mi_integer 
mi_key_opclass(MI_AM_KEY_DESC *keyDesc, mi_integer keyNum)
mi_string * 
mi_key_opclass_name(
   MI_AM_KEY_DESC *keyDesc, mi_integer keyNum)

keyDesc

points to the key descriptor.

keyNum

specifies the column number of a key in a composite-key index or 0 for a single-key index.

An operator class consists of the strategy and support functions with which the access method manages a particular data type. To determine which operator class to use for a particular key, identify the key as an argument to mi_key_opclass() or mi_key_opclass_name(). To obtain the operator class identifier number, call mi_key_opclass(). To obtain the operator class name, call mi_key_opclass_name().

Identifying the Key

The integer argument keyNum identifies the column number in the index entry. A one-column index contains only keyNum 0. A two-column key contains keyNum 0 and 1. To determine the number of columns in a key, call mi_key_nkeys().

Identifying the Operator Class

The access method can execute mi_key_opclass() or mi_key_opclss_name() for each column in a multiple-column key because the columns do not necessarily all use the same operator class. A CREATE INDEX statement can assign different operator classes to individual columns in a multiple-column key. The following example defines an index with multiple operator classes:

CREATE OPCLASS str_ops FOR video_am
   STRATEGIES (lessthan(char, char), lessthanorequal(char, char), 
            equal(char, char), 
            greaterthanorequal(char, char), greaterthan(char, char))
   SUPPORT(compare)
CREATE OPCLASS int_ops FOR video_am
   STRATEGIES (lessthan(int, int), lessthanorequal(int, int),
         equal(int, int), 
         greaterthanorequal(int, int), greaterthan(int,int))
   SUPPORT(compare)

CREATE TABLE videos (title char(50), year int, copies int)
CREATE INDEX vidx ON videos (title str_ops, year int_ops) USING video_am

As the access-method creator, you must assign a default operator class for the access method. To assign a default operator class, set the am_defopclass purpose value with the ALTER ACCESS_METHOD statement. If the CREATE INDEX statement does not specify the operator class to use, the mi_key_opclass() or mi_key_opclass_name() function specifies the default operator class.

For mi_key_opclass(), a positive return value identifies the operator class in the sysopclass system catalog table. A return value of -1 indicates that the function passed an invalid keyNum value.

For mi_key_opclass_name(), a non-NULL pointer identifies the name of the operator class. A return value of null indicates that the function passed an invalid keyNum value.

See the description of:

• The am_defopclass purpose value in Setting Purpose Functions, Flags, and Values
• Accessor function mi_key_nkeys()