Re: Re: Support for Birdstep RDM Server database engine

Hello Diggy, Birdstep was rolled into the ODBC functionality, and has really not seen any support since. I don't believe anyone currently on the PHP staff is really familiar with the way the Birdstep systems work. The reality is though that I don't see many PHP users using Birdstep/Velocis support. This could of course be a chicken/egg problem, where the PHP support is lacking etc etc... What are the changes you're planning to do? If you'd like to make birdstep it's own module, I'd suggest looking at creating it as a PECL module, and working from there. Typically we don't discourage integration with systems/API's, especially if the author is willing to maintain it :) On Sunday, November 17, 2002, at 03:30 PM, Diggy Bell wrote:

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.

-- PHP Development Mailing List <http://www.php.net/> To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php ---------------------------------------------------------------<

Dan Kalowsky                    "Tonight I think I'll walk alone,

http://www.deadmime.org/~dank    I'll find myself as I go home"
dank-nom@aps-deadmime.org        - "Temptation",
kalowsky@php.net                          New Order