Manage Function Strings

Each destination Replication Server uses function strings to convert the functions to commands that are appropriate for the destination data server (such as Adaptive Server) before it submits these commands.

See Replication Server Administration Guide Volume 1 > Replication Server Technical Overview for more information about DSI threads, the components that perform this conversion at the replicate Replication Server.

See Replication Server Reference Manual for complete command syntax and permissions.

• Function Strings and Function-string Classes
  If you do not require customized function strings, you can use one of the system-provided function-string classes to provide default function strings. If you require class-scope or replication definition-scope customized strings, you must use the system-provided class—rs_sqlserver_function_class—in which you can customize function strings or create a derived or base function-string class.
• Function-string Input and Output Templates
  To customize function strings, you alter their input and output templates.
• Output Templates
  Replication Server uses output templates to determine the format of the command sent to a data server. You can alter output templates to customize function strings.
• Input Templates
  Input templates are used only for non-bulk materialization and for dematerialization with purge—those situations where Replication Server must select data to add or delete from selected tables.
• Function-string Variables
  You can use variables embedded in function-string input or output templates as symbolic markers for various runtime values.
• Create Function Strings
  Use the create function string command to add a function string to a function-string class or for a target database.
• Alter Function Strings
  The alter function string command replaces an existing function string.
• Drop Function Strings
  To discard a customized function string in a derived class and restore the function string from the parent class, drop the function string.
• Restore Default Function Strings
  To restore the Adaptive Server default function string for a system function with replication definition scope, omit the output clause in the create function string or alter function string command.
• Create Empty Function Strings with the Output Template
  You can create an empty function string—one that performs no action—by including the output language clause with the none option.
• Define Multiple Commands in a Function String
  You can use function strings to batch commands for database servers.
• Command Batching for Non-ASE Servers
  Replication Server lets you batch commands for non-ASE database servers, which may improve performance.
• Use Declare Statements in Language Output Templates
  To include declare statements, used to define local variables, in the language output templates, make sure that the batch configuration parameter is set to “off” for the Replication Server connected to the database.