Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

200.0. "Oracle SQL*plus vs VAX SQL" by MDVAX1::DUNCANG (Gerry Duncan @KCO) Thu Sep 22 1988 03:46

    We are very near to closing a sale of Rdb, SQL, and Rally to replace
    our favorite database vendor, Oracle.  I have shown the customer SQL,
    Rdb, and Rally (to replace SQL*forms) and I need some answers to some
    specific questions regarding Oracle SQL*plus functions  vs. Digital SQL
    functions. 

    Please, where possible, show VAX SQL examples that match these Oracle
    SQL*plus functions. 

    NOTE:: I'm also posting this note in the Rdb and Rdb competition notes
    files. 

    ==> SUBSTRING MANIPULATION:  Oracle has the ability to parse out pieces
    of a text field using a displacement,length approach.  This customer
    uses this function heavily to parse description fields into subfields
    and often uses them as foreign keys to other tables, etc. 

    ==> RTRIM/LTRIM AND FIELD PADDING: SQL*plus has parameters
    (RTRIM/LTRIM) which trim leading or trailing blanks from a field prior
    or during a store to the database.  I assume that padding works in a
    similar manner. They tell me that trimming the field saves them lots of
    disk space. 

    ==> SQL .COM AND PASSING PARAMETERS:  They have many .SQL files and
    pass parameters into the .SQL file which are resolved at execution
    time.  For example, a TEST.SQL file may have a substitution of a SELECT
    %1 FROM EMPLOYEE_TABLE where %1 is the value of parameter one when
    TEST.SQL is executed like this: 
    	
    	SQL> @TEST EMP_NAME 

    ==> DATE ARITHMETIC:  The customer wants SQL to be able to perform date
    manipulation such as SELECT ..... FROM .... WHERE (INVOICE_DATE + 1) IS
    ... 

    ==> CONCATENATED STRINGS:  They use portions of two or more fields
    (parsed with substring functions) and combine these strings together to
    form a key, foreign key, select value, etc. for further access to other
    tables, etc. 


    OTHER MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS:

    ==> What is the maximum number of columns that Rdb will support on a
    table ? On a database ?? 

    ==> What is the maximum number of characters per column ?? 


    Thanks for the help and response.

    Gerry Duncan @KCO
    DTN 452-3445
    
    

    ==> SUBSTRING MANIPULATION:
       In interactive SQL : No it is not possible.
       In Embedded SQL    : YES using different streams and 
                            doing the 3gl substring functions ie
    
       In Rally		  : YES using DSD and ADL-code to
    			    do the substring functions.
      
    ==> RTRIM/LTRIM AND FIELD PADDING:
       In interactive SQL : No it is not possible,
    			    however since RDB/VMS as default are compressing
    			    data in relations then trimming of field
                            values are NOT NECESSARY, and you would
                            as an extra bonus save disk-space if you
                            try to store 500 a's in a field (3-4 bytes
                            will be used).
    
       In Embedded SQL    : YES the 3gl trimming functions ie
       In Rally		  : YES as a field input option, meaning absolutely
                            no coding at all.

    ==> SQL .COM AND PASSING PARAMETERS:
       In interactive SQL : Using SQL as a foreign command could perhaps
                            do but I am not sure.
       In Embedded SQL    : YES 
    
       In Rally		  : YES using external links.
    
    ==> DATE ARITHMETIC:  
       In interactive SQL : No

       In Embedded SQL    : YES using the Run-time library
    
       In Rally		  : YES all date-arithmetic is built-in RALLY.
    
    

    ==> CONCATENATED STRINGS:
        YEP using the | (vertical line)    
    

    OTHER MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS:

    ==> What is the maximum number of columns that Rdb will support on a
    table ? On a database ?? 

        2000 colums per table and 32767 (or just about) tabels per database.

    ==> What is the maximum number of characters per column ?? 
    Either 32767 (or just about) using varchar or
    no limits using segmented strings.
    
    I hope this can be of some use.
    
    Lars