Re: Informix knowledge needed

Sood_Niraj/SO@instru.fi wrote: > Hi everybody, >1. is it possible to do dynamic queries in stored procedures? I mean >that you could have you could make select clause so that field or table >name is an variable? = > > Example = > > DEFINE FIELD1 CHAR; > LET FIELD1 = parameter; > select * from FIELD1...; > execute procedure test(customer)> > In my experience this not supported, but are there any workarounds ? Only ugly worarounds - like a loooong IF statement, hoping you have covered all possible values. While sometimes necessary, this is lousy programming technique and best avoided. >2. Is it possible to execute LOAD-clause in stored procedure. The >manuals don't tell about it. I tried to compile sp with LOAD-clause but >I get syntax-errors. The LOAD and UNLOAD commands are not true SQL; they are utility command in dbaccess but are not known when you are down & dirty in SQL. Thus, in an ESQL program, the LOAD command gets you a pie in the face. In any language, if you try tp PREPARE a LOAD statement, you get more of the same. Similarly, the LOAD statement in SPL is useless. In all cases, the reason is the same: LOAD is not an SQL command. >3. One customer is asking following: Is it possible to do query with >boolean like this: > select 1 + (x=3) from my_table_containing_x_as_int Nope. As far as I know, Informix does not support a boolean type. I don't know if anyone does or if there is a SQL-standard boolean type. But this is based on a 7.1x version I am working with. Perhaps 7.2x does allow it. Maybe there is a way to create it Universal Server. I still don't know how the syntax could work to get past the basic parser. >4. Has anybody created stored procedures in NT which are executing >system commands. I tried to do without success. Informix compiles the >sp but during execution it fails. I'm running sp as Informix-user. I can't comment on the use of NT, since I don't have it in my shop. However, in general I get antsy when folks run an application as user informix. Even the DBA should not run apps, since it may violate business rule separation of functions. -- -- Jake (In pursuit of undomesticated semi-aquatic avians) +---------------------------------------------------------------+ |Insofar as manifestations of functional deficiencies are agreed| |by any and all concerned parties to be imperceivable, and are | |so stipulated, it is incumbent upon said heretofore mentioned | |parties to exercise the deferment of otherwise pertinent | |maintenance procedures. | +--------------------------------------- (www.hardyharhar.com) -+