Re: compression

Chuck Ott wrote: > > Is there anyway to use some sort of compression on a database (other than > varchar datatypes). For example, if I have null values in char fields, it > appears that the fields are still the defined length of the char datatype. No. Now it may change, but the current versions of Online, SE use fixed length records. (Blobs and VarChars not included.) If you think about this, it makes data access really, really fast. A simplistic example is an SE record. If I want to access record N, I just jump N*(Record Length) from the TOF (top of file). Conceptually, Turbo took this and said, lets do the same thing, but control the IO process instead of incuring UNIX File systems overhead. (Then additional features and enhancements took their natural course.) While this may change as Informix becomes more OO in its storage of data, it currently holds true. Any official comments? HTH -Uncle Mikey -- #include <std_disclaimer.h> /* Mike Segel (MS385) */ #include <No_Spam.h> #ifdef OFFENDED_BY_CONTENT The author takes no responsibility for this post. Any resemblence to a coherent rational thought is purely coincidence. -The Management. #endif ***************************** Due to AGIS's Refusal to Act Responsibly We are blocking all of their domains at the packet level. This block will exist until AGIS modifies their policies to conform to existing RFCs and net community standards. We encourage all ISPs and domain holders to do the same. *****************************