JDB SQL Reference

Chapter 1. Introduction to JDB

JDB is a single-user Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). You can use it for building application prototypes; design your application and test data entry without requiring an external database. You can take full advantage of JPL procedures using standard SQL syntax as well as the transaction manager to access your JDB database information.

With JDB, you can:

Create a database using JDB.
Create menus and screens for an application using Panther.
Enter data into your JDB database using Panther's database driver for JDB.
Generate reports of information in your database.
Test the entire application, including data entry. You can virtually do all you need to do with JDB that you would do with a standard database like Sybase or Oracle. You can also use the interactive SQL editor JISQL to gain direct access to the JDB data using standard SQL commands.

Using JDB

To use JDB, you build the database, connect to the database via the editor and import the database tables to a repository. Then you can begin building screens with the editor or screen wizard using the database-derived widgets in your repository.

All of the logic associated with the application resides either on your application screens, widgets, or service components–so when you connect to the actual database that your application will use, the application will work just as you prototyped it.

JDB Executables and Utilities

By default, your Panther executables are linked to JDB. For details on building an executable, refer to page 42-1 in the Developer's Guide.

The utilities you use to build and manipulate your JDB database are located in the specified directory of your Panther installation and are listed in Table 1.

**Table 1-1 JDB-related utilities**
Utility	Found in	Description
isql	`$SMBASE/jdb/bin`	Interactive SQL editor
jdbroll	`$SMBASE/jdb/bin`	Run log files
jisql	`$SMBASE/util`	Graphical interactive SQL editor
mksql	`$SMBASE/jdb/bin`	Translate JDB database into its related `CREATE TABLE` and `INSERT` statements
tbldata	`$SMBASE/jdb/bin`	Imports/exports database information

Under Windows, the graphical interactive SQL editor can be accessed via the JISQL icon (or under the Panther Start Menu option).

Unsupported Features

The following database features are not supported by JDB:

Concurrency controls/locking
Indexes
Outer joins
Stored procedures
Triggers
Views

See Also

Refer to page 5-1 for more information on JISQL. If you already have data that you want to enter into a JDB database, a utility is available to transfer data into a database table from an ASCII text file. Refer to page A-1 for more information on JDB utilities.