Primary InterBase Features
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InterBase offers all the benefits of a full-featured RDBMS. The following table lists some of the key InterBase features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
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Network protocol support |
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SQL-92 entry-level conformance |
ANSI standard SQL, available through an Interactive SQL tool and Embarcadero desktop applications. |
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Simultaneous access to multiple databases |
One application can access many databases at the same time. |
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multigenerational |
Server maintains older versions of records (as needed) so that transactions can see a consistent view of data. |
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Optimistic row-level locking |
Server locks only the individual records that a client updates, instead of locking an entire database page. |
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Query optimization |
Server optimizes queries automatically, or you can manually specify a query plan. |
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Blob data type and Blob filters |
Dynamically sizeable data types that can contain unformatted data such as graphics and text. |
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Declarative referential integrity |
Automatic enforcement of cross-table relationships (between |
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Stored procedures |
Programmatic elements in the database for advanced queries and data manipulation actions. |
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Triggers |
Self-contained program modules that are activated when data in a specific table is inserted, updated, or deleted. |
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Event alerters |
Messages passed from the database to an application; enables applications to receive asynchronous notification of database changes. |
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Updatable views |
Views can reflect data changes as they occur. |
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User-defined functions (UDFs) |
Program modules that run on the server. |
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Outer joins |
Relational construct between two tables that enables complex operations. |
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Explicit transaction |
Full control of transaction start, commit, and rollback, including named transactions. |
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Concurrent multiple application access to data. |
One client reading a table does not block others from it. |
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multidimensional arrays |
Column data types arranged in an indexed list of elements. |
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Automatic two-phase commit |
Multi-database transactions check that changes to all databases happen before committing (InterBase Server only). |
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InterBase API |
Functions that enable applications to construct SQL/DSQL statements directly to the InterBase engine and receive results back. |
|
|
Preprocessor for converting embedded SQL/DSQL statements and variables into a format that can be read by a host-language compiler; included with the InterBase server license. |
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IBConsole |
Windows tool for data definition, query, database backup, restoration, maintenance, and security. |
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Command-line version of the InterBase interactive SQL tool; can be used instead of IBConsole for interactive queries. |
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Command-line database administrator utilities |
Command-line version of the InterBase database administration tools; can be used instead of IBConsole. |
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Header files |
Files included at the beginning of application programs that define InterBase data types and function calls. |
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Example make files |
Files that demonstrate how to invoke the makefiles to compile and link InterBase applications. |
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Example programs |
C programs, ready to compile and link, which you can use to query standard InterBase example databases on the server. |
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Message file |
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