Informix Basics

Overview

Informix Basics is like having an Informix expert at your side, guiding you through the complex suite of Informix products and helping you master the skills you need most. It distills the hard-won insights of a world-class Informix developer and DBA, showing you not just what to do, but how to do it, why you should do it, and which tools to use.

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Editorial Reviews

Booknews

A book/CD-ROM tutorial introduction to the Informix product line for novice programmers, power users, and database administrators. Part I covers database manipulation, and Parts II and III cover SQL basics and advanced techniques. Part IV explains Informix programming, and Part V covers advanced topics. Assumes background in structured programming concepts and operating system fundamentals. Includes exercises and answers, practical examples, and tips. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780130807991
Publisher: Pearson Education
Publication date: 10/22/1998
Series: Informix Press Series
Edition description: BK&CD ROM
Pages: 672
Product dimensions: 7.02 (w) x 9.23 (h) x 1.03 (d)

Related Subjects

Read an Excerpt

PREFACE: Introduction

This book is an introduction to the Informix product line-my world, where for over 14 years I've developed, designed, administered, and managed Informix applications. Along the way I've had the opportunity to teach Informix concepts to dozens of co-developers who have been with me in the trenches. Many times I wished I had a guidebook to make the job easier. This is that guidebook.

Who This Book is For

This book is for you if you need a tour guide through the admittedly complex suite of Informix products, or if you need a jump start to developing applications. If you are a novice programmer new to the Informix environment, you will find value here. If you are a savvy power user with plenty of ambition, this book will help launch you into the development arena. If you are experienced with other database development tools, you will find here enough universal principles to allow what you already know to be used as a springboard to your becoming a strong Informix developer.

This book is a tutorial, offering hands-on examples that will provide you a solid foundation for applications development. It does not attempt to cover every facet of the Informix product suite, but rather it distills the key concepts into manageable lessons that are directly applicable to most development efforts. Someone who knows everything between these pages is someone I'd like to have developing an application with me. When that person is you, send me e-mail to glenn@tsunami.com. We'll want to talk.

What You'll Need

This is a book describing the basic Informix product line, so you will need to havethe following basic products installed to complete the examples: an Informix database engine, Informix DB-Access, and Informix-4GL. Chapter 1, "The Informix Product Suite," describes these and other Informix components. You'll also need an experienced database administrator to install these products and instruct you how to access them. Finally, for some chapters the following software is also required: Informix-ISQL; Informix ESQL/C; UNIX Korn shell.

There are a few background skills that could make some of the material herein more familiar. A basic knowledge of structured programming concepts and operating system fundamentals would provide a good foundation. C language programming skills could also be a small plus. But if you read this book serially, letting its tutorial, stepwise examples unfold, you'll find that you have all the tools you need.

How This Book is Organized

After this Introduction, the book is organized into five parts, comprising sixteen chapters, and is followed by two appendixes. Part 1, "Getting Started," introduces the Informix product line, the relational data model, and the primary tool you will use to manipulate your databases-DB-Access. You should scan these topics even if you already have a passing knowledge of the fundamentals, if only to ensure that you build the sample music database used throughout the rest of the book.

You'll become intimately familiar with the sample database in Part 2, "SQL Fundamentals." You'll learn how to create databases and their principal components, tables. You'll see how to examine not only a database's structure, but its contents as well. You'll see how to add your own data, change it, and delete it. You'll also learn how creating simple forms and reports can simplify even these fundamental procedures.

In Part 3, "SQL Advanced Tools," you'll explore more of SQL, the industry-standard language used to interact with relational databases-the kind this book describes. You'll discover advanced ways to extract relationships from your data, and how to build queries of surprising depth. Additionally, you'll explore Stored Procedure Language, a programming tool that allows you to embed your SQL statements within procedural language rules of any complexity. This part ends as a springboard to the following one.

Part 4, "Informix Programming," shows, at length, how you can write custom Informix applications. You'll progress from building the simplest "Hello, World!" example to writing programs of surpassing complexity. You'll discover that by keeping individual parts of your programs direct and purposeful (using functions), by segregating discrete operations into isolated functions (modularity), and by incrementally building ever-larger working programs from smaller functioning components (stepwise refinement), you'll discover no practical limit to the applications you can create.

The remaining sections are bonuses. Not strictly addressing SQL or programming proper, Part 5, "Advanced Topics" and the appendixes provide complementary material that can help you become a more complete Informix developer. These topics include data migration and database administration tools, as well as how to create the sample database. While not strictly mandatory, the lessons of Part 5 can differentiate an educated programmer from an effective one. Appendix A, "The Sample Database," contains the instructions for building the database upon which the book's examples are based. Following those instructions will save you time and make the exercises clearer. Finally, Appendix B, "Administrative Tools," describes some of the ways you can look behind the scenes at your Informix databases and processes. It's a useful aside.

Conventions Used in This Book

This book uses different typefaces to help you differentiate between Informix commands and regular English, and to highlight important concepts. Actual Informix code and keywords are in a special monospace font. In examples where the input and output of a command or program are presented, the user input is typeset in bold monospace. Placeholders-terms for which you substitute values-are typeset in an italic monospace font. New or important terms are typeset in italic.

The book contains some special features to help you navigate the Informix product line. Syntax diagrams show you how to use a specific Informix command. Here is an example, from Chapter 5, "Basic SQL," describing the syntax of the update command:

update table-name
set column-name = value
, column-name = value É
where condition-list

where table-name is the name of the table whose rows you are updating, column-name is the column whose contents you are replacing with value, and condition-list is an optional set of conditions that describe and restrict the rows updated. The new value can be a constant or an expression. The syntax of condition-list is identical to that for the select statement.

Within the syntax diagram, square brackets () surround optional elements. Ellipses (É) signify that an element can be repeated. A pipe (), not shown in this example, separates alternative choices. Otherwise, the typeface parallels the rest of the book's conventions.

Note

Don't fret over the syntax shown for the update statement. By Chapter 5, when you see it again, you'll have learned all you need for it to make sense.

This book also contains an occasional sidebar, such as the following, which calls attention to and expands on an adjunct topic.

***Production: Begin Do/Don't Sidebar***

Some Hygiene Do's and Do Not's
DO
Brush your teeth after every meal.

DO NOT
Forget to floss.

***End Do/Don't Sidebar***

You'll also see Tip, Note, and Caution boxes. Tips provide useful shortcuts and techniques for working with Informix. Notes offer extra details about a concept being described. Cautions help you avoid common problems.

Tip

Don't ignore the Caution boxes. They can help you avoid problems that occur frequently.

Each chapter ends with an Extra Credit section containing answers to common questions relating to the chapters's material. Exercises and Exercise Answers follow each Q&A section. The exercises give you an opportunity to apply the material in a hands-on fashion. You should work through the exercises before proceeding to the next chapter, as some of the examples in subsequent chapters build on exercises you are expected to have completed.

About the Web Site

For your convenience, the sample database in this book is available on the Internet. When you are ready to install the database, point your browser to the following URL:
...

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	About the Author
	Acknowledgments
	Introduction
Ch. 1	The Informix Product Suite
Ch. 2	Data Modeling 101
Ch. 3	DB-Access
Ch. 4	Creating Databases and Tables
Ch. 5	Basic SQL
Ch. 6	ISQL Forms and Reports
Ch. 7	Intermediate SQL
Ch. 8	Advanced SQL Queries
Ch. 9	Stored Procedures and Triggers
Ch. 10	Your First 4GL Program
Ch. 11	Your 4GL User Interface
Ch. 12	4GL Windows and Screen Arrays
Ch. 13	Cursors and Dynamic SQL
Ch. 14	4GL Reports
Ch. 15	ESQL/C
Ch. 16	Data Migration
Ch. 17	Database Administration Fundamentals
App. A	The Sample Database
App. B	Administrative Tools
	Index

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Preface

PREFACE: Introduction

This book is an introduction to the Informix product line-my world, where for over 14 years I've developed, designed, administered, and managed Informix applications. Along the way I've had the opportunity to teach Informix concepts to dozens of co-developers who have been with me in the trenches. Many times I wished I had a guidebook to make the job easier. This is that guidebook.

Who This Book is For

This book is for you if you need a tour guide through the admittedly complex suite of Informix products, or if you need a jump start to developing applications. If you are a novice programmer new to the Informix environment, you will find value here. If you are a savvy power user with plenty of ambition, this book will help launch you into the development arena. If you are experienced with other database development tools, you will find here enough universal principles to allow what you already know to be used as a springboard to your becoming a strong Informix developer.

This book is a tutorial, offering hands-on examples that will provide you a solid foundation for applications development. It does not attempt to cover every facet of the Informix product suite, but rather it distills the key concepts into manageable lessons that are directly applicable to most development efforts. Someone who knows everything between these pages is someone I'd like to have developing an application with me. When that person is you, send me e-mail to glenn@tsunami.com. We'll want to talk.

What You'll Need

This is a book describing the basic Informix product line, so you will need tohavethe following basic products installed to complete the examples: an Informix database engine, Informix DB-Access, and Informix-4GL. Chapter 1, "The Informix Product Suite," describes these and other Informix components. You'll also need an experienced database administrator to install these products and instruct you how to access them. Finally, for some chapters the following software is also required: Informix-ISQL; Informix ESQL/C; UNIX Korn shell.

There are a few background skills that could make some of the material herein more familiar. A basic knowledge of structured programming concepts and operating system fundamentals would provide a good foundation. C language programming skills could also be a small plus. But if you read this book serially, letting its tutorial, stepwise examples unfold, you'll find that you have all the tools you need.

How This Book is Organized

After this Introduction, the book is organized into five parts, comprising sixteen chapters, and is followed by two appendixes. Part 1, "Getting Started," introduces the Informix product line, the relational data model, and the primary tool you will use to manipulate your databases-DB-Access. You should scan these topics even if you already have a passing knowledge of the fundamentals, if only to ensure that you build the sample music database used throughout the rest of the book.

You'll become intimately familiar with the sample database in Part 2, "SQL Fundamentals." You'll learn how to create databases and their principal components, tables. You'll see how to examine not only a database's structure, but its contents as well. You'll see how to add your own data, change it, and delete it. You'll also learn how creating simple forms and reports can simplify even these fundamental procedures.

In Part 3, "SQL Advanced Tools," you'll explore more of SQL, the industry-standard language used to interact with relational databases-the kind this book describes. You'll discover advanced ways to extract relationships from your data, and how to build queries of surprising depth. Additionally, you'll explore Stored Procedure Language, a programming tool that allows you to embed your SQL statements within procedural language rules of any complexity. This part ends as a springboard to the following one.

Part 4, "Informix Programming," shows, at length, how you can write custom Informix applications. You'll progress from building the simplest "Hello, World!" example to writing programs of surpassing complexity. You'll discover that by keeping individual parts of your programs direct and purposeful (using functions), by segregating discrete operations into isolated functions (modularity), and by incrementally building ever-larger working programs from smaller functioning components (stepwise refinement), you'll discover no practical limit to the applications you can create.

The remaining sections are bonuses. Not strictly addressing SQL or programming proper, Part 5, "Advanced Topics" and the appendixes provide complementary material that can help you become a more complete Informix developer. These topics include data migration and database administration tools, as well as how to create the sample database. While not strictly mandatory, the lessons of Part 5 can differentiate an educated programmer from an effective one. Appendix A, "The Sample Database," contains the instructions for building the database upon which the book's examples are based. Following those instructions will save you time and make the exercises clearer. Finally, Appendix B, "Administrative Tools," describes some of the ways you can look behind the scenes at your Informix databases and processes. It's a useful aside.

Conventions Used in This Book

This book uses different typefaces to help you differentiate between Informix commands and regular English, and to highlight important concepts. Actual Informix code and keywords are in a special monospace font. In examples where the input and output of a command or program are presented, the user input is typeset in bold monospace. Placeholders-terms for which you substitute values-are typeset in an italic monospace font. New or important terms are typeset in italic.

The book contains some special features to help you navigate the Informix product line. Syntax diagrams show you how to use a specific Informix command. Here is an example, from Chapter 5, "Basic SQL," describing the syntax of the update command:

update table-name
set column-name = value
, column-name = value É
where condition-list

where table-name is the name of the table whose rows you are updating, column-name is the column whose contents you are replacing with value, and condition-list is an optional set of conditions that describe and restrict the rows updated. The new value can be a constant or an expression. The syntax of condition-list is identical to that for the select statement.

Within the syntax diagram, square brackets () surround optional elements. Ellipses (É) signify that an element can be repeated. A pipe (), not shown in this example, separates alternative choices. Otherwise, the typeface parallels the rest of the book's conventions.

Note

Don't fret over the syntax shown for the update statement. By Chapter 5, when you see it again, you'll have learned all you need for it to make sense.

This book also contains an occasional sidebar, such as the following, which calls attention to and expands on an adjunct topic.

***Production: Begin Do/Don't Sidebar***

Some Hygiene Do's and Do Not's
DO
Brush your teeth after every meal.

DO NOT
Forget to floss.

***End Do/Don't Sidebar***

You'll also see Tip, Note, and Caution boxes. Tips provide useful shortcuts and techniques for working with Informix. Notes offer extra details about a concept being described. Cautions help you avoid common problems.

Tip

Don't ignore the Caution boxes. They can help you avoid problems that occur frequently.

Each chapter ends with an Extra Credit section containing answers to common questions relating to the chapters's material. Exercises and Exercise Answers follow each Q&A section. The exercises give you an opportunity to apply the material in a hands-on fashion. You should work through the exercises before proceeding to the next chapter, as some of the examples in subsequent chapters build on exercises you are expected to have completed.

About the Web Site

For your convenience, the sample database in this book is available on the Internet. When you are ready to install the database, point your browser to the following URL:
...

Read More Show Less

Overview

More About This Book

Overview

Editorial Reviews

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Product Details

Read an Excerpt

Table of Contents

Preface

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