Re: stupid question

} } ----- Transcript of session follows ----- } 550 h3id1@carson... Host unknown } } ----- Unsent message follows ----- } Received: by hpbs3645.boi.hp.com } (1.38.193.4/15.5+IOS 3.22) id AA20598; Fri, 27 Jan 1995 11:09:20 -0700 } From: Jack Parker <jparker@hpbs3645.boi.hp.com> } Return-Path: <jparker@hpbs3645.boi.hp.com> } Message-Id: <9501271809.AA20598@hpbs3645.boi.hp.com> } Subject: Re: stupid question } To: h3id1@carson (Heidi) } Date: Fri, 27 Jan 95 11:09:19 MST } In-Reply-To: <3fta2a$657@news.u.washington.edu>; from "Heidi" at Jan 22, 95 9:55 am } Mailer: Elm [revision: 70.85] } } > } > } > } > } > I am really, really new with database and am learning it. } > There are some things I am still confused about. } > Can someone please shed a light on me? } > Ok, here we go: } > } > 1. What is the difference between isql and r4gl? } > Do they interact with each other when run, or what?? } > } > 2. Why do they need a temporary directory? What is it for? } > } > 3. What actually happens to the database when a program runs? } > Will it be that only certain tables are loaded, or everything } > is loaded into memory? } > } > I have the book INFORMIX-4GL by Example, but I can't find any } > information about those questions (well, ok, it's not stupid question, } > but stupid questionS ...:) } } There are no stupid questions. } } isql provides an interactive menu interface to the database, as well as an } SQL environment. } } 4gl is a programming language. r4gl is the development environment to } support that language (a menu from which you can do things). from r4gl } there is a menu option which invokes isql. } } If you want to write SQL code (and save it...) then you would pick isql. } If you want to write 4gl programs and compile them - then you pick r4gl. } } DBTEMP is where temporary files go. These are used for sorts when data } is read. } } The database itself is a file structure - none of it is read into memory } until you issue a SELECT command at which point the data you requested } with that SELECT is retrieved. } } I would highly recommend that you first read the tutorial or the users guide } before going on to the 4gl by example. You should also have a reference } manual for SQL and 4gl to answer the odd question that comes up. Finally } you might want to consider a course on databases in general and what they } are. Alternatively you can just hang out and ask questions as you need and } we'll answer them. I figure though, that you are going to have trouble } figuring out what questions to ask until you've got some foundation in } databases in general. Most of us could give it to you, but it would require } pages and pages of talk and I don't think any of us have the time for it. } } Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to be condescending - it's } part of my nature. All of us are happy to answer any questions you have and } help you in any way we can - don't worry about whether they are 'stupid' or } not - there are no stupid questions and if we had not had someone or something } to answer our questions way back when we wouldn't know what we're talking } about today anyway. } } cheers } j. _____________________________________________________________________________ Jack Parker - Hewlett Packard, BSMC Boise, Idaho, USA jparker@hpbs3645.boi.hp.com _____________________________________________________________________________ He who lives by the keyboard, dies by the keyboard. >thud< _____________________________________________________________________________ Any opinions expressed herein are my own and not those of my employers. _____________________________________________________________________________