Re: Use of 'here' documents with isql

In message <1993Apr13.112844.26750@pyra.co.uk> graeme@pyramid.com (Graeme Sargent) writes: -> ->In <1993Apr12.203337.15025@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> ijk@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (ihor.j.kinal) writes: -> ->>For many years, we've used here documents to query and ->>even update records within Informix Turbo/Online databases. -> -><STUFF DELETED> -> ->>Occasionally, we run into a problem with the above approach(es), ->>and the current Informix position is that "it's not a documented ->>use of isql - therefore it's not a(n Informix) problem". -> ->>Now, checking my documentation, I indeed cannot find any that ->>specifically permits this use. I was wondering if anyone knew ->>of any Informix documentation where this use of isql was ->>supported. -> ->I'm fairly sure it was documented at 1.00.00 thru 2.10.03 but I no ->longer have access to documentation that old. I think it may well have ->been in the blue version of the 4.00 manual also, but I had not noticed ->that it had gone AWOL from the new-style doc. I also can't find any ->reference to the -d -f -r -q -t -u arguments. I consider this to be a ->documentation bug, otherwise they should have documented that these ->features were no longer supported. -> ->You could try pointing out that it IS effectively documented by its ->usage in the demo script $INFORMIXDIR/bin/isqldemo! -> ->graeme -> I believe that the supported syntax is: isql [dbname] [filename] where filename refers to filename.sql; i.e., don't specify the '.sql' extension in the 'isql' command. This may be less convenient than 'here' documents, since one cannot substitute $1 type arguments as easily. Unfortunately, I cannot find this usage described in the documents, either! I concur with Graeme, in that the newer documentation is deficient. There is no reference that I can find to command line flags/arguments. I don't know whether the usage of such arguments is being phased out, or what. However, it IS difficult to document the REMOVAL of something: That is normally documented in the release notes, and who keeps those bloody awful things?!? As a programmer, I am a little (but ONLY a little) sympathetic to Informix regarding (non-)support for undocumented features. I will sometimes include an undocumented feature in a program, for my own diagnostic or debugging use, and NOT want to support that feature's usage by others. HOWEVER, it is hypocritical of Informix to try to hold this position when their own demo program uses the feature in question. As Graeme states, usage in the demo effectively documents the feature. Regards, Alan +------------------------------+---------------------------------------+ | R. Alan Popiel | Internet: alan@den.mmc.com | | Martin Marietta, LSC | ( Please note: My opinions do not ) | | P.O. Box 179, M/S 5422 | ( represent official Martin policy. ) | | Denver, Colorado 80201-0179 | Voice: 303-977-9998 | +------------------------------+---------------------------------------+