
FROM TOURISM
WHERE STATE = ’CA’;

<RXGHILQH%OREFROXPQVWKHVDPHZD\\RXGHILQHQRQ%OREFROXPQV
7KHIROORZLQJ64/FRGHFUHDWHVDWDEOHZLWKD%OREFROXPQFDOOHG352-B'(6&,WVHWVWKH
VXEW\SHSDUDPHWHUWRZKLFKGHQRWHVD7(;7%OREDQGVHWVWKHVHJPHQWVL]HWRE\WHV
CREATE TABLE PROJECT
(
PROJ_ID PROJNO NOT NULL,
PROJ_NAME VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL UNIQUE,
PROJ_DESC BLOB SUBTYPE 1 SEGMENT SIZE 80,
TEAM_LEADER EMPNO,
PRODUCT PRODTYPE,
...
);

7KHIROORZLQJGLDJUDPVKRZVWKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQD%OREFROXPQFRQWDLQLQJD%ORE,'
DQGWKH%OREGDWDUHIHUHQFHGE\WKH%ORE,'

170 INTERBASE 5
HOW ARE BLOB DATA STORED?

FIGURE 8.1 Relationship of a Blob ID to Blob segments in a database

Blob
column
Table row … Blob ID …

Blob data segment segment segment …

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WKHWDEOH7KH%ORE,'DXQLTXHQXPEHUSRLQWVWRWKHILUVWVHJPHQWRIWKH%OREGDWDWKDWLV
VWRUHGHOVHZKHUHLQWKHGDWDEDVHLQDVHULHVRIVHJPHQWV:KHQDQDSSOLFDWLRQFUHDWHVD%ORE
LWPXVWZULWHGDWDWRWKDW%OREDVHJPHQWDWDWLPH6LPLODUO\ZKHQDQDSSOLFDWLRQUHDGVRI
%ORELWUHDGVDVHJPHQWDWDWLPH%HFDXVHPRVW%OREGDWDDUHODUJHREMHFWVPRVW%ORE
PDQDJHPHQWLVSHUIRUPHGZLWKORRSVLQWKHDSSOLFDWLRQFRGH

Blob segment length

:KHQ\RXGHILQHD%ORELQDWDEOH\RXVSHFLI\WKHH[SHFWHGVL]HRI%OREVHJPHQWVWKDWDUH
WREHZULWWHQWRWKHFROXPQLQWKH%OREGHILQLWLRQVWDWHPHQW7KHVHJPHQWOHQJWK\RXGHILQH
IRUD%OREFROXPQVSHFLILHVWKHPD[LPXPQXPEHURIE\WHVWKDWDQDSSOLFDWLRQLVH[SHFWHGWR
ZULWHWRRUUHDGIURPDQ\%ORELQWKHFROXPQ7KHGHIDXOWVHJPHQWOHQJWKLV)RUH[DPSOH
WKHIROORZLQJFROXPQGHFODUDWLRQFUHDWHVD%OREZLWKDVHJPHQWOHQJWKRI
EXEC SQL CREATE TABLE TABLE2
(
Blob1 Blob SEGMENT SIZE 120;
);

,QWHU%DVHXVHVWKHVHJPHQWOHQJWKVHWWLQJWRGHWHUPLQHWKHVL]HRIDQLQWHUQDOEXIIHUWRZKLFK
LWZULWHV%OREVHJPHQWGDWD1RUPDOO\\RXVKRXOGQRWDWWHPSWWRZULWHVHJPHQWVODUJHUWKDQ
WKHVHJPHQWOHQJWK\RXGHILQHGLQWKHWDEOHGRLQJVRPD\UHVXOWLQDEXIIHURYHUIORZDQG
SRVVLEOHPHPRU\FRUUXSWLRQ
6SHFLI\LQJDVHJPHQWVL]HRIQJXDUDQWHHVWKDWQRPRUHWKDQQQXPEHURIE\WHVDUHUHDGRU
ZULWWHQLQDVLQJOH%ORERSHUDWLRQ:LWKVRPHW\SHVRIRSHUDWLRQVIRULQVWDQFHZLWK6(/(&7
,16(57DQG83'$7(RSHUDWLRQV\RXFDQUHDGRUZULWH%OREVHJPHQWVRIYDU\LQJOHQJWK
,QWKHIROORZLQJH[DPSOHRIDQ,16(57&85625VWDWHPHQWVSHFLI\WKHVHJPHQWOHQJWKLQD
KRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHVHJPHQWBOHQJWKDVIROORZV

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 171

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

EXEC SQL
INSERT CURSOR BCINS VALUES (:write_segment_buffer
INDICATOR :segment_length);

)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWWKHV\QWD[RIWKH,16(57&85625VWDWHPHQWVHHWKH/DQJXDJH
5HIHUHQFH

Overriding segment length

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LQD'(&/$5(&85625VWDWHPHQW)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJ%ORE,16(57FXUVRU
GHFODUDWLRQRYHUULGHVWKHVHJPHQWOHQJWKWKDWZDVGHILQHGIRUWKHILHOG%ORELQFUHDVLQJLW
WR
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BCINS CURSOR FOR INSERT Blob Blob2 INTO TABLE 2
MAXIMUM_SEGMENT 1024;
Note %\RYHUULGLQJWKHVHJPHQWOHQJWKVHWWLQJ\RXDIIHFWRQO\WKHVHJPHQWVL]HIRUWKH
FXUVRUQRWIRUWKHFROXPQRUIRURWKHUFXUVRUV2WKHUFXUVRUVXVLQJWKHVDPH%OREFROXPQ
PDLQWDLQWKHRULJLQDOVHJPHQWVL]HWKDWZDVGHILQHGLQWKHFROXPQGHILQLWLRQRUFDQVSHFLI\
WKHLURZQRYHUULGHV
7KHVHJPHQWOHQJWKVHWWLQJGRHVQRWDIIHFW,QWHU%DVHV\VWHPSHUIRUPDQFH&KRRVHWKH
VHJPHQWOHQJWKPRVWFRQYHQLHQWIRUWKHVSHFLILFDSSOLFDWLRQ7KHODUJHVWSRVVLEOHVHJPHQW
OHQJWKLVE\WHV . 

Accessing Blob data with SQL

,QWHU%DVHVXSSRUWV6(/(&7,16(5783'$7(DQG'(/(7(RSHUDWLRQVRQ%OREGDWD7KH
IROORZLQJVHFWLRQVFRQWDLQEULHIGLVFXVVLRQVRIH[DPSOHSURJUDPV7KHVHSURJUDPVLOOXVWUDWH
KRZWRSHUIRUPVWDQGDUG64/RSHUDWLRQVRQ%OREGDWD

Selecting Blob data

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7285,60WDEOH
 'HFODUHKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHVWRVWRUHWKH%ORE,'WKH%OREVHJPHQWGDWDDQG
WKHOHQJWKRIVHJPHQWGDWD
EXEC SQL

172 INTERBASE 5
ACCESSING BLOB DATA WITH SQL

BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;

BASED ON TOURISM.GUIDEBOOK blob_id;
BASED ON TOURISM.GUIDEBOOK.SEGMENT blob_segment_buf;
BASED ON TOURISM.STATE state;
unsigned short blob_seg_len;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

7KH%$6('21«6(*0(17V\QWD[GHFODUHVDKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHEOREBVHJPHQWBEXI
WKDWLVODUJHHQRXJKWRKROGD%OREVHJPHQWGXULQJD)(7&+RSHUDWLRQ)RUPRUH
LQIRUPDWLRQDERXWWKH%$6('21VWDWHPHQWVHHWKH/DQJXDJH5HIHUHQFH
 'HFODUHDWDEOHFXUVRUWRVHOHFWWKHGHVLUHG%OREFROXPQLQWKLVFDVHWKH
*8,'(%22.FROXPQ
EXEC SQL
DECLARE TC CURSOR FOR
SELECT STATE, GUIDEBOOK
FROM TOURISM
WHERE STATE = ’CA’;

 'HFODUHD%OREUHDGFXUVRU$%OREUHDGFXUVRULVDVSHFLDOFXUVRUXVHGIRUUHDGLQJ
%OREVHJPHQWV
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BC CURSOR FOR
READ Blob GUIDEBOOK
FROM TOURISM;

7KHVHJPHQWOHQJWKRIWKH*8,'(%22.%OREFROXPQLVGHILQHGDVVR%OREFXUVRU
%&UHDGVDPD[LPXPRIE\WHVDWDWLPH
7RRYHUULGHWKHVHJPHQWOHQJWKVSHFLILHGLQWKHGDWDEDVHVFKHPDIRU*8,'(%22.XVH
WKH0$;,080B6(*0(17RSWLRQ)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJFRGHUHVWULFWVHDFK%ORE
UHDGRSHUDWLRQWRDPD[LPXPRIE\WHVDQG64/&2'(LVVHWWRWRLQGLFDWHZKHQ
RQO\DSRUWLRQRIDVHJPHQWKDVEHHQUHDG
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BC CURSOR FOR
READ Blob GUIDEBOOK
FROM TOURISM
MAXIMUM_SEGMENT 40;

1RPDWWHUZKDWWKHVHJPHQWOHQJWKVHWWLQJLVRQO\RQHVHJPHQWLVUHDGDWDWLPH
 2SHQWKHWDEOHFXUVRUDQGIHWFKDURZRIGDWDFRQWDLQLQJD%ORE
EXEC SQL
OPEN TC;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 173

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

EXEC SQL
FETCH TC INTO :state, :blob_id;

7KH)(7&+VWDWHPHQWIHWFKHVWKH67$7(DQG*8,'(%22.FROXPQVLQWRKRVWYDULDEOHV
VWDWHDQGEOREBLGUHVSHFWLYHO\
 2SHQWKH%OREUHDGFXUVRUXVLQJWKH%ORE,'VWRUHGLQWKHEOREBLGYDULDEOHDQG
IHWFKWKHILUVWVHJPHQWRI%OREGDWD
EXEC SQL
OPEN BC USING :blob_id;
EXEC SQL
FETCH BC INTO :blob_segment_buf:blob_seg_len;

:KHQWKH)(7&+RSHUDWLRQFRPSOHWHVEOREBVHJPHQWBEXIFRQWDLQVWKHILUVWVHJPHQWRIWKH
%OREDQGEOREBVHJBOHQFRQWDLQVWKHVHJPHQW·VOHQJWKZKLFKLVWKHQXPEHURIE\WHVFRSLHG
LQWREOREBVHJPHQWBEXI
 )HWFKWKHUHPDLQLQJVHJPHQWVLQDORRS64/&2'(VKRXOGEHFKHFNHGHDFKWLPH
DIHWFKLVSHUIRUPHG$QHUURUFRGHRILQGLFDWHVWKDWDOORIWKH%OREGDWDKDV
EHHQIHWFKHG$QHUURUFRGHRILQGLFDWHVWKDWWKHVHJPHQWFRQWDLQV
DGGLWLRQDOGDWD
while (SQLCODE != 100 || SQLCODE == 101)
{
printf("%*.*s", blob_seg_len, blob_seg_len, blob_segment_buf);
EXEC SQL
FETCH BC INTO :blob_segment_buf:blob_seg_len;
}

,QWHU%DVHSURGXFHVDQHUURUFRGHRIZKHQWKHOHQJWKRIWKHVHJPHQWEXIIHULVOHVV
WKDQWKHOHQJWKRIDSDUWLFXODUVHJPHQW
)RUH[DPSOHLIWKHOHQJWKRIWKHVHJPHQWEXIIHULVDQGWKHOHQJWKRIDSDUWLFXODU
VHJPHQWLVWKHILUVW)(7&+SURGXFHVDQHUURUFRGHRILQGLFDWLQJWKDWGDWDUHPDLQV
LQWKHVHJPHQW7KHVHFRQG)(7&+UHDGVWKHUHPDLQLQJE\WHVRIGDWDDQGSURGXFHV
DQ64/&2'(RILQGLFDWLQJWKDWWKHQH[WVHJPHQWLVUHDG\WREHUHDGRULIWKLVZDV
WKHODVWVHJPHQWLQWKH%ORE
 &ORVHWKH%OREUHDGFXUVRU
EXEC SQL
CLOSE BC;

 &ORVHWKHWDEOHFXUVRU
EXEC SQL
CLOSE TC;

174 INTERBASE 5
ACCESSING BLOB DATA WITH SQL

Inserting Blob data

7KHIROORZLQJSURJUDPLQVHUWV%OREGDWDLQWRWKH*8,'(%22.FROXPQRIWKH7285,60
WDEOH
 'HFODUHKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHVWRVWRUHWKH%ORE,'%OREVHJPHQWGDWDDQGWKH
OHQJWKRIVHJPHQWGDWD
EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
BASED ON TOURISM.GUIDEBOOK blob_id;
BASED ON TOURISM.GUIDEBOOK.SEGMENT blob_segment_buf;
BASED ON TOURISM.STATE state;
unsigned short blob_seg_len;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

à 7KH%$6('21«6(*0(17V\QWD[GHFODUHVDKRVWODQJXDJHYDULDEOHEOREBVHJPHQWBEXIWKDW
LVODUJHHQRXJKWRKROGD%OREVHJPHQWGXULQJD)(7&+RSHUDWLRQ)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ
DERXWWKH%$6('21GLUHFWLYHVHHWKH/DQJXDJH5HIHUHQFH
 'HFODUHD%ORELQVHUWFXUVRU
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BC CURSOR FOR INSERT Blob GUIDEBOOK INTO TOURISM;

 2SHQWKH%ORELQVHUWFXUVRUDQGVSHFLI\WKHKRVWYDULDEOHLQZKLFKWRVWRUHWKH
%ORE,'
EXEC SQL
OPEN BC INTO :blob_id;

 6WRUHWKHVHJPHQWGDWDLQWKHVHJPHQWEXIIHUEOREBVHJPHQWBEXIFDOFXODWHWKH
OHQJWKRIWKHVHJPHQWGDWDDQGXVHDQ,16(57&85625VWDWHPHQWWRZULWHWKH
VHJPHQW
sprintf(blob_segment_buf, ’We hold these truths to be self evident’);
blob_segment_len = strlen(blob_segment_buf);

EXEC SQL
INSERT CURSOR BC VALUES (:blob_segment_buf:blob_segment_len);

5HSHDWWKHVHVWHSVLQDORRSXQWLO\RXKDYHZULWWHQDOO%OREVHJPHQWV
 &ORVHWKH%ORELQVHUWFXUVRU
EXEC SQL
CLOSE BC;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 175

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

 8VHDQ,16(57VWDWHPHQWWRLQVHUWDQHZURZFRQWDLQLQJWKH%ORELQWRWKH
7285,60WDEOH
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO TOURISM (STATE,GUIDEBOOK) VALUES (’CA’,:blob_id);

 &RPPLWWKHFKDQJHVWRWKHGDWDEDVH
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

Updating Blob data

<RXFDQQRWXSGDWHD%OREGLUHFWO\<RXPXVWFUHDWHDQHZ%OREUHDGWKHROG%OREGDWDLQWR
DEXIIHUZKHUH\RXFDQHGLWRUPRGLI\LWWKHQZULWHWKHPRGLILHGGDWDWRWKHQHZ%ORE
&UHDWHDQHZ%OREE\IROORZLQJWKHVHVWHSV
 'HFODUHD%ORELQVHUWFXUVRU
EXEC SQL
DECLARE BC CURSOR FOR INSERT BLOB GUIDEBOOK INTO TOURISM;

 2SHQWKH%ORELQVHUWFXUVRUDQGVSHFLI\WKHKRVWYDULDEOHLQZKLFKWRVWRUHWKH
%ORE,'
EXEC SQL
OPEN BC INTO :blob_id;

 6WRUHWKHROG%OREVHJPHQWGDWDLQWKHVHJPHQWEXIIHUEOREBVHJPHQWBEXIFDOFXODWH
WKHOHQJWKRIWKHVHJPHQWGDWDSHUIRUPDQ\PRGLILFDWLRQVWRWKHGDWDDQGXVH
DQ,16(57&85625VWDWHPHQWWRZULWHWKHVHJPHQW
/* Programmatically read the first/next segment of the old Blob
* segment data into blob_segment_buf; */
EXEC SQL
INSERT CURSOR BC VALUES (:blob_segment_buf:blob_segment_len);

5HSHDWWKHVHVWHSVLQDORRSXQWLO\RXKDYHZULWWHQDOO%OREVHJPHQWV
 &ORVHWKH%ORELQVHUWFXUVRU
EXEC SQL
CLOSE BC;

 :KHQ\RXKDYHFRPSOHWHGFUHDWLQJWKHQHZ%ORELVVXHDQ83'$7(VWDWHPHQWWR
UHSODFHWKHROG%ORELQWKHWDEOHZLWKWKHQHZRQHDVLQWKHIROORZLQJH[DPSOH
EXEC SQL UPDATE TOURISM
SET

176 INTERBASE 5
ACCESSING BLOB DATA WITH SQL

GUIDEBOOK = :blob_id;
WHERE CURRENT OF TC;
Note 7KH7&WDEOHFXUVRUSRLQWVWRDWDUJHWURZHVWDEOLVKHGE\GHFODULQJWKHFXUVRUDQGWKHQ
IHWFKLQJWKHURZWRXSGDWH
7RPRGLI\DWH[W%OREXVLQJWKLVWHFKQLTXH\RXPLJKWUHDGDQH[LVWLQJ%OREILHOGLQWRD
KRVWODQJXDJHEXIIHUPRGLI\WKHGDWDWKHQZULWHWKHPRGLILHGEXIIHURYHUWKHH[LVWLQJILHOG
GDWDZLWKDQ83'$7(VWDWHPHQW

Deleting Blob data

7KHUHDUHWZRPHWKRGVIRUGHOHWLQJD%ORE7KHILUVWLVWRGHOHWHWKHURZFRQWDLQLQJWKH%ORE
7KHVHFRQGLVWRXSGDWHWKHURZDQGVHWWKH%OREFROXPQWR18//RUWRWKH%ORE,'RID
GLIIHUHQW%ORE IRUH[DPSOHWKHQHZ%OREFUHDWHGWRXSGDWHWKHGDWDRIDQH[LVWLQJ%ORE 
7KHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWGHOHWHVFXUUHQW%OREGDWDLQWKH*8,'(%22.FROXPQRIWKH
7285,60WDEOHE\VHWWLQJLWWR18//
EXEC SQL UPDATE TOURISM
SET
GUIDEBOOK = NULL;
WHERE CURRENT OF TC;

%OREGDWDLVQRWLPPHGLDWHO\GHOHWHGZKHQ'(/(7(LVVSHFLILHG7KHDFWXDOGHOHWHRSHUDWLRQ
RFFXUVZKHQ,QWHU%DVHSHUIRUPVYHUVLRQFOHDQXS7KHIROORZLQJFRGHIUDJPHQWLOOXVWUDWHV
KRZWRUHFRYHUVSDFHDIWHUGHOHWLQJD%ORE
EXEC SQL
UPDATE TABLE SET Blob_COLUMN = NULL WHERE ROW = :myrow;
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
/* wait for all active transactions to finish */
/* force a sweep of the database */

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RUQRWUHFHQWYHUVLRQVRIWKHUHFRUGUHIHUHQFHWKH%ORE,',IWKHUHFRUGGRHVQRWUHIHUHQFH
WKH%ORE,',QWHU%DVHFOHDQVXSWKH%ORE

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 177

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

Accessing Blob data with API calls

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SURYLGHVURXWLQHVIRUDFFHVVLQJ%OREGDWD7KHIROORZLQJ$3,FDOOVDUHSURYLGHGIRUDFFHVVLQJ
DQGPDQDJLQJ%OREGDWD

Function Description
isc_blob_default_desc() Loads a Blob descriptor data structure with default information about
a Blob.
isc_blob_gen_bpb() Generates a Blob parameter buffer (BPB) from source and target Blob
descriptors to allow dynamic access to Blob subtype and character set
information.
isc_blob_info() Returns information about an open Blob.
isc_blob_lookup_desc() Looks up and stores into a Blob descriptor the subtype, character set,
and segment size of a Blob.
isc_blob_set_desc() Sets the fields of a Blob descriptor to values specified in parameters to
isc_blob_set_desc().
isc_cancel_blob() Discards a Blob and frees internal storage.
isc_close_blob() Closes an open Blob.
isc_create_blob2() Creates a context for storing a Blob, opens the Blob for write access,
and optionally specifies a filter to be used to translate the Blob data
from one subtype to another.
isc_get_segment() Reads a segment from an open Blob.
isc_open_blob2() Opens an existing Blob for retrieval and optional filtering.
isc_put_segment() Writes a Blob segment.
TABLE 8.2 API Blob calls

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178 INTERBASE 5
FILTERING BLOB DATA

Filtering Blob data

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LQFOXGHVDVHWRIVSHFLDOLQWHUQDO%OREILOWHUVWKDWFRQYHUWIURPVXEW\SHWRVXEW\SH 7(;7 
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GHYHORSDILOWHUWRWUDQVODWHELWPDSSHGLPDJHVIURPRQHIRUPDWWRDQRWKHU

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1HW:DUHZKHUH%OREILOWHUVFDQQRWEHFUHDWHGRUXVHG

Using the standard InterBase text filters

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WRVXEW\SH 7(;7 
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,QWHU%DVHEHKDYLRUIRUVXSSO\LQJVHJPHQWV5HJDUGOHVVRIWKHDFWXDOQDWXUHRIWKHVHJPHQWV
LQWKH%OREFROXPQWKHWH[WILOWHUHQIRUFHVWKHUXOHWKDWVHJPHQWVPXVWHQGZLWKDQHZOLQH
FKDUDFWHU ?Q 
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VHJPHQWWKHQH[WFKDUDFWHUVXSWRDQGLQFOXGLQJWKHVHFRQGQHZOLQHDVWKHVHFRQGVHJPHQW
DQGVRRQ

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VXEW\SHDVVXEW\SH

Using an external Blob filter

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DSSOLFDWLRQ
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GDWDEDVHWKDWFRQWDLQVWKH%OREGDWD\RXZDQWSURFHVVHG

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 179

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

4 'HFODULQJDQH[WHUQDOILOWHUWRWKHGDWDEDVH
7RGHFODUHDQH[WHUQDOILOWHUWRDGDWDEDVHXVHWKH'(&/$5(),/7(5VWDWHPHQW)RUH[DPSOH
WKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWGHFODUHVWKHILOWHU6$03/(
EXEC SQL
DECLARE FILTER SAMPLE
INPUT_TYPE -1 OUTPUT_TYPE -2
ENTRY_POINT "FilterFunction"
MODULE_NAME "filter.dll";

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FIGURE 8.2 Filtering from lowercase to uppercase

Application Blob
Filter:
abcdef SAMPLE ABCDEF

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WUDQVODWHLWWRGDWDRIVXEW\SH

180 INTERBASE 5
WRITING AN EXTERNAL BLOB FILTER

FIGURE 8.3 Filtering from uppercase to lowercase

Blob Application
Filter:
ABCDEF SAMPLE abcdef

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE BCINS1 CURSOR FOR
INSERT Blob Blob1 INTO TABLE1
FILTER FROM -1 TO -2;

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Writing an external Blob filter

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UHVSRQVLELOLW\

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 181

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

Filter types
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WKDWFRQYHUWGDWDPDQ\VHJPHQWVDWDWLPH
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Read-only and write-only filters

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Defining the filter function

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WKHILOWHUH[HFXWDEOH

FIGURE 8.4 Filter interaction with an application and a database

APPLICATION

INTERBASE

FILTER

182 INTERBASE 5
WRITING AN EXTERNAL BLOB FILTER

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$ILOWHUIXQFWLRQPXVWKDYHWKHIROORZLQJGHFODUDWLRQFDOOLQJVHTXHQFH
filter_function_name(short action, isc_blob_ctl control);

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#include <ibase.h>

#define SUCCESS 0
#define FAILURE 1

ISC_STATUS jpeg_filter(short action, isc_blob_ctl control)

{
ISC_STATUS status = SUCCESS;

switch (action)
{
case isc_blob_filter_open:
. . .
break;
case isc_blob_filter_get_segment:
. . .
break;
case isc_blob_filter_create:
. . .
break;
case isc_blob_filter_put_segment:
. . .
break;
case isc_blob_filter_close:
. . .
break;
case isc_blob_filter_alloc:
. . .
break;
case isc_blob_filter_free:
. . .
break;
case isc_blob_filter_seek:

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 183

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

. . .
break;
default:
status = isc_uns_ext /* unsupported action value */
. . .
break;
}
return status;
}

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184 INTERBASE 5
WRITING AN EXTERNAL BLOB FILTER

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ZKHWKHUWKH\DUHXVHGIRUILOWHUIXQFWLRQLQSXW ,1 RURXWSXW 287 

Field name Description

(*ctl_source)() Pointer to the internal InterBase Blob access routine. (IN)
*ctl_source_handle Pointer to an instance of isc_blob_ctl to be passed to the internal InterBase Blob
access routine. (IN)
ctl_to_sub_type Target subtype. Information field. Provided to support multi-purpose filters that
can perform more than one kind of translation. This field and the next one enable
such a filter to decide which translation to perform. (IN)
ctl_from_sub_type Source subtype. Information field. Provided to support multi-purpose filters that
can perform more than one kind of translation. This field and the previous one
enable such a filter to decide which translation to perform. (IN)
ctl_buffer_length For isc_blob_filter_put_segment, field is an IN field that contains the length of the
segment data contained in ctl_buffer.
For isc_blob_filter_get_segment, field is an IN field set to the size of the buffer
pointed to by ctl_buffer, which is used to store the retrieved Blob data.
ctl_segment_length Length of the current segment. This field is not used for
isc_blob_filter_put_segment.
For isc_blob_filter_get_segment, the field is an OUT field set to the size of the
retrieved segment (or partial segment, in the case when the buffer length
ctl_buffer_length is less than the actual segment length).
ctl_bpb_length Length of the Blob parameter buffer. Reserved for future enhancement.
*ctl_bpb Pointer to a Blob parameter buffer. Reserved for future enhancement.
*ctl_buffer Pointer to a segment buffer. For isc_blob_filter_put_segment, field is an IN field
that contains the segment data.
For isc_blob_filter_get_segment, the field is an OUT field the filter function fills
with segment data for return to the application.
TABLE 8.3 isc_blob_ctl structure field descriptions

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 185

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

Field name Description

ctl_max_segment Length of longest segment in the Blob. Initial value is 0. The filter function sets this
field. This field is informational only.
ctl_number_segment Total number of segments in the Blob. Initial value is 0. The filter function sets this
s field. This field is informational only.
ctl_total_length Total length of the Blob. Initial value is 0. The filter function sets this field. This field
is informational only.
*ctl_status Pointer to the InterBase status vector. (OUT )
ctl_data[8] 8-element array of application-specific data. Use this field to store resource
pointers, such as memory pointers and file handles created by the
isc_blob_filter_open handler, for example. Then, the next time the filter function
is called, the resource pointers will be available for use. (IN/OUT )
TABLE 8.3 isc_blob_ctl structure field descriptions (continued)

SETTING CONTROL STRUCTURE INFORMATION FIELD VALUES

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#define isc_blob_filter_open 0
#define isc_blob_filter_get_segment 1
#define isc_blob_filter_close 2
#define isc_blob_filter_create 3
#define isc_blob_filter_put_segment 4
#define isc_blob_filter_alloc 5
#define isc_blob_filter_free 6
#define isc_blob_filter_seek 7

186 INTERBASE 5
WRITING AN EXTERNAL BLOB FILTER

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Action Invoked when … Use to …

isc_blob_filter_open Application opens a Blob READ Set the information fields of the Blob control structure.
cursor.
Perform initialization tasks, such as allocating memory
or opening temporary files.
Set the status variable, if necessary. The value of the
status variable becomes the filter function’s return
value.
isc_blob_filter_get_segment Application executes a Blob Set the ctl_buffer and ctl_segment_length fields of the
FETCH statement. Blob control structure to contain a segment’s worth of
translated data on the return of the filter function.
Perform the data translation if the filter processes the
Blob segment-by-segment.
Set the status variable. The value of the status variable
becomes the filter function’s return value.
isc_blob_filter_close Application closes a Blob cursor. Perform exit tasks, such as freeing allocated memory,
closing, or removing temporary files.
isc_blob_filter_create Application opens a Blob INSERT Set the information fields of the Blob control structure.
cursor.
Perform initialization tasks, such as allocating memory
or opening temporary files.
Set the status variable, if necessary. The value of the
status variable becomes the filter function’s return
value.
isc_blob_filter_put_segment Application executes a Blob Perform the data translation on the segment data
INSERT statement. passed in through the Blob control structure.
Write the segment data to the database. If the
translation process changes the segment length, the
new value must be reflected in the values passed to
the writing function.
Set the status variable. The value of the status variable
becomes the filter function’s return value.
TABLE 8.4 Blob access operations

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 187

 CHAPTER 8 WORKING WITH BLOB DATA

Action Invoked when … Use to …

isc_blob_filter_alloc InterBase initializes filter Set the information fields of the Blob control structure.
processing. Not a result of a Perform initialization tasks, such as allocating memory
particular application action.
or opening temporary files.
Set the status variable, if necessary. The value of the
status variable becomes the filter function’s return
value.
isc_blob_filter_free InterBase ends filter processing. Perform exit tasks, such as freeing allocated memory,
Not a result of a particular closing, or removing temporary files.
application action.
isc_blob_filter_seek Reserved for internal filter use;
not used by external filters.
TABLE 8.4 Blob access operations (continued)

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188 INTERBASE 5
WRITING AN EXTERNAL BLOB FILTER

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Macro constant Value Meaning

SUCCESS 0 Indicates the filter action has been handled successfully. On a Blob
read (isc_blob_filter_get_segment) operation, indicates that the
entire segment has been read.
FAILURE 1 Indicates an unsuccessful operation. In most cases, a status more
specific to the error is returned.
isc_uns_ext See ibase.h Indicates that the attempted action is unsupported by the filter. For
example, a read-only filter would return isc_uns_ext for an
isc_blob_filter_put_segment action.
isc_segment See ibase.h Returned during a Blob read operation. Indicates that the supplied
buffer is not large enough to contain the remaining bytes in the
current segment. In this case, only ctl_buffer_length bytes are
copied, and the remainder of the segment must be obtained through
additional isc_blob_filter_get_segment calls.
isc_segstr_eof See ibase.h Returned during a Blob read operation. Indicates that the end of the
Blob has been reached; there are no additional segments remaining
to be read.
TABLE 8.5 Blob filter status values

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 CHAPTER

Chapter9 Using Arrays

9
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191
 CHAPTER 9 USING ARRAYS

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EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE TABLE1
(
NAME CHAR(10),
CHAR_ARR CHAR(10)[4]
);

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EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE TABLE1
(
INT_ARR2 INTEGER[4,5]
INT_ARR3 INTEGER[4,5,6]
INT_ARR6 INTEGER[4,5,6,7,8,9]
);

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192 INTERBASE 5
ACCESSING ARRAYS

EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE TABLE1
(
INT_ARR INTEGER[4]
};

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EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE TABLE1
(
INT_ARR INTEGER[0:3]
};

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EXEC SQL
CREATE TABLE TABLE1
(
INT_ARR INTEGER[0:3, 0:3]
};

Accessing arrays
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 193

 CHAPTER 9 USING ARRAYS

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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
BASED ON TABLE1.CHAR_ARR char_arr;
BASED ON TABLE1.INT_ARR int_arr;
BASED ON TABLE1.FLOAT_ARR float_arr;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TC1 CURSOR FOR
SELECT NAME, CHAR_ARR[], INT_ARR[]
FROM TABLE1;

194 INTERBASE 5
ACCESSING ARRAYS

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OPEN TC1;
EXEC SQL
FETCH TC1 INTO :name, :char_arr, :int_arr;
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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
BASED ON TABLE1.CHAR_ARR char_arr;
BASED ON TABLE1.INT_ARR int_arr;
BASED ON TABLE1.FLOAT_ARR float_arr;
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

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EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO TABLE1 (NAME, CHAR_ARR, INT_ARR, FLOAT_ARR)
VALUES ("Sample", :char_arr, :int_arr, :float_arr);

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 195

 CHAPTER 9 USING ARRAYS

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EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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EXEC SQL
SELECT JOB_TITLE[2]
INTO :title
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME = :lname;

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EXEC SQL
SELECT JOB_TITLE[2:4]
INTO :title
FROM EMPLOYEE
WHERE LAST_NAME = :lname;

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DECLARE TC2 CURSOR FOR

196 INTERBASE 5
ACCESSING ARRAYS

SELECT INT_ARR[1:2,1:3]
FROM TABLE1

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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char char_slice[11]; /* 11-byte string for CHAR(10) datatype */
long int_slice[2][3];
EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TC2 CURSOR FOR
SELECT CHAR_ARR[1], INT_ARR[1:2,1:3]
FROM TABLE1

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EXEC SQL
OPEN TC2;
EXEC SQL
FETCH TC2 INTO :char_slice, :int_slice;

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EXEC SQL
BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
char char_slice[11]; /* 11-byte string for CHAR(10) datatype */
long int_slice[2][3];

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 197

 CHAPTER 9 USING ARRAYS

EXEC SQL
END DECLARE SECTION;

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TC1 CURSOR FOR
SELECT CHAR_ARRAY[1], INT_ARRAY[1:2,1:3] FROM TABLE1;
EXEC SQL
OPEN TC1;
EXEC SQL
FETCH TC1 INTO :char_slice, :int_slice;

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EXEC SQL
UPDATE TABLE1
SET
CHAR_ARR[1] = :char_slice,
INT_ARR[1:2,1:3] = :int_slice
WHERE CURRENT OF TC1;

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EXEC SQL
COMMIT;

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198 INTERBASE 5
ACCESSING ARRAYS

char_arr values:
[0]:string0 [1]:NewString [2]:string2 [3]:string3

int_arr values:
updated values
[0][0]:0 [0][1]:1 [0][2]:2 [0][3]:3
[1][0]:10 [1][1]:999 [1][2]:999 [1][3]:999
[2][0]:20 [2][1]:999 [2][2]:999 [2][3]:999
[3][0]:30 [3][1]:31 [3][2]:32 [3][3]:33

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TC2 CURSOR FOR
SELECT CHAR_ARR[1], INT_ARR[1:2,1:3]
FROM TABLE1
WHERE SMALLINT_ARR[1,1,1] = 111;

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE TC2 CURSOR FOR
SELECT CHAR_ARR[1], INT_ARR[:getval:1,1:3]
FROM TABLE1
WHERE FLOAT_ARR[:testval,1,1] = 111.0;

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for (i = 1; i < 100 && SQLCODE == 0; i++)
{
EXEC SQL

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 199

 CHAPTER 9 USING ARRAYS

SELECT ARR[:i] INTO :array_var

FROM TABLE1
WHERE ARR1[:j + 1] = 5;
process_array(array_var);
}

200 INTERBASE 5
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Working with Chapter10

10
User-Defined Functions

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g fn_trim() imitates the SQL-92 TRIM() function. It takesWKUHHLQSXWDUJXPHQWVDQ
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#include <math.h>
#include <ctype.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <time.h>

/* Defines for fn_trim(). */

#define LEADING 0
#define TRAILING 1
#define BOTH 2

202 INTERBASE 5
WRITING AND COMPILING FUNCTIONS

/* Function prototypes. */

static char *strtriml(char *string, int c);

static char *strtrimr(char *string, int c);
char *fn_trim(int operation, int c, char *string);
long fn_datediff(ISC_QUAD d1, ISC_QUAD d2);
double fn_abs(double *x);

/* Function Definitons */

/* fn_abs() returns the absolute value of its argument. */

double fn_abs( double *x)
{
return(*x < 0.0) ? -*x : *x;
}
/* fn_datediff() returns the number of days between two dates */
long fn_datediff(ISC_QUAD d1, ISC_QUAD d2)
{
struct tm tm1, tm2;

isc_decode_date(d1, &tm1); /* convert IB date to tm */

isc_decode_date(d2, &tm2);
return(long) (timelocal(&tm1) - timelocal(&tm2)) / (24 * 3600.0);
}
/* trim leading and/or trailing characters of type c from string */
char *fn_trim(int operation, int c, char *string)
{
switch (operation) {
case LEADING:
strtriml(string, c);
case TRAILING:
strtrimr(string, c);
break;
case BOTH:
default:
strtrimr(string, c);
strtriml(string, c);
break;
}
return(string);
}

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 203

 CHAPTER 10 WORKING WITH USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS

/* trim all chars of type c from left of string and close up */

static char *strtriml(char *string, int c)

{
int n,i;

n = 0;
while (string[n] == c) /* skip leading characters */
n++;
for (i = 0;string[n];i++,n++) /* copy backward over itself */
string[i] = string[n];
string[i] = NULL; /* don’t forget string terminator */
}
/* trim all chars of type c from right of string and truncate length */

static char *strtrimr(char *string, int c)

{
int n;

n = strlen(string) - 1;
while (string[n] == c)
n--;
string[n + 1] = NULL;
return(string);
}

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#include "ibase.h"
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GHILQHGDVIROORZV
typedef struct blob {
void (*blob_get_segment) ();
int *blob_handle;
long number_segments;
long max_seglen;
long total_size;
void (*blob_put_segment) ();
} *Blob;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 205

 CHAPTER 10 WORKING WITH USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS

BLOB_GET_SEGMENT
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WRWKHHQGRIDQRWKHU%OREWRUHWXUQDWKLUG%OREFRQVLVWLQJRIFRQFDWHQDWHG%OREGDWD
/* Blob control structure */
typedef struct blob {
void (*blob_get_segment) ();
int *blob_handle;
long number_segments;

206 INTERBASE 5
WRITING AND COMPILING FUNCTIONS

long max_seglen;
long total_size;
void (*blob_put_segment) ();
} *Blob;

extern char *isc_$alloc();

#define MAX(a, b) (a > b) ? a : b
#define DELIMITER "-----------------------------"

blob_concatenate(Blob from1, Blob from2, Blob to)

/* Note Blob to, as final input parameter, is actually for output! */
{
char *buffer;
long length, b_length;

b_length = MAX(from1->max_seglen, from2->max_seglen);

buffer = isc_alloc(b_length);

/* write the from1 Blob into the return Blob, to */

while ((*from1->blob_get_segment) (from1->blob_handle, buffer,
b_length, &length))
(*to->blob_put_segment) (to->blob_handle, buffer, length);

/* now write a delimiter as a dividing line in the blob */

(*to->blob_put_segment) (to->blob_handle, DELIMITER,
sizeof(DELIMITER) - 1);

/* finally write the from2 Blob into the return Blob, to */

while ((*from2->blob_get_segment) (from2->blob_handle, buffer,
b_length, &length))
(*to->blob_put_segment) (to->blob_handle, buffer, length);

/* free the memory allocated to the buffer */

isc_$free(buffer);
}

Compiling a function module

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 207

 CHAPTER 10 WORKING WITH USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS

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Declaring a UDF to a database

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DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION sql_name
[<datatype> | CSTRING (int) [, <datatype>] | CSTRING (int) ...]
RETURNS {<datatype> [BY VALUE] | CSTRING (int)}[FREE_IT]
ENTRY_POINT "<entryname>"
MODULE_NAME "<modulename>";

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Argument Description
sql_name Name of the UDF as it will appear in SQL statements.
<datatype> InterBase datatype of an input parameter. All input parameters are passed to a
UDF by reference. A UDF can have zero or more input parameters.
RETURNS Specifies the return value of a function.
PARAMETER pnum Specifies that the return value for the UDF is stored in the input parameter
identified by <pnum>.
TABLE 10.1 DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION parameters

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 209

 CHAPTER 10 WORKING WITH USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS

Argument Description
<datatype> Specifies the InterBase SQL datatype returned by the UDF. Return values are
[BY VALUE] passed by reference unless the optional BY VALUE clause is used. Only numeric
datatypes can be returned by value.
CSTRING (int) Specifies a string value int bytes in length.
FREE_IT Frees memory of the return value after the UDF finishes running; use this
directive only if the memroy is allocated dynamically in the UDF with malloc or
similar mechanism. See the Language Reference, Chapter 5.
ENTRY_POINT Quoted string specifying the name of the UDF as stored in the linked library.
“<entryname>”
MODULE_NAME Quoted file specification identifying the library or module in which the UDF
“<modulename>” resides.
TABLE 10.1 DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION parameters

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CONNECT "employee.gdb";
DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION ABS
DOUBLE PRECISION
RETURNS DOUBLE BY VALUE
ENTRY_POINT "fn_abs" MODULE_NAME "udflib.lib";
COMMIT;
DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION DATEDIFF
DATE, DATE
RETURNS INTEGER
ENTRY_POINT "fn_datediff" MODULE_NAME "udflib.lib";
COMMIT;
DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION TRIM
SMALLINT, CSTRING(256), SMALLINT
RETURNS CSTRING(256)
ENTRY_POINT "fn_trim" MODULE_NAME "udflib.lib";
COMMIT;

210 INTERBASE 5
CALLING A UDF

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SDUDPHWHUWRWKH8'))RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJVWDWHPHQWGHFODUHVWKH%ORE8')
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DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION Blob_PLUS_Blob
Blob,
Blob,
Blob
ENTRY_POINT "blob_concatenate" MODULE_NAME "udflib.lib";
COMMIT;

Calling a UDF
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EXEC SQL
DELETE FROM CITIES
WHERE ABS (POPULATION - 100000) > 50000;
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 211

 CHAPTER 10 WORKING WITH USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS

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EXEC SQL
SELECT ABS (JOB_GRADE) FROM PROJECTS;
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EXEC SQL
SELECT START_DATE FROM PROJECTS
WHERE DATEDIFF (:today, START_DATE) > 10;

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WDEOH
EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO EMPLOYEE(FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, EMP_NO, DEPT_NO, SALARY)
VALUES (TRIM (0, ’ ’,:firstname), TRIM (1, ’ ’, :lastname),
:empno, :deptno, greater(30000, :est_salary));

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EXEC SQL
UPDATE COUNTRIES
SET COUNTRY = TRIM (2, ’ ’, COUNTRY);

212 INTERBASE 5
CALLING A UDF

Using a UDF with DELETE

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EXEC SQL
DELETE FROM COUNTRIES
WHERE ABS (POPULATION - 100000) < 50000;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 213

 CHAPTER

Working with
Chapter11
11
Stored Procedures

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215
 CHAPTER 11 WORKING WITH STORED PROCEDURES

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Using stored procedures

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Procedures and transactions

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216 INTERBASE 5
USING SELECT PROCEDURES

Security for procedures

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Using select procedures

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SET TERM !! ;
CREATE PROCEDURE GET_EMP_PROJ (emp_no SMALLINT)
RETURNS (emp_proj SMALLINT) AS
BEGIN
FOR SELECT PROJ_ID
FROM EMPLOYEE_PROJECT
WHERE EMP_NO = :emp_no
INTO :emp_proj
DO

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 217

 CHAPTER 11 WORKING WITH STORED PROCEDURES

SUSPEND;
END !!

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SELECT PROJ_ID FROM GET_EMP_PROJ (:number);

Calling a select procedure

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EXEC SQL
SELECT PROJ_ID FROM GET_EMP_PROJ (:emp_no)
ORDER BY PROJ_ID;

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Using a select procedure with cursors

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE PROJECTS CURSOR FOR
SELECT PROJ_ID FROM GET_EMP_PROJ (:emp_no)
ORDER BY PROJ_ID;

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EXEC SQL
OPEN PROJECTS

/* Print employee projects. */

while (SQLCODE == 0)
{
EXEC SQL
FETCH PROJECTS INTO :proj_id :nullind;
if (SQLCODE == 100)
break;
if (nullind == 0)

218 INTERBASE 5
USING EXECUTABLE PROCEDURES

printf("\t%s\n", proj_id);
}

Using executable procedures

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Executing a procedure
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EXEC SQL
EXECUTE PROCEDURE name [:param [[INDICATOR]:indicator]]
[, :param [[INDICATOR]:indicator] ...]
[RETURNING_VALUES :param [[INDICATOR]:indicator]
[, :param [[INDICATOR]:indicator]...]];

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EXEC SQL
EXECUTE PROCEDURE DEPT_BUDGET 100 RETURNING_VALUES :sumb;

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EXEC SQL
EXECUTE PROCEDURE DEPT_BUDGET :rdno RETURNING_VALUES :sumb;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 219

 CHAPTER 11 WORKING WITH STORED PROCEDURES

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Executing a procedure in a DSQL application

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EXEC SQL
PREPARE sql_statement_name FROM :var | "<statement>";

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EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE INPUT sql_statement_name INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR input_xsqlda;

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EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE OUTPUT sql_statement_name INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR
output_xsqlda;
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EXEC SQL
EXECUTE statement USING SQL DESCRIPTOR input_xsqlda
INTO DESCRIPTOR output_xsqlda;

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strcpy(uquery, "EXECUTE PROCEDURE ADD_EMP_PROJ ?, ?");
. . .
EXEC SQL
PREPARE QUERY FROM :uquery;
EXEC SQL

220 INTERBASE 5
USING EXECUTABLE PROCEDURES

DESCRIBE INPUT QUERY INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR input_xsqlda;

EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE OUTPUT QUERY INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR output_xsqlda;
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE QUERY USING SQL DESCRIPTOR input_xsqlda INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR
output_xsqlda;
. . .

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 221

 CHAPTER

Working with Events

Chapter12
12
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Understanding the event mechanism

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223
 CHAPTER 12 WORKING WITH EVENTS

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Signaling event occurrences

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SET TERM !! ;
CREATE TRIGGER POST_NEW_ORDER FOR SALES
ACTIVE
AFTER INSERT
POSITION 0
AS
BEGIN
POST_EVENT "new_order";
END
!!
SET TERM ; !!
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REGISTERING INTEREST IN EVENTS

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Registering interest in events

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EXEC SQL
EVENT INIT request_name (event_name);

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EXEC SQL
EVENT INIT RESPOND_NEW ("new_order");

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EXEC SQL
EVENT INIT RESPOND_NEW (:myevent);

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 225

 CHAPTER 12 WORKING WITH EVENTS

Note $VDQDOWHUQDWLYHWRUHJLVWHULQJLQWHUHVWLQDQHYHQWDQGZDLWLQJIRUWKHHYHQWWRRFFXU
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Registering interest in multiple events

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EXEC SQL
EVENT INIT request_name (event_name [event_name ...]);

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EXEC SQL
EVENT INIT RESPOND_MANY ("new_order", "change_order",
"cancel_order");

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,1,7VWDWHPHQWZLWKDXQLTXHUHTXHVWKDQGOHIRUDVLQJOHHYHQWRUJURXSVRIHYHQWVEXWLWFDQ
RQO\ZDLWRQRQHUHTXHVWKDQGOHDWDWLPH

Waiting for events with EVENT WAIT

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EXEC SQL
EVENT WAIT request_name;

226 INTERBASE 5
RESPONDING TO EVENTS

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EXEC SQL
EVENT INIT RESPOND_NEW ("new_order");
EXEC SQL
EVENT WAIT RESPOND_NEW;

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QRWLILFDWLRQWKHQH[WWLPHWKHDSSOLFDWLRQUHWXUQVWRDZDLWVWDWH

Responding to events
:KHQHYHQWQRWLILFDWLRQRFFXUVDVXVSHQGHGDSSOLFDWLRQUHVXPHVQRUPDOSURFHVVLQJDWWKH
QH[WVWDWHPHQWIROORZLQJ(9(17:$,7
,IDQDSSOLFDWLRQKDVUHJLVWHUHGLQWHUHVWLQPRUHWKDQRQHHYHQWZLWKDVLQJOH(9(17,1,7FDOO
WKHQWKHDSSOLFDWLRQPXVWGHWHUPLQHZKLFKHYHQWRFFXUUHGE\H[DPLQLQJWKHHYHQWDUUD\
isc_event[]7KHHYHQWDUUD\LVDXWRPDWLFDOO\FUHDWHGIRUDQDSSOLFDWLRQGXULQJSUHSURFHVVLQJ
(DFKHOHPHQWLQWKHDUUD\FRUUHVSRQGVWRDQHYHQWQDPHSDVVHGDVDQDUJXPHQWWR(9(17
,1,77KHYDOXHRIHDFKHOHPHQWLVWKHQXPEHURIWLPHVWKDWHYHQWRFFXUUHGVLQFHH[HFXWLRQ
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,QWKHIROORZLQJFRGHDQDSSOLFDWLRQUHJLVWHUVLQWHUHVWLQWKUHHHYHQWVWKHQVXVSHQGV
RSHUDWLRQSHQGLQJHYHQWQRWLILFDWLRQ
EXEC SQL
EVENT INIT RESPOND_MANY ("new_order", "change_order",
"cancel_order");
EXEC SQL
EVENT WAIT RESPOND_MANY;

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WKHLUFRQWUROOLQJWUDQVDFWLRQVFRPPLWWKHHYHQWPDQDJHUQRWLILHVWKHDSSOLFDWLRQDQG
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RFFXUUHG

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 227

 CHAPTER 12 WORKING WITH EVENTS

for (i = 0; i < 3; i++)

{
if (isc_$event[i] > 0)
{
/* this event occurred, so process it */
. . .
}
}

228 INTERBASE 5
 CHAPTER

Error Handling and Recovery

Chapter13
13
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IURPUXQWLPHHUURUVWKHHUURUVWKDWFDQRFFXUZKHQVRPHRQHXVHVDQDSSOLFDWLRQ7KLVFKDSWHU
GHVFULEHVERWKVWDQGDUGSRUWDEOH64/PHWKRGVIRUKDQGOLQJHUURUVDQGDGGLWLRQDOHUURU
KDQGOLQJVSHFLILFWR,QWHU%DVH

Standard error handling

(YHU\WLPHDQ64/VWDWHPHQWLVH[HFXWHGLWUHWXUQVDVWDWXVLQGLFDWRULQWKH64/&2'(
YDULDEOHZKLFKLVGHFODUHGDXWRPDWLFDOO\IRU64/SURJUDPVGXULQJSUHSURFHVVLQJZLWKgpre
7KHIROORZLQJWDEOHVXPPDUL]HVSRVVLEOH64/&2'(YDOXHVDQGWKHLUPHDQLQJV

Value Meaning
0 Success.
1–99 Warning or informational message.
100 End of file (no more data).
<0 Error. Statement failed to complete.
TABLE 13.1 Possible SQLCODE values

229
 CHAPTER 13 ERROR HANDLING AND RECOVERY

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RFFXU
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(DFKPHWKRGKDVDGYDQWDJHVDQGGLVDGYDQWDJHVGHVFULEHGIXOO\LQWKHUHPDLQGHURIWKLV
FKDSWHU

WHENEVER statements
7KH:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWHQDEOHVDOO64/HUURUVWREHKDQGOHGZLWKDPLQLPXPRIFRGLQJ
:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWVVSHFLI\HUURUKDQGOLQJFRGHWKDWDSURJUDPVKRXOGH[HFXWHZKHQ
64/&2'(LQGLFDWHVHUURUVZDUQLQJVRUHQGRIILOH7KHV\QWD[RI:+(1(9(5LV
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER {SQLERROR | SQLWARNING | NOT FOUND}
{GOTO label | CONTINUE};

$IWHU:+(1(9(5DSSHDUVLQDSURJUDPDOOVXEVHTXHQW64/VWDWHPHQWVDXWRPDWLFDOO\MXPS
WRWKHVSHFLILHGFRGHORFDWLRQLGHQWLILHGE\ODEHOZKHQWKHDSSURSULDWHHUURURUZDUQLQJ
RFFXUV
%HFDXVHWKH\DIIHFWDOOVXEVHTXHQWVWDWHPHQWV:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWVDUHXVXDOO\HPEHGGHG
QHDUWKHVWDUWRIDSURJUDP)RUH[DPSOHWKHILUVWVWDWHPHQWLQWKHIROORZLQJ&FRGH·Vmain()
IXQFWLRQLVD:+(1(9(5WKDWWUDSV64/HUURUV
main()
{
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR GOTO ErrorExit;
. . .
Error Exit:
if (SQLCODE)
{
print_error();
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
exit(1);
}

230 INTERBASE 5
STANDARD ERROR HANDLING

}
. . .
print_error()
{
printf("Database error, SQLCODE = %d\n", SQLCODE);
}

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g :+(1(9(564/(5525LVDFWLYDWHGZKHQ64/&2'(LVOHVVWKDQ]HURLQGLFDWLQJWKDWD
VWDWHPHQWIDLOHG
g :+(1(9(564/:$51,1*LVDFWLYDWHGZKHQ64/&2'(FRQWDLQVDYDOXHIURPWR
LQFOXVLYHLQGLFDWLQJWKDWZKLOHDVWDWHPHQWH[HFXWHGWKHUHLVVRPHTXHVWLRQDERXWWKHZD\LW
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g :+(1(9(5127)281'LVDFWLYDWHGZKHQ64/&2'(LVLQGLFDWLQJWKDWHQGRIILOHZDV
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2PLWWLQJDVWDWHPHQWIRUDSDUWLFXODUFRQGLWLRQPHDQVLWLVQRWWUDSSHGHYHQLILWRFFXUV)RU
H[DPSOHLI:+(1(9(5127)281'LVOHIWRXWRIDSURJUDPWKHQZKHQD)(7&+RU
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:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQW
. . .
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLWARNING
CONTINUE;
. . .
7KLVFRGHWUDSV64/&2'(ZDUQLQJYDOXHVEXWLJQRUHVWKHP2UGLQDULO\ZDUQLQJVVKRXOGEH
LQYHVWLJDWHGQRWLJQRUHG

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HUURUKDQGOLQJWHPSRUDULO\2WKHUZLVHWKHUHLVDSRVVLELOLW\RIDQLQILQLWHORRSVKRXOG
DQRWKHUHUURURFFXULQWKHKDQGOHULWVHOIWKHURXWLQHZLOOFDOOLWVHOIDJDLQ

SCOPE OF WHENEVER STATEMENTS

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ZKHUHLWLVGHILQHG,QSURJUDPVZLWKPXOWLSOHVRXUFHFRGHILOHVHDFKPRGXOHPXVWGHILQHLWV
RZQ:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWV

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 231

 CHAPTER 13 ERROR HANDLING AND RECOVERY

CHANGING ERROR-HANDLING ROUTINES

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:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWLQWKHSURJUDPDWWKHSRLQWZKHUHHUURUKDQGOLQJVKRXOGEHFKDQJHG
7KHQHZDVVLJQPHQWRYHUULGHVDQ\SUHYLRXVDVVLJQPHQWDQGUHPDLQVLQHIIHFWXQWLO
RYHUULGGHQLWVHOI)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJSURJUDPIUDJPHQWVHWVDQLQLWLDOMXPSSRLQWIRU
64/(5525FRQGLWLRQVWR(UURU([LWWKHQUHVHWVLWWR(UURU([LW
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR
GOTO ErrorExit1;
. . .
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR
GOTO ErrorExit2;
. . .

LIMITATIONS OF WHENEVER STATEMENTS

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g 7UDSVHUURUVLQGLVFULPLQDWHO\)RUH[DPSOH:+(1(9(564/(5525WUDSVERWKPLVVLQJ
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g 'RHVQRWHDVLO\HQDEOHDSURJUDPWRUHVXPHSURFHVVLQJDWWKHSRLQWZKHUHWKHHUURURFFXUUHG
)RUH[DPSOHDVLQJOH:+(1(9(564/(5525FDQWUDSGDWDHQWU\WKDWYLRODWHVD&+(&.
FRQVWUDLQWDWVHYHUDOSRLQWVLQDSURJUDPEXWMXPSVWRDVLQJOHHUURUKDQGOLQJURXWLQH,W
PLJKWEHKHOSIXOWRDOORZWKHXVHUWRUHHQWHUGDWDLQWKHVHFDVHVEXWWKHHUURUURXWLQHFDQQRW
GHWHUPLQHZKHUHWRMXPSWRUHVXPHSURJUDPSURFHVVLQJ
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XVHDODUJHcaseVWDWHPHQWWRH[DPLQH64/&2'(GLUHFWO\DQGUHVSRQGGLIIHUHQWO\WRGLIIHUHQW
YDOXHV(YHQVRFUHDWLQJDVRSKLVWLFDWHGURXWLQHWKDWFDQUHVXPHSURFHVVLQJDWWKHSRLQW
ZKHUHDQHUURURFFXUUHGLVGLIILFXOW7RUHVXPHSURFHVVLQJDIWHUHUURUUHFRYHU\FRQVLGHU
WHVWLQJ64/&2'(GLUHFWO\DIWHUHDFK64/VWDWHPHQWRUFRQVLGHUXVLQJDFRPELQDWLRQRI
HUURUKDQGOLQJPHWKRGV

Testing SQLCODE directly

$SURJUDPFDQWHVW64/&2'(GLUHFWO\DIWHUHDFK64/VWDWHPHQWLQVWHDGRIUHO\LQJRQ
:+(1(9(5WRWUDSDQGKDQGOHDOOHUURUV7KHPDLQDGYDQWDJHWRWHVWLQJ64/&2'(GLUHFWO\
LVWKDWFXVWRPHUURUKDQGOLQJURXWLQHVFDQEHGHVLJQHGIRUSDUWLFXODUVLWXDWLRQV

232 INTERBASE 5
STANDARD ERROR HANDLING

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VWDWHPHQWFRPSOHWHV,IVRDQHUURUKDVRFFXUUHGVRWKHVWDWHPHQWVLQVLGHWKHifFODXVHDUH
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²DQGKDQGOLQJHDFKGLIIHUHQWO\,I64/&2'(LVVHWWRDQ\RWKHUHUURUYDOXHDJHQHULF
HUURUPHVVDJHLVGLVSOD\HGDQGWKHSURJUDPLVHQGHGJUDFHIXOO\
EXEC SQL
SELECT CITY INTO :city FROM STATES
WHERE STATE = :stat:statind;

if (SQLCODE)
{
if (SQLCODE == –1)
printf("too many records found\n");
else if (SQLCODE == 100)
printf("no records found\n");
else
{
printf("Database error, SQLCODE = %d\n", SQLCODE);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
exit(1);
}
}
printf("found city named %s\n", city);
EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;

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MXVWWRVHHLIDQHUURURFFXUUHG2QWKHRWKHUKDQGLWHQDEOHVHUURUVWREHKDQGOHGZLWK
IXQFWLRQFDOOVDVWKHIROORZLQJ&FRGHLOOXVWUDWHV
EXEC SQL
SELECT CITY INTO :city FROM STATES
WHERE STATE = :stat:statind;

switch (SQLCODE)
{
case 0:
break; /* NO ERROR */
case –1

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 233

 CHAPTER 13 ERROR HANDLING AND RECOVERY

ErrorTooMany();
break;
case 100:
ErrorNotFound();
break;
default:
ErrorExit(); /* Handle all other errors */
break;
}
. . .

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EHFRUUHFWHG

Combining error-handling techniques

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FKHFNLQJRI64/&2'($SURJUDPPLJKWLQFOXGHJHQHULF:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWVIRU
KDQGOLQJPRVW64/HUURUFRQGLWLRQVEXWIRUFULWLFDORSHUDWLRQV:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWV
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)RUH[DPSOHWKHIROORZLQJ&FRGH
g 6HWVXSJHQHULFHUURUKDQGOLQJZLWKWKUHH:+(1(9(5VWDWHPHQWV
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&217,18(FODXVH
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g 2YHUULGHV:+(1(9(564/(5525DJDLQWRUHVHWLW
main()
{
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR GOTO ErrorExit; /* trap all errors */
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLWARNING GOTO WarningExit; /* trap warnings */
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER NOT FOUND GOTO AllDone; /* trap end of file */
. . .
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR CONTINUE; /* prevent trapping of errors */
EXEC SQL
SELECT CITY INTO :city FROM STATES
WHERE STATE = :stat:statind;

234 INTERBASE 5
STANDARD ERROR HANDLING

switch (SQLCODE)
{
case 0:
break; /* NO ERROR */
case –1
ErrorTooMany();
break;
case 100:
ErrorNotFound();
break;
default:
ErrorExitFunction(); /* Handle all other errors */
break;
}
EXEC SQL
WHENEVER SQLERROR GOTO ErrorExit; /* reset to trap all errors */
. . .
}

Guidelines for error handling

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USING SQL AND HOST-LANGUAGE STATEMENTS

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IRU&211(&7
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UHVWULFWLRQ

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DQRWKHUHUURURFFXULQWKHKDQGOHULWVHOIWKHURXWLQHZLOOFDOOLWVHOIDJDLQ

NESTING ERROR-HANDLING ROUTINES

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UHFRPPHQGHGXQOHVVWKHSURJUDPSUHVHUYHVWKHRULJLQDOFRQWHQWVRI64/&2'(DQGWKH
,QWHU%DVHHUURUVWDWXVDUUD\

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 235

 CHAPTER 13 ERROR HANDLING AND RECOVERY

HANDLING UNEXPECTED AND UNRECOVERABLE ERRORS

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FRQWDLQVWDWHPHQWVWRKDQGOHXQH[SHFWHGRUXQUHFRYHUDEOHHUURUV
7KHIROORZLQJFRGHKDQGOHVXQUHFRYHUDEOHHUURUV
. . .
isc_print_sqlerr(SQLCODE, isc_status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT;
exit(1);

PORTABILITY
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UHSUHVHQWDWLRQSHUPLWV$VLQJOH64/&2'(YDOXHFDQUHSUHVHQWPDQ\GLIIHUHQWLQWHUQDO
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236 INTERBASE 5
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:+(1(9(5RUWHVWLQJ64/&2'(GLUHFWO\

Displaying error messages

,I64/&2'(LVOHVVWKDQ²DGGLWLRQDO,QWHU%DVHHUURULQIRUPDWLRQFDQEHGLVSOD\HGXVLQJ
WKH,QWHU%DVHisc_print_sqlerror()IXQFWLRQLQVLGHDQHUURUKDQGOLQJURXWLQH'XULQJ
SUHSURFHVVLQJZLWKgpreWKLVIXQFWLRQLVDXWRPDWLFDOO\GHFODUHGIRU,QWHU%DVHDSSOLFDWLRQV
isc_print_sqlerror()GLVSOD\VWKH64/&2'(YDOXHDUHODWHG64/HUURUPHVVDJHDQGDQ\
,QWHU%DVHHUURUPHVVDJHVLQWKHVWDWXVDUUD\,WUHTXLUHVWZRSDUDPHWHUV64/&2'(DQGD
SRLQWHUWRWKHHUURUVWDWXVDUUD\isc_status
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PHVVDJHLQIRUPDWLRQLISRVVLEOH
. . .
EXEC SQL
SELECT CITY INTO :city FROM STATES
WHERE STATE = :stat:statind;
if(SQLCODE)
{
isc_print_sqlerror(SQLCODE, isc_status);
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
exit(1);
}
. . .

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isc_sql_interprete()DQGisc_interprete()WRFDSWXUHPHVVDJHVWRDEXIIHUIRUGLVSOD\

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 237

 CHAPTER 13 ERROR HANDLING AND RECOVERY

Capturing SQL error messages

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isc_sql_interprete()EXLOGVDQ64/HUURUPHVVDJHVWULQJDQGSXWVWKHIRUPDWWHGVWULQJLQ
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64/HUURUPHVVDJH
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WRDORJILOH
. . .
char err_buf[256]; /* error message buffer for isc_sql_interprete() */
FILE *efile=NULL; /* code fragment assumes pointer to an open file */
. . .
EXEC SQL
SELECT CITY INTO :city FROM STATES
WHERE STATE = :stat:statind;
if (SQLCODE)
{
isc_sql_interprete(SQLCODE, err_buf, sizeof(err_buf));
if(efile==NULL) efile=fopen("errors", "w");
fprintf(efile, "%s\n", err_buf); /* write buffer to log file */
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK; /* undo database changes */
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL; /* close open databases */
exit(1); /* exit with error flag set */
}
. . .

isc_sql_interprete()UHWULHYHVDQGIRUPDWVDVLQJOHPHVVDJHFRUUHVSRQGLQJWRDJLYHQ
64/&2'(:KHQ64/&2'(LVOHVVWKDQ²PRUHVSHFLILF,QWHU%DVHHUURULQIRUPDWLRQLV
DYDLODEOH,WWRRFDQEHUHWULHYHGIRUPDWWHGDQGVWRUHGLQDEXIIHUE\XVLQJWKH
isc_interprete()IXQFWLRQ

238 INTERBASE 5
ADDITIONAL INTERBASE ERROR HANDLING

Capturing InterBase error messages

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isc_interprete()
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. . .
#include "ibase.h";
. . .
main()
{
char msg[512];
ISC_STATUS *vector;
FILE *efile; /* code fragment assumes pointer to an open file */
. . .
if (SQLCODE < –1)
ErrorExit();
}

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 239

 CHAPTER 13 ERROR HANDLING AND RECOVERY

. . .

ErrorExit()
{
vector = isc_status; /* (re)set to start of status vector */
isc_interprete(msg, &vector); /* retrieve first mesage */
fprintf(efile, "%s\n", msg); /* write buffer to log file */
msg[0] = ’-’; /* append leading hyphen to secondary messages */
while (isc_interprete(msg + 1, &vector)) /* more?*/
fprintf(efile, "%s\n", msg); /* if so, write it to log */
fclose(efile); /* close log prior to quitting program */
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
exit(1); /* quit program with an ’abnormal termination’ code */
}
. . .

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ADDITIONAL INTERBASE ERROR HANDLING

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int c, jval, retry_flag = 0;
jmp_buf jumper;
. . .
main()
{
. . .
jval = setjmp(jumper);
if (retry_flag)
ROLLBACK;
. . .
}
int ErrorHandler(void)
{
retry_flag = 0; /* reset to 0, no retry */
isc_print_sqlerror(SQLCODE, isc_status); /* display errors */
if (SQLCODE < –1)
{
if (isc_status[0] == isc_arg_gds)
{
switch (isc_status[1])
{
case isc_convert_error:
case isc_deadlock:
case isc_integ_fail:
case isc_lock_conflict:
case isc_no_dup:

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 241

 CHAPTER 13 ERROR HANDLING AND RECOVERY

case isc_not_valid:
printf("\n Do you want to try again? (Y/N)");
c = getchar();
if (c == ’Y’ || c == ’y’)
{
retry_flag = 1; /* set flag to retry */
longjmp(jumper, 1);
}
break;
case isc_end_arg: /* there really isn’t an error */
retry_flag = 1; /* set flag to retry */
longjump(jumper, 1);
break;
default: /* we can’t handle everything, so abort */
break;
}
}
}
EXEC SQL
ROLLBACK;
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
exit(1);
}

242 INTERBASE 5
 CHAPTER

Using Dynamic SQL

Chapter14
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243
 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

DSQL limitations
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Accessing databases
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#include "ibase.h"
isc_db_handle db1;
. . .
db1 = 0L;

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char dbname[129];
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prompt_user("Name of database to open: ");
gets(dbname);
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE db1 = :dbname;
EXEC SQL

244 INTERBASE 5
DSQL LIMITATIONS

CONNECT db1;
. . .

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EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT db1;
EXEC SQL
SET DATABASE db1 = "employee.gdb";
EXEC SQL
CONNECT db1;

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#include "ibase.h"
isc_tr_handle t1;
. . .
t1 = 0L;
EXEC SQL
SET TRANSACTION NAME t1;
EXEC SQL
PREPARE TRANSACTION t1 Q FROM :sql_buf;

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 245

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

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EXEC SQL
COMMIT;
/* set default transaction name to NULL */
gds__trans = NULL;
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE "SET TRANSACTION READ ONLY";

Creating a database
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char *str = "CREATE DATABASE \"new_emp.gdb\"";
. . .
EXEC SQL
DISCONNECT ALL;
EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE :str;

Processing Blob data

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WRITING A DSQL APPLICATION

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 247

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

SQL statements DSQL can process

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ALTER DATABASE CREATE ROLE DROP ROLE

ALTER DOMAIN CREATE SHADOW DROP SHADOW
ALTER EXCEPTION CREATE TABLE DROP TABLE
ALTER INDEX CREATE TRIGGER DROP TRIGGER
ALTER PROCEDURE CREATE VIEW DROP VIEW
ALTER TABLE DECLARE EXTERNAL FUNCTION EXECUTE PROCEDURE
ALTER TRIGGER DECLARE FILTER GRANT
COMMIT DELETE INSERT
CONNECT DROP DATABASE INSERT CURSOR (BLOB)
CREATE DATABASE DROP DOMAIN REVOKE
CREATE DOMAIN DROP EXCEPTION ROLLBACK
CREATE EXCEPTION DROP EXTERNAL FUNCTION SELECT
CREATE GENERATOR DROP FILTER SET GENERATOR
CREATE INDEX DROP INDEX UPDATE
CREATE PROCEDURE DROP PROCEDURE

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248 INTERBASE 5
WRITING A DSQL APPLICATION

SQL character strings

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char *str = "DELETE FROM CUSTOMER WHERE CUST_NO = 256";

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char *str = "DELETE FROM CUSTOMER WHERE CUST_NO = 256";

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char *str = "DELETE FROM CUSTOMER WHERE CUST_NO = ?";

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 249

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

Understanding the XSQLDA

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UNDERSTANDING THE XSQLDA

FIGURE 14.1 XSQLDA and XSQLVAR relationship

Single instance of XSQLDA

short version
char sqldaid[8]
ISC_LONG sqldabc
short sqln
short sqld
XSQLVAR sqlvar[n]

Array of n instances of XSQLVAR

1st instance nth instance

short sqltype short sqltype
short sqlscale short sqlscale
short sqlsubtype short sqlsubtype
short sqllen short sqllen
char *sqldata char *sqldata
short *sqlind short *sqlind
short sqlname_length short sqlname_length
char sqlname[32] char sqlname[32]
short relname_length short relname_length
char relname[32] char relname[32]
short ownname_length short ownname_length
char ownname[32] char ownname[32]
short aliasname_length short aliasname_length
char aliasname[32] char aliasname[32]

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 251

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

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XSQLDA field descriptions

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Field definition Description

short version Indicates the version of the XSQLDA structure. Set by an application. The current version
is defined in ibase.h as SQLDA_VERSION1.
char sqldaid[8] Reserved for future use.
ISC_LONG sqldabc Reserved for future use.
short sqln Indicates the number of elements in the sqlvar array. Set by the application. Whenever the
application allocates storage for a descriptor, it should set this field.
short sqld Indicates the number of parameters (for an input XSQLDA), or the number of select-list
items (for an output XSQLDA). Set by InterBase during a DESCRIBE or PREPARE.
For an input descriptor, an sqld of 0 indicates that the SQL statement has no parameters.
For an output descriptor, an sqld of 0 indicates that the SQL statement is not a SELECT
statement.
XSQLVAR sqlvar The array of XSQLVAR structures. The number of elements in the array is specified in the
sqln field.
TABLE 14.1 XSQLDA field descriptions

252 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING THE XSQLDA

XSQLVAR field descriptions

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Field definition Description

short sqltype Indicates the SQL datatype of parameters or select-list items. Set by InterBase during
PREPARE or DESCRIBE.
short sqlscale Provides scale, specified as a negative number, for exact numeric datatypes (DECIMAL,
NUMERIC). Set by InterBase during PREPARE or DESCRIBE.
short sqlsubtype Specifies the subtype for Blob data. Set by InterBase during PREPARE or DESCRIBE.
short sqllen Indicates the maximum size, in bytes, of data in the sqldata field. Set by InterBase
during PREPARE or DESCRIBE.
char *sqldata For input descriptors, specifies either the address of a select-list item or a parameter.
Set by the application.
For output descriptors, contains a value for a select-list item. Set by InterBase.
short *sqlind On input, specifies the address of an indicator variable. Set by an application.
On output, specifies the address of column indicator value for a select-list item
following a FETCH. A value of 0 indicates that the column is not NULL; a value of –1
indicates the column is NULL. Set by InterBase.
short Specifies the length, in bytes, of the data in field, sqlname. Set by InterBase during
sqlname_length DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
char sqlname[32] Contains the name of the column. Not null (\0) terminated. Set by InterBase during
DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
short Specifies the length, in bytes, of the data in field, relname. Set by InterBase during
relname_length DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
TABLE 14.2 XSQLVAR field descriptions

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 253

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

Field definition Description

char relname[32] Contains the name of the table. Not null (\0) terminated. Set by InterBase during
DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
short Specifies the length, in bytes, of the data in field, ownname. Set by InterBase during
ownname_length DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
char ownname[32] Contains the owner name of the table. Not null (\0) terminated. Set by InterBase
during DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
short Specifies the length, in bytes, of the data in field, aliasname. Set by InterBase during
aliasname_length DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
char aliasname[32] Contains the alias name of the column. If no alias exists, contains the column name.
Not null (\0) terminated. Set by InterBase during DESCRIBE OUTPUT.
TABLE 14.2 XSQLVAR field descriptions (continued)

Input descriptors
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char *str = "UPDATE DEPARTMENT SET BUDGET = ? WHERE LOCATION = ?";

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char *str = "SELECT * FROM CUSTOMER WHERE CUST_NO > 100";

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#define XSQLDA_LENGTH (n) (sizeof (XSQLDA) + (n - 1) * sizeof(XSQLVAR))

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. . .
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 255

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

SQL datatype macro constants

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SQL datatype Macro expression C datatype or typedef ?
Array SQL_ARRAY ISC_QUAD No
Array SQL_ARRAY + 1 ISC_QUAD Yes
Blob SQL_BLOB ISC_QUAD No
Blob SQL_BLOB + 1 ISC_QUAD Yes
CHAR SQL_TEXT char[ ] No
CHAR SQL_TEXT + 1 char[ ] Yes
DATE SQL_DATE ISC_QUAD No
DATE SQL_DATE + 1 ISC_QUAD Yes
DECIMAL SQL_SHORT, SQL_LONG, or int, long, or double No
QL_DOUBLE

DECIMAL SQL_SHORT + 1, SQL_LONG + 1, int, long, or double Yes

or SQL_DOUBLE + 1
DOUBLE PRECISON SQL_DOUBLE double No
DOUBLE PRECISION SQL_DOUBLE + 1 double Yes
INTEGER SQL_LONG long No
INTEGER SQL_LONG + 1 long Yes
FLOAT SQL_FLOAT float No
TABLE 14.3 SQL datatypes, macro expressions, and C datatypes

256 INTERBASE 5
UNDERSTANDING THE XSQLDA

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FLOAT SQL_FLOAT + 1 float Yes
NUMERIC SQL_SHORT, SQL_LONG, int, long, or double No
or SQL_DOUBLE
NUMERIC SQL_SHORT + 1, SQL_LONG + 1, int, long, or double Yes
or SQL_DOUBLE + 1
SMALLINT SQL_SHORT short No
SMALLINT SQL_SHORT + 1 short Yes
VARCHAR SQL_VARYING First 2 bytes: short containing No
the length of the character string.
Remaining bytes: char[ ]
VARCHAR SQL_VARYING + 1 First 2 bytes: short containing Yes
the length of the character string.
Remaining bytes: char[ ]
TABLE 14.3 SQL datatypes, macro expressions, and C datatypes (continued)

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 257

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 259

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

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DSQL PROGRAMMING METHODS

DSQL programming methods

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Does it have Processing method to

Is it a query? placeholders? use
No No Method 1
No Yes Method 2
Yes No Method 3
Yes Yes Method 4
TABLE 14.4 SQL statement strings and recommended processing methods

Method 1: Non-query statements without parameters

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char *str = "UPDATE DEPARTMENT SET BUDGET = BUDGET * 1.05";

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EXEC SQL
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE :str;
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EXEC SQL

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 261

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

EXECUTE IMMEDIATE
"UPDATE DEPARTMENT SET BUDGET = BUDGET * 1.05";

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char *str = "UPDATE DEPARTMENT SET BUDGET = BUDGET * 1.05";

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EXEC SQL
PREPARE SQL_STMT FROM :str;

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EXEC SQL
EXECUTE SQL_STMT;

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EXEC SQL
PREPARE SQL_STMT FROM
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Method 2: Non-query statements with parameters

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in_sqlda_version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
in_sqlda->sqln = 10;

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char *str = "UPDATE DEPARTMENT SET BUDGET = ?, LOCATION = ?";
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 263

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

EXEC SQL
PREPARE SQL_STMT FROM :str;
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if (in_sqlda->sqld > in_sqlda->sqln)
{
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free(in_sqlda);
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in_sqlda->sqln = n;
in_sqlda->version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
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DESCRIBE INPUT SQL_STMT USING SQL DESCRIPTOR in_sqlda;
}

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for (i=0, var = in_sqlda->sqlvar; i < in_sqlda->sqld; i++, var++)
{
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The parameter structure is pointed to by var.*/
dtype = (var->sqltype & ~1) /* drop NULL flag for now */

264 INTERBASE 5
DSQL PROGRAMMING METHODS

switch(dtype)
{
case SQL_VARYING: /* coerce to SQL_TEXT */
var->sqltype = SQL_TEXT;
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var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*var->sqllen);
. . .
break;
case SQL_TEXT:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*var->sqllen);
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. . .
break;
case SQL_LONG:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(long));
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*(long *)(var->sqldata) = 17;
break;
. . .
} /* End of switch statement. */
if (sqltype & 1)
{
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var->sqlind = (short *)malloc(sizeof(short));
}
} /* End of for loop. */

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EXECUTE SQL_STMT USING SQL DESCRIPTOR in_sqlda;

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 265

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

Method 3: Query statements without parameters

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out_sqlda->version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
out_sqlda->sqln = 10;

266 INTERBASE 5
DSQL PROGRAMMING METHODS

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char *str = "SELECT * FROM CUSTOMER";

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EXEC SQL
PREPARE SQL_STMT FROM :str;

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DESCRIBE OUTPUT SQL_STMT INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR out_sqlda;

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if (out_sqlda->sqld > out_sqlda->sqln)
{
n = out_sqlda->sqld;
free(out_sqlda);
out_sqlda = (XSQLDA *)malloc(XSQLDA_LENGTH(n));
out_sqlda->sqln = n;
out_sqlda->version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE OUTPUT SQL_STMT INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR out_sqlda;
}

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 267

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

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for (i=0, var = out_sqlda->sqlvar; i < out_sqlda->sqld; i++, var++)
{
dtype = (var->sqltype & ~1) /* drop flag bit for now */
switch (dtype)
{
case SQL_VARYING:
var->sqltype = SQL_TEXT;
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*var->sqllen + 2);
break;
case SQL_TEXT:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*var->sqllen);
break;
case SQL_LONG:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(long));
break;
. . .
/* process remaining types */
} /* end of switch statements */
if (sqltype & 1)
{
/* allocate variable to hold NULL status */
var->sqlind = (short *)malloc(sizeof(short));
}
} /* end of for loop */

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE DYN_CURSOR CURSOR FOR SQL_STMT;

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EXEC SQL
OPEN DYN_CURSOR;

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while (SQLCODE == 0)
{
EXEC SQL
FETCH DYN_CURSOR USING SQL DESCRIPTOR out_sqlda;
if (SQLCODE == 100)
break;
for (i = 0; i < out_sqlda->sqld; i++)
{
process_column(out_sqlda->sqlvar[i]);
}
}

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 269

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

void process_column(XSQLVAR *var)

{
/* test for NULL value */
if ((var->sqltype & 1) && (*(var->sqlind) = -1))
{
/* process the NULL value here */
}
else
{
/* process the data instead */
}
. . .
}

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EXEC SQL
CLOSE DYN_CURSOR;

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270 INTERBASE 5
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in_sqlda = (XSQLDA *)malloc(XSQLDA_LENGTH(10));

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in_sqlda->version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
in_sqlda->sqln = 10;

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 271

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

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out_sqlda = (XSQLDA *)malloc(XSQLDA_LENGTH(10));

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out_sqlda->version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
out_sqlda->sqln = 10;

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char *str = "SELECT * FROM DEPARTMENT WHERE BUDGET = ?, LOCATION = ?";

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EXEC SQL
PREPARE SQL_STMT FROM :str;

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EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE INPUT SQL_STMT USING SQL DESCRIPTOR in_sqlda;

272 INTERBASE 5
DSQL PROGRAMMING METHODS

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if (in_sqlda->sqld > in_sqlda->sqln)
{
n = in_sqlda->sqld;
free(in_sqlda);
in_sqlda = (XSQLDA *)malloc(XSQLDA_LENGTH(n));
in_sqlda->sqln = n;
in_sqlda->version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE INPUT SQL_STMT USING SQL DESCRIPTOR in_sqlda;
}

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for (i=0, var = in_sqlda->sqlvar; i < in_sqlda->sqld; i++, var++)
{
/* Process each XSQLVAR parameter structure here.
The parameter structure is pointed to by var.*/
dtype = (var->sqltype & ~1) /* drop flag bit for now */
switch (dtype)
{
case SQL_VARYING: /* coerce to SQL_TEXT */
var->sqltype = SQL_TEXT;
/* allocate proper storage */
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*var->sqllen);
/* provide a value for the parameter. See case SQL_LONG */
. . .
break;

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 273

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

case SQL_TEXT:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*var->sqllen);
/* provide a value for the parameter. See case SQL_LONG */
. . .
break;
case SQL_LONG:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(long));
/* provide a value for the parameter */
*(long *)(var->sqldata) = 17;
break;
. . .
} /* end of switch statement */
if (sqltype & 1)
{
/* allocate variable to hold NULL status */
var->sqlind = (short *)malloc(sizeof(short));
}
} /* end of for loop */

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EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE OUTPUT SQL_STMT INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR out_sqlda;

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if (out_sqlda->sqld > out_sqlda->sqln)
{
n = out_sqlda->sqld;
free(out_sqlda);
out_sqlda = (XSQLDA *)malloc(XSQLDA_LENGTH(n));
out_sqlda->sqln = n;
out_sqlda->version = SQLDA_VERSION1;
EXEC SQL
DESCRIBE OUTPUT SQL_STMT INTO SQL DESCRIPTOR out_sqlda;
}
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for (i=0, var = out_sqlda->sqlvar; i < out_sqlda->sqld; i++, var++)
{
dtype = (var->sqltype & ~1) /* drop flag bit for now */
switch (dtype)
{
case SQL_VARYING:
var->sqltype = SQL_TEXT;
break;
case SQL_TEXT:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(char)*var->sqllen);
break;
case SQL_LONG:
var->sqldata = (char *)malloc(sizeof(long));
break;
/* process remaining types */
} /* end of switch statements */
if (sqltype & 1)
{
/* allocate variable to hold NULL status */
var->sqlind = (short *)malloc(sizeof(short));
}
} /* end of for loop */

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 275

 CHAPTER 14 USING DYNAMIC SQL

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EXEC SQL
DECLARE DYN_CURSOR CURSOR FOR SQL_STMT;

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EXEC SQL
OPEN DYN_CURSOR USING SQL DESCRIPTOR in_sqlda;

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KHUHFDOOHGprocess_column() 
while (SQLCODE == 0)
{
EXEC SQL
FETCH DYN_CURSOR USING SQL DESCRIPTOR out_sqlda;
if (SQLCODE == 100)
break;
for (i = 0; i < out_sqlda->sqld; i++)
{
process_column(out_sqlda->sqlvar[i]);
}
}

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EXEC SQL
CLOSE DYN_CURSOR;

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276 INTERBASE 5
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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 277

 CHAPTER

Preprocessing, Compiling,
Chapter15
15
and Linking

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Using gpre
7KHV\QWD[IRUgpreLV
gpre [-language] [-options] infile [outfile]

279
 CHAPTER 15 PREPROCESSING, COMPILING, AND LINKING

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Switch Language
-c C
-cxx C++
TABLE 15.1 gpre language switches available on all platforms

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Switch Language
-al[sys] Ada (Alsys)
-a[da] Ada (VERDIX, VMS, Telesoft)
-ansi ANSI-85 COBOL
-co[bol] COBOL
-f[ortran] FORTRAN
-pa[scal] Pascal
TABLE 15.2 Additional gpre language switches

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gpre -c census.e

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Switch Description
-charset name Determines the active character set at compile time, where name is the
character set name.
-d[atabase] filename Declares a database for programs. filename is the file name of the database to
access. Use this option if a program contains SQL statements and does not
attach to the database itself. Do not use this option if the program includes a
database declaration.
-d_float VAX/VMS only. Specifies that double-precision data will be passed from the
application in D_FLOAT format and stored in the database in G_FLOAT format.
Data comparisons within the database will be performed in G_FLOAT format.
Data returned to the application from the database will be in D_FLOAT format.
-e[ither_case] Enables gpre to recognize both uppercase and lowercase. Use the
-either_case switch whenever SQL keywords appear in code in lowercase
letters. If case is mixed, and this switch is not used, gpre cannot process the
input file. This switch is not
necessary with languages other than C, since they are case-insensitive.
-m[anual] Suppresses the automatic generation of transactions. Use the
-m switch for SQL programs that perform their own transaction handling, and
for all DSQL programs that must, by definition, explicitly control their own
transactions.
-n[o_lines] Suppresses line numbers for C programs.
-o[utput] Directs gpre’s output to standard output, rather than to a file.
-password password Specifies password, the database password, if the program connects to a
database that requires one.
TABLE 15.3 gpre option switches

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 281

 CHAPTER 15 PREPROCESSING, COMPILING, AND LINKING

Switch Description
-r[aw] Prints BLR as raw numbers, rather than as their mnemonic equivalents. This
option cam be useful for making the gpre output file smaller; however, it will
be unreadable.
-sqlda [old | new] Argument old specifies SQLDA, new specifies XSQLDA. If this switch is not used,
the default is XSQLDA.
-user username Specifies username, the database user name, if the program connects to a
database that requires one.
-x handle Gives the database handle identified with the -database option an external
declaration. This option directs the program to pick up a global declaration
from another linked module. Use only if the -d switch is also used.
-z Print the version number of gpre and the version number of all declared
databases. These databases can be declared either in the program or with the
-database switch.
TABLE 15.3 gpre option switches (continued)

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Switch Description
-h[andles] pkg Specifies, pkg, an Ada handles package.
TABLE 15.4 Language-specific gpre option switches

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gpre -c appl1

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gpre -c appl1 -d mydb.gdb

282 INTERBASE 5
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Using a file extension to specify language

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Language Input file extension Default output file extension

Ada (VERDIX) ea a
Ada (Alsys, Telesoft) eada ada
C e c
C++ exx cxx
COBOL ecob cob
FORTRAN ef f
Pascal epas pas
TABLE 15.5 File extensions for language specification

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 283

 CHAPTER 15 PREPROCESSING, COMPILING, AND LINKING

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PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 285

 CHAPTER 15 PREPROCESSING, COMPILING, AND LINKING

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286 INTERBASE 5
 APPENDIX

InterBase Document
AppendixA
A
Conventions

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287
 APPENDIX A INTERBASE DOCUMENT CONVENTIONS

The InterBase documentation set

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Book Description
Operations Guide Provides an introduction to InterBase and an explanation of tools and
procedures for performing administrative tasks on databases and database
servers. Also includes full reference on InterBase utilities, including isql, gbak,
Server Manager for Windows, and others.
Data Definition Guide Explains how to create, alter, and delete database objects through ISQL.
Language Reference Describes SQL and DSQL syntax and usage.
Programmer’s Guide Describes how to write embedded SQL and DSQL database applications in a
host language, precompiled through gpre.
API Guide Explains how to write database applications using the InterBase API.
TABLE A.1 Books in the InterBase 5.0 documentation set

288 INTERBASE 5
PRINTING CONVENTIONS

Printing conventions
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indexes, and stored procedures.
italic New terms, emphasized words, file names, and The isc4.gdb security database is not accessible
host- language variables. without a valid user name and password.
bold Utility names, user-defined and host-language Use gbak to back up and restore a database.
function names. Function names are always
Use the datediff() function to calculate the number of
followed by parentheses to distinguish them days between two dates.
from utility names.
TABLE 1.2 Text conventions

PROGRAMMER’S GUIDE 289

 APPENDIX A INTERBASE DOCUMENT CONVENTIONS

Syntax conventions
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TABLE 1.3 Syntax conventions

290 INTERBASE 5
Index

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