Data Types

DB Access Module for Sybase User's Guide
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2.3 Data Types

The classes RWDBColumn and RWDBValue have an associated RWDBValue::ValueType that specifies the data type of the database column or field being referenced. Mapping between this data type and the database vendor type runs in both directions:

When fetching data or retrieving information about tables, the DB Access Module for Sybase converts the Sybase-specific data type information provided by the database into RWDBValue::ValueTypes. This mapping is shown in Table 1, which also gives the C++ data type corresponding to the RWDBValue::ValueType.
When creating tables, the DB Access Module for Sybase maps the given RWDBValue::ValueType into a Sybase-specific type. This mapping is shown in Table 2.

The RWDBValue::ValueTypes, accessible through the type() method, are uniform across all Access Modules. For a complete explanation of the DB Interface Module data model, see Chapter 7, "The Data Model," in the DB Interface Module User's Guide, and RWDBValue in the SourcePro C++ API Reference Guide.

Table 1: Data Type mapping when retrieving data

Adaptive Server Data Type	RWDBValue::ValueType	C++ Data Type
`char(n)` `varchar(n)` `text`	`String`	*RWCString*
`nchar(n)` `nvarchar(n)`	`MBString`¹	*RWDBMBString*1
`unichar(n)`, `univarchar(n)` `unitext`	`UString`	*RWBasicUString* or *RWUString* *RWUString*
`binary(n)` `varbinary(n)` `image` `timestamp`	`Blob`	*RWDBBlob*
`bit` `tinyint` `smallint`	`Short`	`short int`
`int`	`Long`	`long int`
`decimal(p,0) p <= 9` `numeric(p,0) p <= 9`	`Long`	`long int`
`decimal(p,0) 10 <= p < 19` `numeric(p,0) 10 <= p < 19`	`LongLong`	`long long`
`decimal(p,0) p >= 19` `numeric(p,0) p >= 19`	`Decimal`	*RWDecimalPortable*
`decimal(p,s)` `numeric(p,s)`	`Decimal`	*RWDecimalPortable*
`float(p)` `double precision`	`Double`	`double`
`real`	`Float`	`float`
`money` `smallmoney`	`Decimal`	*RWDecimalPortable*
`datetime` `smalldatetime`²	`DateTime`	*RWDBDateTime³ RWDateTime*

The Sybase Adaptive Server usertype value, when available, is used to differentiate standard and national character strings. See Section 2.10 on internationalization.
Values of type datetime and smalldatetime are affected by the time zone setting on either RWDBDatabase or RWDBConnection while sending and retrieving data. The time zone setting can be set programmatically with the timeZone() method in each of these classes.
RWDBDateTime is now deprecated. Please use RWDateTime.

Table 2: Data Type mapping when creating tables

RWDBValue::ValueType	Adaptive Server Data Type
`Char` `UnsignedChar` `Tiny` `UnsignedTiny`	`tinyint`
`String`	if 0 < `length` <= 255, `varchar` using the `storageLength` of the *RWDBColumn*, otherwise `text`
`WString` `MBString`	if 0 < `length` <= 255, `nvarchar` using the `storageLength` of the *RWDBColumn*, otherwise `text`
`UString`	`univarchar`, using the `storageLength` of the *RWDBColumn*
`Blob`	if 0 < `length` <= 255, `varbinary` using the `storageLength` of the *RWDBColumn*, otherwise `image`
`Short` `UnsignedShort`	`smallint`
`Int` `UnsignedInt`	`int`
`Long` `UnsignedLong`	`int`
`Float`	`real`
`Double`	`float(p)`, using precision of column
`Decimal`	`money` or `decimal(p,s)` using precision and scale of column. See below.
`Date` `DateTime`	`datetime`
`Duration`	Not supported by the Sybase client

2.3.1 Restrictions on the Use of Data Types

Sybase Open Client Client-Library and Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise place restrictions on the use of certain data types. Where possible, the DB Interface Module is flexible about data types. However, there are some situations where conversions are not possible, and in these cases your application must be aware of the contexts in which certain data types can be used. Table 3 outlines the restrictions associated with each DB Interface Module type.

Table 3: Restrictions on the use of DB Interface Module data types

RWDBValue::ValueType	Restrictions
`Char` `UnsignedChar`	No restrictions.
`String` `WString` `MBString` `UString`	Not supported on *RWDBBoundExpr* if string size is bigger than 16384 bytes.
`Blob`	Not supported on RWDBBoundExpr.
`Short` `UnsignedShort`	No restrictions.
`Int` `UnsignedInt`	No restrictions.
`Long` `UnsignedLong`	No restrictions.
`Double`	No restrictions.
`Float`	No restrictions.
`Decimal`	The precision and scale of a value can vary depending on the version of the Sybase client and server. Consistent versions of clients and servers can eliminate difficulties in conversions.
`Date`	No restrictions.
`DateTime`	Accuracy limited to 3.33 milliseconds by Sybase.
`Duration`	Not supported by the Sybase client
`LongLong` `UnsignedLongLong`	Table creation not supported.
`LongDouble`	No restrictions.

2.3.2 Using Identity Columns

Sybase Adaptive Servers support identity columns. Identity columns can be used within the DB Interface Module, subject to the restrictions specified by the Sybase documentation. For more information, see the Transact-SQL User's Guide.

Applications can create tables with identity columns by providing the native SQL statement, and execute it using RWDBConnection::executeSql().

Applications can also acquire the schema of a table that contains an identity column. The schema will return identity columns as RWDBValue::Decimal data types, however there is no way to determine if the column is actually an identity column. Applications must know the identity column of a table to use it correctly.

New rows can be inserted into tables by not providing values for identity columns, effectively allowing the server to provide values. Values for identity columns should only be provided if an application demands a specific value, however. All values must follow the restrictions of the server.

Of course, updating identity columns is strictly forbidden by Adaptive Server.

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