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SOLID Server
Programmer's Guide and Reference



WELCOME


SOLID ServerTM is the database server for your new applications and products.

It is extremely easy to set up, and has a small footprint. Its maintenance is care-free, requiring little or no administration. It is perfectly suited to be distributed in countless copies.

And it is full of high-power technology.

SOLID Server offers high performance within SQL standards. It is easy to embed in your applications. It is fully scaleable from small mobile devices to heavy-weight multiprocessing environments. It provides the features you would expect to find in an industrial-strength database server. Multithread architecture, stored procedures, row level transaction management - you name it.

Database Technology Made Easy.

This Guide

This Programmer's Guide and Reference contains information about using SOLID SQL API and how to exploit the advanced features of SOLID Server.

SOLID SQL API is the native call level interface of SOLID DBMS. SOLID SQL API is based on the SQL Access Group's CLI specification, a standard dynamic call level interface. The SQL syntax used in SOLID Server is based on the ANSI X3.135-1989 level 2 standard including important ANSI X3.135-1992 (SQL2) extensions. Developers have also the option of accessing SQL SQL API through ODBC API in the Windows (3.x, NT and 95) environments. ODBC provides a single interface for SQL queries to access a variety of relational and non-relational databases.

Even though this manual is written from the viewpoint of ODBC application developers, most the information applies also to development of applications that access SOLID SQL API directly.

This guide is divided into following parts:

Introduction to Programming Interfaces

Theory of Operation, provides conceptual information about SOLID SQL API and the ODBC interface.

A Short History of SQL, a brief history of Structured Query Language.

Developing Applications

Guidelines for Calling Functions, contains information for developing applications using the SOLID SQL API.

Basic Application Steps, describing the basic flow of control for connecting, executing SQL statements, and retrieving results.

Connecting to a Data Source, briefly describes data sources and hot to establish a connection to a data source.

Executing SQL Statements, describes different ways to specify and execute SQL statements.

Retrieving Results, describes how applications can retrieve results of executed SQL statements.

Retrieving Status and Error Information, explains the error handling.

Terminating Transactions and Connections, describes how transactions and connections are terminated.

Constructing an Application, contains examples of applications.

Using SOLID Server, contains information for developing applications using advanced features of SOLID Server.

SOLID SQL API Reference

Function Summary, summarizes the functions.

Function Reference, describing each function (syntax and semantic information) in alphabetical order.

Appendixes

The Appendixes give additional information about programming interfaces including Error Codes, State Transition Tables, SQL Grammar, Data Types, Comparison between Embedded SQL and ODBC and Scalar Functions.

Audience

This manual assumes:

Document Conventions

This manual uses the following typographic conventions.

Format

Used for

WIN.INI

Uppercase letters indicate filenames, SQL statements, macro names, and terms used at the operating-system command level.

RETCODE SQLFetch(hdbc)

This font is used for sample command lines and program code.

argument

Italicized words indicate information that the user or the application must provide, or word emphasis.

SQLTransact

Bold type indicates that syntax must be typed exactly as shown, including function names.

[ ]

Brackets indicate optional items; if in bold text, brackets must be included in the syntax.

|

A vertical bar separates two mutually exclusive choices in a syntax line.

{}

Braces delimit a set of mutually exclusive choices in a syntax line; if in bold text, braces must be included in the syntax.

...

An ellipsis indicates that arguments can be repeated several times.

.
.
.

A column of three dots indicates continuation of previous lines of code.

Other Solid Documentation

SOLID Server documentation is distributed both as printed material and as Windows Help or HTML files.

Solid Online Services on our Web server offer the latest product and technical information free of charge. The service is located at:
http://www.solidtech.com/

Printed Manuals

Electronic Documentation

Where to Find Additional Information

For more information about SQL, the following standards are available:

In addition to standards and vendor-specific SQL guides, there are many books that describe SQL, including:

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