SOLID Server
Programmer's Guide and Reference

• WELCOME
  • This Guide
  • Audience
  • Document Conventions
  • Other Solid Documentation
  • Where to Find Additional Information

• Currently Supported ODBC Functions: SOLID ODBC Driver supports the Core level,
  Level 1 and part of Level 2.

WELCOME

SOLID Server^TM 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:

• A working knowledge of the C programming language.

• General DBMS knowledge and a familiarity with SQL.

Document Conventions

This manual uses the following typographic conventions.

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

• SOLID Server Administrator's Guide describes the administrative procedures and gives information about SOLID SQL functionality.

• SOLID Server Programmer’s Guide and Reference contains basic information about using the SOLID SQL API directly, e.g., from C language, and how to exploit the advanced features of SOLID Server. It also provides the SOLID SQL API function reference.

Electronic Documentation

• Read Me contains installation instructions and additional information about the specific product version. This readme.txt file is typically on the first SOLID Server diskette.

• Release Notes contains additional information about the specific product version. This relnotes.txt file is typically on the SOLID Server diskettes and will be copied onto your system when you install the software.

• SOLID Remote Control^TM Help tells you how to use the SOLID Remote Control administration program to perform the easy steps to manage your SOLID Servers.

• SOLID SQL Editor^TM Help tells you how to use the SOLID SQL Editor, a tool for executing SQL queries and commands.

• SOLID Server Administrator's Guide is available electronically in either Windows Help or HTML format.

• SOLID Server Programmer’s Guide and Reference is available electronically in either Windows Help and HTML format.

Where to Find Additional Information

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

• Database Language — SQL with Integrity Enhancement, ANSI, 1989 ANSI X3.135-1989.

• X/Open and SQL Access Group SQL CAE specification (1992).

• Database Language — SQL: ANSI X3H2 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC21/WG3 9075:1992 (SQL-92).

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

• Date, C. J.: A Guide to the SQL Standard (Addison-Wesley, 1989).

• Emerson, Sandra L., Darnovsky, Marcy, and Bowman, Judith S.: The Practical SQL Handbook (Addison-Wesley, 1989).

• Groff, James R. and Weinberg, Paul N.: Using SQL (Osborne McGraw-Hill, 1990).

• Gruber, Martin: Understanding SQL (Sybex, 1990).

• Hursch, Jack L. and Carolyn J.: SQL, The Structured Query Language (TAB Books, 1988).

• Melton, Jim and Simon, Alan R.: Understanding the new SQL: a complete guide (Morgan Kaufmann, 1993).

• Pascal, Fabian: SQL and Relational Basics (M & T Books, 1990).

• Trimble, J. Harvey, Jr. and Chappell, David: A Visual Introduction to SQL (Wiley, 1989).

• Van der Lans, Rick F.: Introduction to SQL (Addison-Wesley, 1988).

• Vang, Soren: SQL and Relational Databases (Microtrend Books, 1990).

• Viescas, John: Quick Reference Guide to SQL (Microsoft Corp., 1989).

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