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Access Service User's Guide DirectConnect

Glossary

Glossary

A DirectConnect feature that provides connectivity to non-Sybase targets.

The named set of properties, used with an access service library, to which clients connect. Each DirectConnect Server can have multiple services.

A service library that provides access to non-Sybase data contained in a database management system or other type of repository. Each such repository is called a "target." Each access service library interacts with exactly one target and is named accordingly. See also service library.

The part of the target database log in which records are written as they are generated. The active log always contains the most recent log records; whereas, the archive log holds those records that are older and no longer fit on the active log.

A service library that provides remote management capabilities and server-side support. It supports a number of remote procedures (invoked as RPC requests) that enable remote DirectConnect management. See also RPC, service library.

Hardware and software that characterize the LU 6.2 architecture and its various implementations in products. See also LU 6.2.

A 7-bit standard code that permits transmittal of text, numbers, and some special characters among systems.

A series of constraint clauses defined by the ANSI standard that enforce data integrity by restricting the data that users can insert into a table.

A functional interface, supplied by an operating system or other licensed program, that allows an application program written in a high-level language to use specific data or functions of the operating system or the licensed program.

A person who writes client application programs, such as CT-Library or DB-Library application programs.

Adaptive Server Enterprise / Component Integration Services (formerly OmniConnect). A variation of Sybase SQL Server that provides a Transact-SQL interface to various sources of external data, including host data files and tables in other database systems. The name replaces the names "OmniSQL Gateway" and "OmniSQL Server."

A portion of storage used to hold input or output data temporarily.

Functions that are supplied by a language.

A transfer method in which multiple rows of data are inserted into a table in the target database. See also transfer. Compare with destination-template transfer.

A programming style that calls database functions directly from the top level of the code; usually contrasted with embedded SQL. See also dynamic SQL and embedded SQL.

A system table that contains information about objects in a database, such as tables, views, columns, and authorizations.

A procedure that provides information about tables, columns, and authorizations. It is used in SQL generation and application development.

A set of specific (usually standardized) characters with an encoding scheme that uniquely defines each character. ASCII is a common character set.

In client/server systems, the part of the system that sends requests to servers and processes the results of those requests. See also client/server. Compare with server.

Software that is responsible for the user interface, including menus, data entry screens, and report formats. See also client/server.

A Sybase API that allows a client application to interact with Open Server applications.

An architecture in which the client is an application that handles the user interface and local data manipulation functions, while the server provides data access and management for multiple clients. See also client application.

A user-written CICS program, initiated on the host, that uses the Client Services for CICS API to invoke MainframeConnect for DB2 as a client to DirectConnect or to SQL Server. Compare with Remote Stored Procedures (RSPs).

An index in which the physical order and the logical (indexed) order is the same. The leaf level of a clustered index represents the data pages themselves. Compare with non-clustered index

A number that uniquely identifies a specific set of encoding scheme identifier, character set identifier(s), code page identifier(s), and additional coding-related required information.

See character set.

An instruction to a database to make permanent all changes made to one or more database files since the last commit or rollback operation, and to make the changed records available to other users. Compare with rollback.

A means of grouping file operations that allows a group of database changes to be processed as a single unit, or the removal of a group of database changes as a single unit. See also commit, rollback

A section into which service library configuration files are divided.

Information required to make an Open ClientConnect or Open ServerConnect connection. The connection specification consists of the server name, platform, Net-Library driver name, and address information required by the Net-Library driver being used.

A dialog between a user and an interactive data processing system.

Within the context of APPC, an exchange of information or a sequence of messages sent between two transaction programs. Conversations take place between two LUs over an established session. Also, a sequence of messages sent between two applications (for example, client application and SQL Server).

In programming languages, the transformation between values that represent the same data item but belong to different datatypes. Information can be lost due to conversion because accuracy of data representation varies among different data types. See character set conversion.

An IBM licensed program that enables transactions entered at remote terminals to be processed concurrently by user-written application programs. It includes facilities for building, using, and maintaining databases.

A computer-based system for defining, creating, manipulating, controlling, managing, and using databases. The software for using a database can be part of the database management system, or it can be a stand-alone database system. Compare with relational database management system (RDBMS).

An IBM relational database management system.

A language for describing data and their relationships in a database.

A keyword that identifies the characteristics of stored information on a computer. Some common datatypes are char (character), int (integer), smallint (small integer), date, time, numeric, and float. Different databases support different datatypes.

A Sybase and Microsoft API that allows client applications to interact with ODS applications. See also application program interface (API).

IBM SAA (Systems Application Architecture) embedded SQL. The ANSI SQL-1-compliant SQL syntax used by DB2.

A transfer method in which source data is briefly put into a template where the user can specify that some action be performed on it before execution against a target database. See also transfer and dynamic SQL. Compare with bulk copy transfer.

A Sybase Open Server application that provides access management for non-Sybase database copy management (transfer) and remote systems management. Each DirectConnect consists of a server and one or more service libraries and provides access to a specific data source. DirectConnect replaces the "MDI Database Gateway" and "OmniSQL Access Module" names and products. Compare with Enterprise Connect.

A Sybase Windows application that provides remote management capabilities for DirectConnect products. These capabilities include starting, stopping, creating, and copying services.

A Sybase LAN-based solution that communicates with DB2/MVS mainframe host components. It incorporates the functionality of the MDI Database Gateway and the Sybase Net-Library, and includes LU 6.2 and TCP/IP support.

The component that provides general management and support functions (such as log file management) to service libraries.

The named set of properties, used with a DirectConnect Service Library, to which clients connect.

The component that provides a set of functions within the DirectConnect Server environment.

A type of service name resolution that relies on a client application to specify the exact name of the service to be used. For direct resolution to work, a service must be defined for each expected service name, and the names must match exactly. See also service name resolution. Compare with service name redirection.

A set of characters in which each character is represented by 2 bytes. Languages such as Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, which contain more symbols than can be represented by 256 code points, require double-byte character sets. Because each character requires 2 bytes, the typing, display, and printing of DBCS characters requires hardware and programs that support DBCS. Compare with single-byte character set (SBCS).

A file containing executable code and data bound to a program at load time or run time, rather than during linking. The code and data in a dynamic link library can be shared by several applications simultaneously.

Pertaining to the preparation and processing of SQL source statements within a program while the program runs. The SQL source statements are contained in host-language variables rather than being coded directly into the application program. The SQL statement can change several times while the program runs. Compare with static SQL. Compare with destination-template transfer.

A SQL statement embedded within a source program and prepared before the program executes. After it is prepared, the statement itself does not change, although values of host variables specified within the statement can change.

The encompassing architecture upon which Sybase implements heterogeneous data integration. Compare with DirectConnect.

A coded character set of 256 8-bit characters.

An 8-bit standard character code set used by IBM mainframe and AS/400 computers.

A device that processes requests and manages client communication.

A category of event, such as language, cursor, or dynamic.

Software that initiates requests. The client end of a client/server system is sometimes considered "front-end" software, whereas software on the server is considered "back-end" software. See also DirectConnect Server.

System-defined variables that DirectConnect or the client application updates on an ongoing basis. For example, @@error contains the last error number generated by the system.

A special DB2 table in which host-resident SQL statements are stored. These requests can be executed dynamically. See also host-resident request.

A SQL request that resides on MainframeCONNECT for DB2 in the host request library. An end user or client application executes a host-resident request from a PC by using a command that includes the name of an existing host-resident request. See also host request library.

An operating system file that must be available on each machine from which connections to DirectConnect or other Sybase products are made. Each entry in the file determines how the host client software connects to a Sybase product. An interfaces file entry contains the name of any DirectConnect Server and a list of services provided by that server.

A word or phrase that is reserved for exclusive use by Transact-SQL. Also known as a reserved word.

A type of network-accessible unit that enables end users to gain access to network resources and communicate with each other. See also end user.

A type of logical unit that supports general communication between programs in a distributed processing environment. See also APPC.

Sybase products that enable desktop computer users to communicate with mainframes in a client/server environment.

A Sybase mainframe solution that provides dynamic access to DB2 data. It replaces the OmniSQL Access Module for DB2 and the functionality in the MDI Access Server.

An MDI legacy product that gives client applications access to supported data sources, such as AS/400 and DB2.

An IBM operating system that runs on most System/370 and System/390 mainframes. It supports 24-bit addressing up to 16 megabytes.

A Sybase product that provides communication between the mainframe and the LAN server.

A Sybase product that lets PC applications become clients of SQL Server or Open Server. See also client, Open Server, SQL Server.

A set of rules governing the way computers communicate on a network.

An index that stores key values and pointers to data. The leaf level points to data pages rather than containing the data itself. Compare with clustered index.

Not having an explicitly assigned value.

The CIS functionality of ASE has incorporated the functionality of OmniConnect and is referred to as ASE/CIS. See ASE/CIS.

A Sybase product that provides customer applications, third-party products, and other Sybase products with the interfaces required to communicate with Open Server and Open Server applications.

An application written using Open Client libraries.

A Sybase product that provides capability for the mainframe to act as a client to LAN-based resources.

A Microsoft API that allows access to both relational and non-relational databases. ODBC allows client application developers to produce vendor-neutral Windows applications that can access data sources without including code for a specific database. See also application program interface (API).

A Sybase and Microsoft product that provides the tools and interfaces required to create a custom server.

A custom server application built with Sybase Open Server.

A Sybase product that provides capability for programmatic access to mainframe data.

Sybase ICD publications that certify the third-party query and development tools that work with Sybase products.

The LU on the remote machine in a conversation. See also LU and conversation.

A positive integer that determines the maximum number of digits that can be represented in a decimal, numeric, or float column.

Scale is the number of digits to the right of the decimal; precision is the total number of digits. Precision minus scale is the number of digits to the left of the decimal. For example, using the number 123.45, scale is 2, precision is 5, and precision minus scale is 3.

In transfer processing, the database accessed by the access service. For example, for DirectConnect for MVS, the primary database is DB2. Compare with secondary database.

A setting for a server or service that defines the characteristics of the service, such as how events are logged or how datatypes are converted. Compare with parameter and value.

A set of rules that governs the behavior of the computers communicating on a network.

The part of the Windows NT operating system that holds configuration information for a particular machine.

Operators supported in search conditions. Examples are: =, <>, <, >, <=, >=, and LIKE.

A stored procedure executed on a different server from the one onto which a user is logged.

A customer-written CICS program that resides on the mainframe and communicates with MainframeConnect for DB2/MVS. See also CICS, stored procedures.

A feature that allows a Systems Administrator to manage multiple DirectConnect Servers and multiple services from a client. See DirectConnect Manager.

One or more database operations the application sends as one unit to the database. During a request, the application gives up control to the DBMS and waits for its response. Depending on the response, the application commits or rolls back the request. One or more requests can be grouped into a single unit of work. See also commit, rollback, unit of work.

An instruction to a database to not implement the changes requested in a unit of work and to return to the pre-transaction state. Compare with commit. See also transaction and unit of work.

The maximum number of digits that can be stored to the right of the decimal point by a numeric or decimal datatype. The scale must be less than or equal to the precision.

The connection specified in the transfer statement. It represents anything that can be accessed using Open Client Connect, such as SQL Server or another access service.

When performing transfers, one of the following: the SQL Server, another DirectConnect service, an MDI Database Gateway, or another supported database that is specified in the transfer statement. Compare with primary database.

A functional unit that provides shared services to clients over a network. Compare with client. See also client/server.

A positive integer that uniquely identifies a client connection to the server. In Open Server, SPID is a thread ID. Each connection has its own thread. A client can have multiple connections to the server, each with its own SPID.

A functionality available to DirectConnect applications. It is essentially the pairing of a service library and a set of specific configuration properties.

For DirectConnect, a set of configuration properties that determine service functionality. Examples of service libraries include access service libraries, transfer service libraries, administrative service libraries, and transaction router service libraries. See also access service library, administration service library, transaction router service library.

The server for DirectConnect. It provides the infrastructure for service libraries, such as logging, tracing, message handling, and configuration management.

A file for service name resolution that allows a Systems Administrator to create an alternative mechanism to map connections with services. See also service name resolution. Compare with direct resolution.

A type of service name resolution that allows a Systems Administrator to create an alternative mechanism to map connections with services. See also service name resolution. Compare with direct resolution.

The mapping by the DirectConnect Server of an incoming service name to an actual service. See also direct resolution, service name redirection.

A character set in which each character is represented by a 1-byte code. Compare with double-byte character set (DBCS).

An IBM industry-standard language for processing data in a relational database.

A set of variables that are used in the processing of certain SQL statements. The SQLDA is intended for dynamic SQL programs.

A utility for creating and editing sql.ini files and file entries.

The interfaces file containing definitions for each DirectConnect Server to which a workstation can connect. The file must be on every client machine that connects to SQL Servers.

The server in the Sybase Client-Server architecture. It manages multiple databases and multiple users, tracks the actual location of data on disks, maintains mapping of logical data description to physical data storage, and maintains data and procedure caches in memory.

Basic unit of SQL, a single SQL operation, such as select, update, or delete.

SQL statements that are embedded within a program and are prepared during the program preparation process before the program runs. After being prepared, the statement itself does not change, although values of host variables specified by the statement can change. Compare with call level interface and dynamic SQL.

A collection of SQL statements and optional control-of-flow statements stored under a particular name. Sybase SQL Server stored procedures are called "system procedures." See also remote stored procedure, system procedures, host resident requests and catalog stored procedures.

A secondary or subordinate system, usually capable of operating independently of, or asynchronously with, a controlling system.

Rules for how to construct a statement.

The user in charge of server system administration. For DirectConnect, the user responsible for installing and maintaining servers and service libraries.

The tasks involved in maintaining the system in good working order and modifying the system to meet changing requirements.

Stored procedures that Sybase supplies with SQL Server for use in system administration. These procedures serve as shortcuts for retrieving information from the system tables, or mechanisms for accomplishing database administration and other tasks that involve updating system tables. See also stored procedures.

The system tables keep track of information about the database as a whole.

An array of data or a named data object that contains a specific number of unordered rows. Each item in a row can be unambiguously identified by means of one or more arguments.

An application-level protocol that Sybase clients and servers use to communicate. It describes commands and results.

A system, program, or device that interprets, rejects or satisfies, and replies to requests received from a source.

The database to which DirectConnect transfers data or performs operations on specific data.

The process of recording the sequence in which the statements in a program execute and, optionally, the values of the program variables that the statements contain.

An exchange between a program on a local system and a program on a remote system that accomplishes a particular action or result.

A program that processes transactions. There are two kinds of transaction programs: application transaction programs and service transaction programs.

In VTAM, a program that performs services related to the processing of a transaction. One or more transaction programs can operate within a VTAM application program that is using the VTAM application program interface (API). In that situation, the transaction program would request services from the application program using protocols defined by that application program. The application program, in turn, could request services from the VTAM program by issuing the APPCCMD macroinstruction.

The name used to identify the program to start on the partner computer. See also transaction program.

A DirectConnect service library that facilitates access to remote transactions, allowing customers to execute thousands of transactions from virtually any mainframe data source. See also service library.

A Sybase enhanced version of the SQL database language used to communicate with SQL Server. Enhancements include data integrity features and stored procedures.

A DirectConnect feature used to move data or copies of data from one database to another. See also bulk copy transfer, destination-template transfer.

A special form of a stored procedure that automatically executes when a user issues a change statement, such as insert, delete, or update, to a specified table that meets the triggering condition.

One or more database operations grouped under one commit or rollback. A unit of work ends when an application commits or rolls back a series of requests, or when the application terminates. See also commit, rollback, and transaction.

A quantity assigned to a constant, a variable, a parameter, or a symbol. See also variable.

An entity that is assigned a value.

In SQL, an alternative representation of data from one or more tables. A view can include all or some of the columns contained in the table or tables on which it is defined.

Special character that represents a range of characters in a search pattern. For example, the percent sign (%) represents any string of zero or more characters.