Ingres® 2006 - SQL Reference Guide

Peter Kitson

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Sample Chapter From Ingres® 2006 - SQL Reference Guide
     Copyright © Ingres Corporation



Chapter 2: Introducing SQL


This chapter provides an overview of SQL, including an introduction to interactive and embedded SQL statements. This chapter also describes the features and extensions of SQL and the database management system (DBMS).

SQL Functionality

SQL statements enable you to:
  •   Manipulate database objects—Create, modify, and destroy a variety of database objects, such as tables, views, indexes, and database procedures.
  •   Manipulate data—Select, insert, update, and delete data in database tables.
  •   Manage groups of statements as transactions—Process a group of database statements as a single transaction. Transaction management includes the ability to undo (roll back) a transaction, either in whole or in part.
  •   Perform other database management functions—Set runtime options, copy data between tables and files, modify the characteristics of a database table, and perform many other database management functions.

Types of SQL Statements

SQL statements are categorized according to the task performed:

Data Definition Language (DDL)
Creates or deletes objects such as tables, indexes, and database
procedures.
Data Manipulation Language (DML)
Allows data manipulation in tables.

SQL Releases

SQL statements come in two releases:

Interactive SQL
SQL statements are entered from a terminal and query results display on the terminal screen.

Embedded SQL
SQL statements can be included in programming languages such as C or Fortran.

Interactive SQL

Interactive SQL statements are entered through the Terminal Monitor.

Line-Based Terminal Monitors

The line-based Terminal Monitor accepts SQL statements in a line-oriented style. The line-based Terminal Monitor is invoked by typing sql at the operating system prompt.

For a complete discussion of the line-based Terminal Monitor, see the appendix “Terminal Monitors.”

The Help SQL statement displays information about SQL statements and about tables, views, and other database objects. A complete list of help options is provided in the chapter “Using SQL Statements.”

Forms Based Terminal Monitor

The forms-based Terminal Monitor accepts SQL statements in a screenoriented style. The forms based Terminal Monitor is invoked by typing isql at the operating system prompt.

Embedded SQL

Embedded SQL statements can be embedded in a procedural (3GL) programming language. The procedural language is referred to as the host language.