Re: Support for Birdstep RDM Server database engine

Hello again, I've not heard anything from anybody regarding my previous post. My first thought is that everyone is caught up in the release activities, but I would appreciate any comments that anyone might be able to offer. Thanks, Diggy "Diggy Bell" <diggy_b@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:20021114113446.55228.qmail@pb1.pair.com... > Hello All, > > I have recently been approached by Birdstep about updating the PHP module to > support their database engine for an internal project. In the past (v4.1.2 > and earlier IIRC), PHP has provided support for the Birdstep (formerly > Velocis) database as part of the distribution. Since v4.1.2 (IIRC) this > support has been dropped in the standard source tree. But, I was able to > locate the old code under ./ext/odbc and so I have resurrected the module. > In the process, I have made a number of modifications and additions to the > library to bring it up to date with the latest version of Birdstep's > product. > > My main question is: Is this module something that the community would like > to have available again? If so, I am willing to pick up the maintenance > duties on the module. I'm a former employee of the company and have access > to 'back-door' support when necessary. > > I've taken a bit of time and put together some notes on the modifications > that I have made to this point. These notes are copied below for review. > I've also attached the modified source files. (NOTE: I realize these > aren't formatted to PHP standards...please let me slide on that one while > I'm making more significant changes :-P) If there is interest, I am also > considering addiing some enhancements for connection management and error > handling. > > Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. > > -- > William D. 'Diggy' Bell > Principal > DB Software Development > http://www.dbsoftdev.com > > /***** CUT HERE *****/ > > Birdstep PHP Extension > Design Specification > > Date: 11/14/2002 > By: William D. 'Diggy' Bell > > INTRODUCTION > > The Birdstep PHP Extension allows PHP applications to access the Birdstep > RDM Server database engine. > > REQUIREMENTS > > 1. Support for LONG VARCHAR columns > 2. Positioned fetch operations > 3. Support for birdstep_fetch_array() > 4. Support for birdstep_num_fields() > 5. Support for birdstep_affected_rows() > > DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS > > 1. API conflict between SQLFetchScroll and SQLGetData > > There is a current design limitation in the RDM Server that prevents the use > of SQLGetData() with rowsets that have been retrieved using > SQLFetchScroll(). This > limitation strongly impacts how LONG VARCHAR fields can be handled. Two > methods are described below. > > a. Use SQLFetch() instead of SQLFetchScroll(). > > The requirement for positioned fetch operations eliminates this option. > > b. Use a maximum sized buffer for LONG VARCHAR columns > > In this method, a buffer of a fixed maximum size would be allocated for each > LONG VARCHAR column. The column would then be bound using SQLBindCol() to > retrieve the data in one operation. > > Option (b) was chosen because it allows support for SQLFetchScroll(). This > can have > significant implications on applications that have a large number of LONG > VARCHAR > columns due to unnecessarily high memory requirements. > > NOTE: There are additional limitations in the RDM Server engine that have > prevented > implementation of cursor positioning. SQLFetchScroll will continue to be > used for > smoothest migration when RDM Server support for cursor positioning is added. > > INTERNAL DATA STRUCTURES > > typedef struct VConn { > HDBC hdbc; > long index; > int connected; > } VConn; > > typedef struct { > char name[32]; > char* value; > long vallen; > SDWORD valtype; > } VResVal; > > typedef struct Vresult { > HSTMT hstmt; > VConn* conn; > long index; > VResVal* values; > long numcols; > int fetched; > } Vresult; > > typedef struct _php_birdstep_globals > { > long num_links; > long max_links; > int le_link; > int le_result; > } php_birdstep_globals; > > INTERNAL FUNCTIONS > > PHP_MINIT_FUNCTION(birdstep) > PHP_MSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(birdstep) > PHP_RINIT_FUNCTION(birdstep) > PHP_RSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(birdstep) > PHP_MINFO_FUNCTION(birdstep) > > APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE > > birdstep_connect($server, $user, $password) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $server - RDM Server name > $user - database user name > $password - user's password > > Returns: > > connection handle > > Description: > > This function will connection to the RDM Server identified by $server. > The > $user and $password must be valid users on the server. > > birdstep_close($conn) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $conn - connection handle to close > > Returns: > > TRUE if successful, FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will close the specified connection to the RDM Server > > birdstep_exec($conn, $sql) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $conn - database connection handle > $sql - SQL statement to be executed > > Returns: > > Result index if successful, Zero if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will execute the $sql statement on the server identified by > $conn > > birdstep_fetch($result) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $result - result set index (from birdstep_exec()) > > Returns: > > TRUE if successful, FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will retrieve the next row from a result set. > > birdstep_fetch_array($result) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $result - result set index (from birdstep_exec()) > > Returns: > > Associative array of column values with column names as key names. > > Description: > > This function will retrieve a row from a result set and return the > results as an > associative array. The column names will be assigned to the key names. > The > data values will be assigned to the array elements. > > birdstep_result($result, $index) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $result - result set index (from birdstep_exec()) > $index - column index to be retrieved > > Returns: > > The value of the column specified by $index in the result set, $result. > FALSE > if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function is used to retrieve a column value from the current row in > the > result set. > > birdstep_freeresult($result) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $result - result set index (from birdstep_exec()) > > Returns: > > TRUE if successful, FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will free a result set that has been previously allocated > using > the birdstep_exec() function. > > birdstep_autocommit($conn) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $conn - database connection handle > > Returns: > > TRUE if successful, FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will enable the auto-commit feature of RDM Server. > > birdstep_off_autocommit($conn) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $conn - database connection handle > > Returns: > > TRUE if successful, FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will disable the auto-commit feature of RDM Server. > > birdstep_commit($conn) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $conn - database connection handle > > Returns: > > TRUE if successful, FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will commit changes to the database during a transaction. > > birdstep_rollback($conn) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $conn - database connection handle > > Returns: > > TRUE if successful, FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will rollback changes to the database during a transaction. > > birdstep_num_fields($result) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $result - result set index (from birdstep_exec()) > > Returns: > > Number of columns in result set, or FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will retrieve the number of columns in the result set. > > birdstep_field_name($result $index) > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Parameters: > > $result - result set index (from birdstep_exec()) > $index - column index of column name to retrieve > > Returns: > > Column name, or FALSE if an error occurred. > > Description: > > This function will retrieve the name of the column represented by $index. > > OPEN ITEMS > > 1. LONG VARCHAR Max Length > > The maximum length for a LONG VARCHAR column is currently a #define. This > should be moved to an INI entry and managed through the Zend INI interface. > > >