Informix SQL introduction (1)

I. Introduction

1) INFORMIX consists of three main products:
 Database Server (Database Core)
 Application development tools
 Network Database interconnection Products

2) The database server provides two functions: Data Operations and Management:
 SE: It is fully UNIX-based and mainly applicable to applications with fewer Non-multimedia users.
ONLINE: ONLINE transaction processing and multimedia application environments for a large number of users

3) application development tools are the necessary environments and tools for developing applications. There are also two main series:

4GL: the traditional character interface-based development tool of INFORMIX. There are five main products in this series, they are I-SQL, 4GL RDS, 4GL C COMPILER, 4GL ID and ESQL/C;

NewEra: The latest event-driven, object-oriented development tool provided by INFORMIX based on a variety of graphical interfaces.

4) INFORMIX Network Database interconnection products: provide users with application interfaces based on a variety of industrial standards, through which they can be connected to other databases that comply with these industrial standards.

2. Introduction to I-SQL menu

Form can be executed, created, modified, compiled, or deleted
Run to execute an existing screen format
Modify: Modify the specified existing screen format
Generate creates a default screen format for the specified table
Compile compiles a set screen format
New creates a specific user screen format
Drop delete an existing Format File
Exit to Exit Form menu
Reports can be executed, created, modified, compiled, or deleted.
Run to execute a report
Modify a specified report
Generate creates a default report for a table
Create a report specified by the user
Compile a specified report using Compile
Drop to delete a specified existing report
Exit to Exit the Report menu
For more information about Query-Language, see dbaccess.
User-menu can be executed, created, or modified.
Run to Run the user menu of the current database
Modify allows users to create or Modify user menus
Exit to Exit the User-menu
For details about Database, see dbaccess.
For more information about Table, see dbaccess.
Exit to Exit the utility isqlrf (or isql)

Iii. Common Operations

Create database: ISQL = "DATABASE =" CREATE = "enter the name of the new DATABASE
Create a table: ISQL = "TABLE =" CREATE = "enter the name of the TABLE to be created =" ADD = "enter the name and type of the field to be created =" EXIT =" BUILD-NEW-TABLE
Generate the default table format: ISQL = FORM = GENERATE = select database = enter TABLE name = select TABLE = TABLE-SELECTION-COMPLETE ----- compile succeeded = RUN

4. Use RDSQL (Interactive Query Language) to write SQL statements

Method: ISQL =, Query Langavage =, NEW =, RUN

Create a database
Create database Name

Create a table (format and optional data type)
Basic Format:
Create table Name
(Field name type,
Field name type,
Field name type );
Detailed definition: create table Name
(COL1 integer not null,
COL2 CHAR (2) CHECK (COL2 IN ("?", "?" )),
COL3 date default today,
COL4 smallint unique,
Field name type)
Fragment by round robin (by expression) IN DB1, DB2
Extent size 1000 next size 600
With no log (LOG; buffered log; log mode ansi)
Lock mode row (PAGE );