Embedded SQL

Embedded SQL is a method of combining the computing power of a programming language and the database manipulation capabilities of SQL. Embedded SQL statements are SQL statements written inline with the program source code of the host language. The embedded SQL statements are parsed by an embedded SQL preprocessor and replaced by host-language calls to a code library. The output from the preprocessor is then compiled by the host compiler. This allows programmers to embed SQL statements in programs written in any number of languages such as: , COBOL and Fortran.

The ANSI SQL standards committee defined the embedded SQL standard in two steps: a formalism called Module Language was defined, then the embedded SQL standard was derived from Module Language.cite web
url=http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/appdev.920/a58231/ch1.htm#2889
title=The Module Language Concept
work=SQL*Module for Ada Programmer's Guide, Release 8.0, Chapter 1. Introduction to SQL*Module
publisher=Oracle Corporation
accessdate=2008-07-14] The SQL standard defines embedding of SQL as "embedded SQL" and the language in which SQL queries are embedded is referred to as the "host language". A popular host language is C. The mixed C and embedded SQL is called Pro*C in Oracle and Sybase database management systems. In the PostgreSQL database management system this precompiler is called ECPG. Other embedded SQL precompilers are Pro*Ada, Pro*COBOL, Pro*FORTRAN, Pro*Pascal, and Pro*PL/I.

Support

Oracle Corporation

Ada

Pro*Ada was officially desupported by Oracle in version 7.3. Starting with Oracle8, Pro*Ada has been replaced by SQL*Module but appears to have not been updated since. [cite web
url=http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/server.920/a96530/migcompa.htm#1010868
title=Ada Support in Version 8
work=Oracle9i Database Migration, Release 2 (9.2), Chapter 5. Compatibility and Interoperability
publisher=Oracle Corporation
accessdate=2008-07-14] SQL*Module is a module language that offers a different programming method from embedded SQL. SQL*Module supports the Ada83 language standard for Ada.

C/C++

Pro*C became Pro*C/C++ with Oracle8. Pro*C/C++ is currently supported as of Oracle Database 11"g".

COBOL

Pro*COBOL is currently supported as of Oracle Database 11"g".

Fortran

Pro*FORTRAN is no longer updated as of Oracle8 but Oracle will continue to issue patch releases as bugs are reported and corrected.

Pascal

Pro*Pascal was not released with Oracle8.

PL/I

Pro*PL/I was not released with Oracle8. The "Pro*PL/I Supplement to the Oracle Precompilers Guide", however, continues to make appearances in the Oracle Documentation Library (current as of release 11"g").cite web
url=http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/A64702_01/doc/server.805/a58232/ch01.htm#505
title=Language Alternatives
work=Pro*COBOL Precompiler Programmer's Guide, Release 8.0, Chapter 1. Introduction
publisher=Oracle Corporation
accessdate=2008-07-14]

PostgreSQL

C/C++

ECPG is part of PostgreSQL since version 6.3.

See also

Pro*C/C++c++

References

External links

* [http://infolab.stanford.edu/%7Eullman/fcdb/oracle/or-proc.html Introduction to Pro*C Embedded SQL]
* [http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/databases/2006/12/07/embedded-sql-with-pro-c.html Embedded SQL with Pro*C]
* [http://tahiti.oracle.com/pls/db92/db92.show_toc?partno=a58231 SQL*Module for Ada Programmer's Guide, Release 8.0]
* [http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.3/interactive/ecpg.html ECPG, PostgreSQL 8.3 Documentation]