use   


Glossary

access management

A DirectConnect feature that provides connectivity to non-Sybase targets.

access service

The named set of properties, used with a DirectConnect Access Service Library, to which clients connect. Each DirectConnect server can have multiple services.

Access Service Library

A service library that provides access to non-Sybase data contained in a database management system or other type of repository. Each such repository is called a “target.” Each access service library interacts with exactly one target and is named accordingly. See also service library.

ACSLIB

See Access Service Library.

Adaptive Server

The server in the Sybase Client-Server architecture. It manages multiple databases and multiple users, tracks the actual location of data on disks, maintains mapping of logical data description to physical data storage, and maintains data and procedure caches in memory.

Administrative Service Library

A service library that provides remote management capabilities and server-side support. It supports a number of remote procedures (invoked as RPC requests) that enable remote DirectConnect management. See also remote procedure call and service library.

ADMLIB

See Administrative Service Library.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

The standard code used for information interchange among data processing systems, data communication systems, and associated equipment. The code uses a coded character set consisting of seven-bit coded characters (eight bits including a parity check).

API

See application program interface.

application program interface

A functional interface, supplied by an operating system or other licensed program, that allows an application program written in a high-level language to use specific data or functions of the operating system or the licensed program.

ASCII

See American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

ASE/CIS

Adaptive Server Enterprise / Component Integration Services (formerly OmniConnect). An add-on product for Adaptive Server that provides a Transact-SQL interface to external data sources, including host data files and tables in other database systems. OmniConnect replaces OmniSQL Gateway and OmniSQL Server.

bulk copy transfer

A transfer method in which multiple rows of data are inserted into a table in the target database. See also transfer. Compare with destination-template transfer.

call level interface

A programming style that calls database functions directly from the top level of the code. Usually it is contrasted with embedded SQL. See also dynamic SQL and embedded SQL.

catalog

A system table that contains information about objects in a database, such as tables, views, columns, and authorizations.

catalog stored procedure

A stored procedure that provides information about tables, columns, and authorizations. It is used in SQL generation and application development. See also stored procedures.

character set

A set of specific (usually standardized) characters with an encoding scheme that uniquely defines each character. ASCII is a common character set.

client

In client/server systems, the part of the system that sends requests to servers and processes the results of those requests. See also client/server. Compare with server.

client application

Software that is responsible for the user interface, including menus, data entry screens, and report formats. See also Client-Library.

Client-Library

A library of routines that is part of Open ClientConnect™. See also Open ClientConnect.

client/server

An architecture in which the client is an application that handles the user interface and local data manipulation functions, while the server provides data processing access and management for multiple clients. See also client, client application, and server.

clustered index

An index in which the physical order and the logical (indexed) order is the same. Compare with nonclustered index.

code set

See character set.

commit

An instruction to a database to make permanent all changes made to one or more database files since the last commit or rollback operation and to make the changed records available to other users. Compare with rollback.

configuration file

A file that specifies the characteristics of a system or subsystem.

configuration set

A section into which service library configuration files are divided.

connection specification

Information required to make an Open ClientConnect or Open ServerConnect™ connection. The connection specification consists of the server name, platform, Net-Library™ driver name, and address information required by the Net-Library driver being used.

conversion

The transformation between values that represent the same data item but which belong to different datatypes. Information can be lost due to conversion, because accuracy of data representation varies among different datatypes.

CSP

See catalog stored procedure.

CT-Library

See Client-Library.

data definition language

A language for describing data and data relationships in a database.

database management system

A computer-based system for defining, creating, manipulating, controlling, managing, and using databases.

datatype

A keyword that identifies the characteristics of stored information on a computer.

DB-Library

A Sybase and Microsoft API that allows client applications to interact with ODS applications. See also application program interface.

DBMS

See database management system.

DDL

See data definition language.

destination-template transfer

A transfer method in which source data is briefly put into a template where the user can specify that some action be performed on it before execution against a target database. See also transfer. Compare with bulk copy transfer.

DirectConnect

A Sybase solution that gives client applications ODBC data access. It combines the functionality of the DirectConnect architecture with ODBC to provide dynamic SQL access to target data, as well as the ability to support stored procedures and text and image pointers.

DirectConnect for DB2 UDB

A Sybase LAN-based solution that communicates with DB2 UDB mainframe host components. It incorporates the functionality of the MDI Database Gateway and the Sybase Net-Library, and includes LU 6.2 and TCP/IP support.

DirectConnect Manager

A Sybase application for Microsoft Windows that provides remote management capabilities for DirectConnect products. These capabilities include starting, stopping, creating, and copying services.

DirectConnect server

The component that provides general management and support functions (such as log file management) to service libraries.

DirectConnect Service

A named set of properties, used with a DirectConnect Service Library, to which clients connect.

DirectConnect AccessService Library

The component that provides a set of functions within the DirectConnect server environment.

dll

See dynamic link library.

dynamic link library

A file containing executable code and data bound to a program at load time or run time, rather than during linking. The code and data in a dynamic link library can be shared by several applications simultaneously.

dynamic SQL

A term pertaining to the preparation and processing of SQL source statements within a program while the program runs. The SQL source statements are contained in host-language variables rather than coded directly into the application program. Compare with static SQL.

ECDA for DB2 UDB

The data access product that provides access to DB2 UDB databases. Also known as DirectConnect for DB2 UDB.

ECDA for Informix

The data access product that provides access to Informix data sources. Also known as DirectConnect for Informix.

ECDA for Microsoft SQL Server

The data access product that provides access to Microsoft SQL Server data sources. Also known as DirectConnect for Microsoft SQL Server.

ECDA for Informix

The data access product that provides access to non-Sybase data sources. Also known as DirectConnect for ODBC.

embedded SQL

A SQL statement embedded within a source program and prepared before the program executes. After it is prepared, the statement itself does not change, although values of host variables specified within the statement can change.

Enterprise Connect Data Access (ECDA)

The name of the data access options that replaces the previous DirectConnect product names.

event handler

A device that processes requests and manages client communication.

global variable

System-defined variables that DirectConnect or the client application updates on an ongoing basis.

globalization

The combination of internationalization and localization. See also internationalization, localization.

interfaces file

An operating system file that must be available on each machine from which connections to DirectConnect for ODBC or other Sybase products are made. Each entry in the file determines how the host client software connects to the Sybase product.

internationalization

The process of extracting locale-specific components from the source code and moving them into one or more separate modules, making the code culturally neutral so it can be localized for a specific culture. See also globalization. Compare with localization.

keyword

A word or phrase reserved for exclusive use by Transact-SQL.

localization

The process of preparing an extracted module for a target environment, in which messages are displayed and logged in the user’s language. Numbers, money, dates, and time are represented using the user’s cultural convention, and documents are displayed in the user’s language. See also globalization. Compare with internationalization.

MDI Database Gateway

An MDI legacy product that gives client applications access to supported data sources, such as DB2 UDB.

Net-Library

A Sybase product that lets PC applications become clients of Adaptive Server or Open Server. See also client, Open Server.

nonclustered index

An index that stores key values and pointers to data. Compare with clustered index.

ODBC

See Open Database Connectivity.

ODS

See Open Data Services.

OmniConnect

The functionality incorporated into ASE as CIS, referred to as ASE/CIS. See ASE/CIS.

Open Client

A Sybase component of SDK that provides customer applications, third-party products, and other Sybase products with the interfaces required to communicate with Open Server and Open Server applications.

Open ClientConnect

A Sybase product that provides capability for the mainframe to act as a client to LAN-based resources.

Open Data Services

A product that provides a framework for creating server applications that respond to DB-Library clients. See also DB-Library.

Open Database Connectivity

A Microsoft API that allows access to both relational and nonrelational databases.

Open Server

A Sybase product that provides the tools and interfaces required to create a custom server.

Open ServerConnect

A Sybase product that provides capability for programmatic access to mainframe data.

parameter

A variable with a constant value for a specified application that can denote the application. Compare with property.

Partner Certification Reports

Sybase publications that certify third-party or Sybase products to work with other Sybase products.

precision

The maximum number of digits that can be represented in a decimal, numeric, or float column.

precision minus scale

The number of digits to the left of the decimal point.

primary database

In transfer processing, the database accessed by the access service in a transfer statement. Compare with secondary database.

property

A setting for a server or service that defines characteristics, such as how events are logged or how datatypes are converted. Compare with parameter.

protocol

A set of rules that governs the behavior of the computers communicating on a network.

Registry

The part of the Windows NT operating system that holds configuration information for a particular machine.

relational operators

Operators supported in search conditions.

relops

See relational operators.

remote procedure call

A stored procedure executed on a different server from the one onto which a user is logged or on which the initiating application resides.

remote systems management

A feature that allows a System Administrator to manage multiple DirectConnect servers and multiple services from a client.

request

One or more database operations an application sends as a unit to the database. During a request, the application gives up control to the DBMS and waits for a response. See also commit, rollback, and unit of work.

rollback

An instruction to a database not to implement the changes requested in a unit of work and to return to the pre-transaction state. See also transaction and unit of work. Compare with commit.

RPC

See remote procedure call.

scale

The maximum number of digits that can be stored to the right of the decimal point by a numeric or decimal datatype.

secondary connection

The connection specified in the transfer statement. It represents anything that can be accessed using Open ClientConnect, such as Adaptive Server or another access service.

secondary database

In transfer processing, the supported database that is specified in the transfer statement. Compare with primary database.

server

A functional unit that provides shared services to clients over a network. See also client/server. Compare with client.

server process ID

A positive integer that uniquely identifies a client connection to the server.

service

A functionality available to DirectConnect applications. It is the pairing of a service library and a set of specific configuration properties.

service library

A set of configuration properties that determines service functionality. Examples of service libraries include access service libraries and administrative service libraries. See also Access Service Library and Administrative Service Library.

service name redirection

A type of service name resolution that allows a System Administrator to map alternative connections to services. See also service name resolution. Compare with direct resolution.

service name redirection file

The default name of the file used for the service name redirection feature. See also service name redirection.

service name resolution

The DirectConnect server mapping of an incoming service name to an actual service. See also direct resolution, service name redirection.

SNRF

See service name redirection file.

Software Developer’s Kit (SDK)

The name of the product that contains Open Client/C, Open Client ESQL C, Open Client ESQL COBOL, language modules, jConnect for JDBC, JRE, and ODBC, OLE DB, and ADO.NET (for Windows).

SPID

See server process ID.

SQL

See structured query language.

SQL descriptor area

A set of variables used in the processing of SQL statements.

SQL stored procedure

A single SQL statement that is statically bound to the database. See also stored procedures.

SQLDA

See SQL descriptor area.

sqledit

A utility for creating and editing sql.ini files and file entries.

sql.ini

The interfaces file containing definitions for each DirectConnect server to which a workstation can connect. See also interfaces file.

statement

A single SQL operation, such as select, update, or delete.

static SQL

SQL statements that are embedded within a program and prepared before the program runs. The statement itself does not change, although values of host variables specified by the statement can change. Compare with dynamic SQL.

stored procedures

A collection of SQL statements and optional control-of-flow statements stored under a particular name. See also Catalog Stored Procedure, SQL stored procedure, and system stored procedure.

structured query language

An IBM industry-standard language for processing data in a relational database.

Sybase SQL Server

See Adaptive Server.

System Administrator

The user in charge of server system administration. For DirectConnect, the user responsible for installing and maintaining DirectConnect servers and DirectConnect service libraries.

system stored procedure

A Sybase-supplied stored procedure that returns information about the access service and the target database. See also stored procedures.

table

An array of data or a named data object that contains a specific number of unordered rows. Each item in a row can be identified unambiguously by means of one or more arguments.

Tabular Data Stream

An application-level protocol that Sybase clients and servers use to communicate.

target

A system, program, or device that interprets and replies to requests received from a source.

target database

The database to which DirectConnect transfers data or performs operations on specific data.

TDS

See Tabular Data Stream.

transaction

An exchange between a program on a local system and a program on a remote system that accomplishes a particular action or result.

Transact-SQL

A Sybase-enhanced version of the SQL database language used to communicate with Adaptive Server.

transfer

A DirectConnect feature that allows users to move data or copies of data from one database to another. See also bulk copy transfer and destination-template transfer.

trigger

A form of stored procedure that automatically executes when a user issues a change statement to a specified table.

T-SQL

See Transact-SQL.

unit of work

One or more database operations grouped under a commit or rollback. A unit of work ends when an application commits or rolls back a series of requests, or when the application terminates. See also commit, rollback, and transaction.

view

An alternative representation of data from one or more tables. A view can include all or some of the columns contained in the table or tables on which it is defined.

wildcard

A special character that represents a range of characters in a search pattern.





Copyright © 2005. Sybase Inc. All rights reserved.  

View this book as PDF