SQL++

Objectivity/DB+ provides a complete ANSI-standard SQL interface.

SQL++ support means powerful access to Objectivity/DB object databases using readily available SQL-compliant tools running on a number of Windows and Unix platforms.

SQL3 object extensions support Objectivity/DB's expanded modeling and object database capabilities are included. Objectivity/DB+ requests can use ANSI-standard SQL and object extensions for inheritance, relationships, and methods as well as non-SQL data types such as arrays.

The Objectivity/DB+ API can be used for applications developed with Objectivity/C++ that require ad hoc query access. The API includes a library of ODBC function calls for connecting to the object database, executing SQL statements, and retrieving results, as well as a standard set of error codes and data types.

Objectivity/DB supports SQL++ in two ways

SQL-compliant server application
ODBC Driver (available for Windows clients)

Objectivity/DB server application:

Objectivity/DB+ is primarily an ODBC server application that interprets and executes SQL requests, mapping them to Objectivity/DB objects and classes. It also includes two additional mechanisms for submitting SQL requests to Objectivity/DB databases. First, Interactive SQL++ (ISQL) provides an environment for processing ad hoc SQL queries from a command-line or text file. Second, an API is included that allows SQL statements to be embedded within Objectivity/C++ applications. This flexibility allows you to select the appropriate tool for providing SQL access into Objectivity/DB databases.

Objectivity/DB contains an SQL database interface engine adapted to the Objectivity/DB object database under license from Dharma Systems, Inc. SQL statements are interpreted by the engine, which maps SQL commands to objects managed anywhere in the network by Objectivity/DB, executes the request, and passes results back to the application or tool making the request. Excellent performance is achieved by using associations to accelerate joins.

ODBC driver (for Windows clients):

The Objectivity/DB+ ODBC Driver is a separately packaged product, and is required to access Objectivity/DB from ODBC-compliant tools. Objectivity/DB+ ODBC uses the ODBC server in Objectivity/DB+ to define, query and update Objectivity/DB databases.

SQL++ Object Extensions

The SQL++ Object Extensions allow access to Objectivity/DB objects through simple extensions to SQL that are consistent with C++ and the SQL3 standard, including:

Access to all C++ data members or only those in the public interface through data member scooping
Query access to the inherited attributes of an object as well as those defined in its class, supporting the C++ inheritance model
Support for complex objects with user-defined structures. Object member fields are accessed using C++ dot notation, consistent with the Object Database Management Group (ODMG) specification for Object Query Language (OQL)
Support for references to other objects via relationships
Support for text and numeric arrays (both fixed and variable)
Use of C++ operations as SQL operators
Constraining specific operations (SELECT, DELETE, UPDATE) to individual databases or groups of objects within the federation of Objectivity/DB object databases.

SUMMARY:

Features

Compliant with Microsoft ODBC Level 2 specifications
Full support for 1989 ANSI SQL
Support for all 1992 ANSI SQL Entry Level and many Intermediate Level features
Automatically maps standard SQL commands to objects
SQL3 object extensions for methods, inheritance, nested structures, extents, and object Ids
Standard SQL commands can be executed in C++ applications
Microsoft ODBC API with full Level 2 compliance
Works with ODBC-compliant report writers and query tools
SQL access to information created by object-oriented C++ and Java applications.

Benefits

Provides full support for an industry-standard database query language
Provides standard database security
Enables users to build applications with a wide variety of SQL/ODBC client/server application development tools
Provides easy access to Objectivity/DB information
Allows developers access to the full power of an object database [ODBMS] using SQL
Eases migration to Objectivity/DB for RDBMS users and developers
Easy report generation and ad hoc queries
Provides sophisticated end users with customized access to Objectivity/DB information without programming.