Re: some questions about Informix

From: gmei@my-deja.com > >First of all, I have very little Informix experience but I have been >working on oracle for several years. Now our company is considering >support our product (currently running on oracle) on Informix also. >Before we make that decision, I would like to "confirm" or "know" if >Informix has certain features that we need for our product. I looked at >Informix website and some other places and read some articles, but I >could not find all the info I want. So I think I would post my questions >here and hope to get some "quick" answers. > >1. Informix has sequence number generation feature? In oracle, one could >create an "oracle sequence" and used it for a primary key column in a >table. Do I have to create a column in "serial" type in Informix to >accomplish this? You can also write a stored procedure or function to fake doing it the oracle way. >2. The last time I tried Informix Online(about 6 months ago), I seem to >running into an issue that my Foreign key constraint name is limited to >18 characters. Is this stillI the case? What is the limit of table name, >column nam and constraint name in the current version of Informix? If you use IDS.2000, you'll have access to 128 characters. >3. I know Informix support stored procedures and triggers. How about >packages (similar to oracle package)? What's that? Look into extensibility in IDS.2000, it might do what you want. >4. In oracle, the admin tools include Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), >Server Manager and SqlPlus. The last time I tried, Informix's admin tool >was web based. Is this still the case? Are there any "easy to use" yet >"powerful" admin tool(s) for Informix? There are several, including third party tools. DBaccess, ISA, Server Studio (http://www.agsltd.com), the Informix Client tools pack... >5. Is DBload an utility similar to oracle's SQL Loader? There's also HPL. >6. Are there any tools similar to oracle exp/imp utility? (dbexp/dbimp?) dbexport/dbimport, onunload/onload. >7. Last but not least, how people usually do backup of Informix db, >writing your own backup scripts or using some Informix backup tools? Informix supplies ontape which allows simple online archives, or onbar which integrates with an tape manager. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.