article

In SQL Remote or MobiLink, an article is a database object that represents a whole table, or a subset of the columns and rows in a table. Articles are grouped together in a publication.

base table

A permanent table for data. Tables are sometimes called base tables to distinguish them from temporary tables and views.

business rule

A guideline based on real-world requirements. Business rules are typically implemented through check constraints, user-defined data types, and the appropriate use of transactions.

check constraint

A restriction that enforces specified conditions on a column or set of columns.

checkpoint

The point at which all changes to the database are saved to the database file. At other times, committed changes are saved only to the transaction log.

client/server

A software architecture where one application (the client) obtains information from and sends information to another application (the server). The two applications often reside on different computers connected by a network.

collation

A combination of a character set and a sort order that defines the properties of text in the database. For Adaptive Server Anywhere databases, the default collation is determined by the operating system and language on which the server is running; for example, the default collation on English Windows systems is 1252LATIN1. A collation, also called a collating sequence, is used for comparing and sorting strings.

command file

A text file containing SQL statements. Command files can be built manually, or they can be built automatically by database utilities. The dbunload utility, for example, creates a command file consisting of the SQL statements necessary to recreate a given database.

communication stream

In MobiLink, the network protocol used for communication between the MobiLink client and the MobiLink synchronization server.

compressed database file

A database file that has been compressed to a smaller physical size using the dbshrink utility. Compressed databases are read-only. To make changes to a compressed database file, you must use an associated write file. You can expand compressed database files into normal database files using the dbexpand utility.

concurrency

The simultaneous execution of two or more independent, and possibly competing, processes. Adaptive Server Anywhere automatically uses locking to isolate transactions and ensure that each concurrent application sees a consistent set of data.

conflict trigger

In SQL Remote replication, a trigger that fires when an update conflict is detected, before the update is applied. Conflict triggers are fired when the values in the VERIFY clause of an UPDATE statement fail to match the current values in the database.

connection ID

A unique number that identifies a given connection between a client application and the database. You can determine the current connection ID using the following SQL statement:

SELECT connection_property( 'Number' )

connection profile

A set of parameters that are required to connect to a database, such as user name, password, and server name, that is stored and used as a convenience.

consolidated database

In database replication, a database that stores the master copy of the data. The consolidated database contains all of the data, while remote databases usually contain only subsets of the data. In case of conflict or discrepancy, the consolidated database is considered to have the primary copy of all data.

In MobiLink, the consolidated database can be Oracle, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, Adaptive Server Anywhere, or Adaptive Server Enterprise.

constraint

A restriction on the values contained in a particular database object, such as a table or column. For example, a column may have a uniqueness constraint, which requires that all values in the column be different. A table may have a foreign key constraint, which specifies how the information in the table relates to data in some other table.

contention

The act of competing for resources. For example, in database terms, two or more users trying to edit the same row of a database contend for the rights to edit that row.

correlation name

The name of a table or view that is used in the FROM clause of a query—either its original name, or an alias that is defined in the FROM clause.

cursor

A named linkage to a result set, used to access and update rows from a programming interface. In Adaptive Server Anywhere, cursors support forward and backward movement through the query results. Cursors consist of two parts: the cursor result set, typically defined by a SELECT statement; and the cursor position.

cursor position

A pointer to one row within the cursor result set.

cursor result set

The set of rows resulting from a query that is associated with a cursor.

data definition language (DDL)

The subset of SQL statements for modeling the structure of a database. DDL statements create, modify, and remove database objects, including users.

data type

The format of data, such as CHAR or NUMERIC. In the ANSI SQL standard, data types can also include a restriction on size, character set, and collation.

data manipulation language (DML)

The subset of SQL statements for retrieving and updating the contents of a database.

database

A collection of tables that are related by primary and foreign keys. The tables hold the information in the database. The tables and keys together define the structure of the database. A database-management system accesses this information.

database administrator (DBA)

The user with the permissions required to maintain the database. The DBA is generally responsible for all changes to a database schema, and for managing users and user groups. The role of database administrator is automatically built into databases as user ID DBA with password SQL.

database connection

A communication channel between a client application and the database. A valid user ID and password are required to establish a connection. The privileges granted to the user ID determine the actions that can be carried out during the connection.

database file

A database is held in one or more database files. There is an initial file, and subsequent files are called dbspaces. Each table, including its indexes, must be contained within a single database file.

database-management system (DBMS)

A collection of programs that allow you to create and use databases.

database name

The name given to a database when it is loaded by a server. The default database name is the root of the initial database file.

database object

A component of a database that contains or receives information. Tables, indexes, views, procedures, and triggers are database objects.

database owner (dbo)

A special user that owns the system objects not owned by SYS.

database server

A computer program that regulates all access to information in a database. Adaptive Server Anywhere provides two types of servers: network servers and personal servers.

DBA authority

The level of permission that enables a user to carry out administrative activity in the database. The DBA user has DBA authority by default.

dbspace

An additional database file that creates more space for data. A database can be held in up to 13 separate files (an initial file and 12 dbspaces). Each table, together with its indexes, must be contained in a single database file. The SQL command CREATE DBSPACE adds a new file to the database.

embedded SQL

A programming interface for C programs. Adaptive Server Anywhere embedded SQL is an implementation of the ANSI and IBM standard.

external login

An alternate login name and password used when communicating with a remote server. By default, Adaptive Server Anywhere uses the names and passwords of its clients whenever it connects to a remote server on behalf of those clients. However, this default can be overridden by creating external logins. External logins are alternate login names and passwords used when communicating with a remote server.

extraction

In SQL Remote replication, the act of unloading the appropriate structure and data from the consolidated database. This information is used to initialize the remote database.

In MobiLink synchronization, the act of unloading the appropriate structure and data from a reference database.

failover

Switching to a redundant or standby server, system, or network on failure or unplanned termination of the active server, system, or network. Failover happens automatically, and is often built-in to continuously available systems.

FILE

In SQL Remote replication, a message system that uses shared files for exchanging replication messages. This is useful for testing and for installations without an explicit message-transport system (such as MAPI).

foreign key

One or more columns in a table that duplicate the primary key values in another table. Foreign keys establish relationships between tables.

foreign key constraint

A restriction on a column or set of columns that specifies how the data in the table relates to the data in some other table. Imposing a foreign key constraint on a set of columns makes those columns the foreign key.

foreign table

The table containing the foreign key.

full backup

A backup of the entire database, and optionally, the transaction log. A full backup contains all the information in the database and thus provides protection in the event of a system or media failure.

generated join condition

A restriction on join results based on the keyword KEY or NATURAL. For a natural join, the generated join condition is based on common column names in the two tables. For a key join, the condition is based on a foreign key relationship between the two tables.

global temporary table

A type of temporary table for which data definitions are visible to all users until explicitly dropped. Global temporary tables let each user open their own identical instance of a table. By default, rows are deleted on commit, and rows are always deleted when the connection is ended.

grant option

The level of permission that allows a user to grant permissions to other users.

identifier

A string of characters used to reference a database object, such as a table or column. An identifier may contain any character from A through Z, a through z, 0 through 9, underscore (_), at sign (@), number sign (#), or dollar sign ($).

incremental backup

A backup of the transaction log only, typically used between full backups.

index

A sorted set of keys and pointers associated with one or more columns in a base table. An index on one or more columns of a table can improve performance.

InfoMaker

A reporting and data maintenance tool that lets you create sophisticated forms, reports, graphs, cross-tabs, and tables, as well as applications that use these reports as building blocks.

inner join

A join in which rows appear in the result set only if both tables satisfy the join condition. Inner joins are the default.

integrated login

A login feature that allows the same single user ID and password to be used for operating system logins, network logins, and database connections.

integrity

Adherence to rules that ensure that data is correct and accurate, and that the relational structure of the database is intact.

Interactive SQL

An Adaptive Server Anywhere application that allows you to query and alter data in your database, and modify the structure of your database. Interactive SQL provides a pane for you to enter SQL statements, as well as panes that display information about how the query was processed and the result set.

isolation level

The degree to which operations in one transaction are visible to operations in other concurrent transactions. There are four isolation levels, numbered 0 through 3. Level 3 provides the highest level of isolation. Level 0 is the default setting.

JAR file

Java archive file. A compressed file format consisting of a collection of one or more packages used for Java applications. It includes all the resources necessary to install and run a Java program in a single compressed file.

Java class

The main structural unit of code in Java. It is a collection of procedures and variables grouped together because they all relate to a specific, identifiable category.

jConnect

A Java implementation of the JavaSoft JDBC standard. It provides Java developers with native database access in multi-tier and heterogeneous environments.

JDBC

Java Database Connectivity. A SQL-language programming interface that allows Java applications to access relational data.

join

A basic operation in a relational system that links the rows in two or more tables by comparing the values in specified columns.

join condition

A restriction that affects join results. You specify a join condition by inserting an ON clause or WHERE clause immediately after the join. In the case of natural and key joins, Adaptive Server Anywhere generates a join condition.

join type

Adaptive Server Anywhere provides four types of joins: cross join, key join, natural join, and joins using an ON clause.

local temporary table

A type of temporary table that exists only for the duration of a compound statement or until the end of the connection. Local temporary tables are useful when you need to load a set of data only once. By default, rows are deleted on commit.

lock

A concurrency control mechanism that protects the integrity of data during the simultaneous execution of multiple transactions. Adaptive Server Anywhere automatically applies locks to prevent two connections from changing the same data at the same time, and to prevent other connections from reading data that is in the process of being changed.

You control locking by setting the isolation level.

log file

A log of transactions maintained by Adaptive Server Anywhere. The log file is used to ensure that the database is recoverable in the event of a system or media failure, to improve database performance, and to allow data replication using SQL Remote.

LTM

MAPI

Microsoft's Messaging Application Programming Interface. A message system used in several popular e-mail systems such as Microsoft Mail.

message system

In SQL Remote replication, a protocol for exchanging messages between the consolidated database and a remote database. Adaptive Server Anywhere includes support for the following message systems: FILE, MAPI, FTP, SMTP, and VIM.

message type

In SQL Remote replication, a database object that specifies how remote users communicate with the publisher of a consolidated database. A consolidated database may have several message types defined for it; this allows different remote users to communicate with it using different message systems.

metadata

Data about data. Metadata describes the nature and content of other data.

MobiLink

A session-based synchronization technology designed to synchronize UltraLite and Adaptive Server Anywhere databases with many industry-standard SQL database-management systems from Sybase and other vendors.

MobiLink user

A MobiLink user is a name that uniquely identifies a MobiLink remote database in the synchronization system. The client supplies this name and, optionally, an associated password when it connects to the MobiLink synchronization server. MobiLink user names are entirely independent of database user names.

NetWare

A widely-used network operating system defined by Novell. NetWare generally employs the IPX/SPX protocol, although the TCP/IP protocol may also be used.

network server

A database server that accepts connections from computers sharing a common network.

normalization

The refinement of a database structure to eliminate redundancy and improve organization according to rules based on relational database theory.

object tree

In Sybase Central, the hierarchy of database objects. The top level of the object tree shows all products that your version of Sybase Central supports. Each product expands to reveal its own sub-tree of objects.

ODBC

Open Database Connectivity. A standard Windows interface to database-management systems. ODBC is one of several interfaces supported by Adaptive Server Anywhere.

ODBC Administrator

A Microsoft program included with Windows operating systems for setting up ODBC data sources.

ODBC data source

A specification of the data a user wants to access via ODBC, and the information needed to get to that data.

outer join

A join that preserves all the rows in a table. Adaptive Server Anywhere supports left, right, and full outer joins. A left outer join preserves the rows in the table to the left of the join operator, and returns a null when a row in the right table does not satisfy the join condition. A full outer join preserves all the rows from both tables.

package

In Java, a collection of sets of related classes.

passthrough

In SQL Remote replication, a mode by which the publisher of the consolidated database can directly change remote databases with SQL statements. Passthrough is set up for specific remotes. In normal passthrough mode, all database changes made at the consolidated database are passed through to the selected remote databases. In passthrough only mode, the changes are made at the remote databases, but not at the consolidated database.

performance statistic

A value reflecting the performance of the database system. The CURRREAD statistic, for example, represents the number of file reads issued by the engine that have not yet completed.

personal server

A database server that runs on the same computer as the client application. A personal database server is typically used by a single user on a single computer, but it can support several concurrent connections from that user.

plug-in module

In Sybase Central, a way to access and administer a product. Plug-ins are usually installed and registered automatically with Sybase Central when you install the respective product. Typically, a plug-in appears as a top-level container, in the Sybase Central main window, using the name of the product itself; for example, Adaptive Server Anywhere.

PowerDesigner

A database modeling application. PowerDesigner provides a structured approach to designing a database or data warehouse.

PowerDynamo

A Sybase product for building and managing a Web application linked to a database.

PowerJ

A Sybase product for developing Java applications.

predicate

A conditional expression that is optionally combined with the logical operators AND and OR to make up the set of conditions in a WHERE or HAVING clause. In SQL, a predicate that evaluates to UNKNOWN is interpreted as FALSE.

primary key

A column or list of columns whose values uniquely identify every row in the table.

primary key constraint

A uniqueness constraint on the primary key columns. A table can have only one primary key constraint.

primary table

The table containing the primary key in a foreign key relationship.

proxy table

A local table containing metadata used to access a table on a remote database server as if it were a local table.

publication

In SQL Remote or MobiLink, a database object that identifies replicated data. In MobiLink, publications exist only on the clients. A publication consists of articles. Periodically, the changes made to each publication are replicated to all subscribers to that publication. SQL Remote users can receive a publication by subscribing to it. MobiLink users can synchronize a publication by creating a synchronization subscription to it.

publication update

In SQL Remote replication, a list of changes made to one or more publications in one database. A publication update is sent periodically as part of a replication message to the remote database(s).

publisher

In SQL Remote replication, the single user in a database who can exchange replication messages with other replicating databases.

query

A SQL statement or group of SQL statements that access and/or manipulate data in a database.

Redirector

A web server plug-in that routes requests and responses between a client and the MobiLink synchronization server. This plug-in also implements load-balancing and failover mechanisms.

reference database

In MobiLink, an Adaptive Server Anywhere database used in the development of UltraLite clients. You can use a single Adaptive Server Anywhere database as both reference and consolidated database during development. Databases made with other products cannot be used as reference databases.

referential integrity

Adherence to rules governing data consistency, specifically the relationships between the primary and foreign key values in different tables. To have referential integrity, the values in each foreign key must correspond to the primary key values of a row in the referenced table.

relational database-management system (RDBMS)

A type of database-management system that stores data in the form of related tables.

remote database

In SQL Remote replication or MobiLink synchronization, a database that exchanges data with a consolidated database. Remote databases may share all or some of the data in the consolidated database.

remote DBA authority

In SQL Remote, a level of permission required by the Message Agent. In MobiLink, a level of permission required by the Adaptive Server Anywhere synchronization client (dbmlsync). When the Message Agent or synchronization client connects as a user who has this authority, it has full DBA access. The user ID has no additional permissions when not connected through the Message Agent or synchronization client.

remote permission

In SQL Remote replication, the permission to exchange replication messages with the publishing database. Granting remote permissions to a user makes that user a remote user. You must specify a message type, an appropriate remote address, and a replication frequency. In general terms, remote permissions can also refer to any user involved in SQL Remote replication (for example, the consolidated publisher and remote publisher).

remote user

In SQL Remote replication, a database user in the consolidated database that has been granted remote permissions and is associated with one particular remote database in the replication setup. To create a remote user, an ordinary database user is granted remote permissions. Doing so not only identifies the existence of a particular remote database, but also specifies the message type and address with which to communicate with that particular remote site.

When remote databases are created by means of extraction from a consolidated database, each remote user in the consolidated database becomes the publisher of the data in one particular remote database.

replication

The sharing of data among physically distinct databases. Sybase has three replication technologies: MobiLink, SQL Remote, and Replication Server.

Replication Agent

In Replication Server, the program, also called Log Transfer Manager (LTM), that reads a database transaction log and sends committed changes to Replication Server.

replication frequency

In SQL Remote replication, a setting for each remote user that determines how often the publisher's message agent should send replication messages to that remote user.

replication message

In SQL Remote or Replication Server, a communication sent between a publishing database and a subscribing database. Messages contain data, passthrough statements, and information required by the replication system.

Replication Server

A Sybase connection-based replication technology that works with Adaptive Server Anywhere and Adaptive Server Enterprise. It is intended for near-real time replication between a small number of databases.

role

In conceptual database modeling, a verb or phrase that describes a relationship from one point of view. You can describe each relationship with two roles. Examples of roles are "contains" and "is a member of."

role name

The name of a foreign key. This is called a role name because it names the relationship between the foreign table and primary table. By default, the role name is the table name, unless another foreign key is already using that name, in which case the default role name is the table name followed by a three-digit unique number. You can also create the name yourself.

rollback log

A record of the changes made during each uncommitted transaction. In the event of a ROLLBACK request or a system failure, uncommitted transactions are reversed out of the database, returning the database to its former state. Each transaction has a separate rollback log, which is deleted when the transaction is complete.

row-level trigger

A trigger that executes once for each row that is changed.

schema

The structure of a database, including tables, columns, and indexes, and the relationships between them.

scripts

In MobiLink, code written to handle MobiLink events. Scripts programmatically control data exchange to meet business needs.

server-initiated synchronization

A way to initiate MobiLink synchronization programmatically from the consolidated database.

service

In Windows operating systems, a way of running applications when the user ID running the application is not logged on.

session-based synchronization

A type of synchronization where synchronization results in consistent data representation across both the consolidated and remote databases. MobiLink is session-based.

SQL

The language used to communicate with relational databases. ANSI has defined standards for SQL, the latest of which is SQL-99 (also called SQL3). SQL stands, unofficially, for Structured Query Language.

SQL Remote

A message-based replication technology for two-way replication between consolidated and remote databases. The consolidated database must be Adaptive Server Anywhere or Adaptive Server Enterprise. The remote databases must be Adaptive Server Anywhere.

SQL statement

A string containing SQL keywords designed for passing instructions to a DBMS.

statement-level trigger

A trigger that executes after the entire triggering statement is completed.

stored procedure

A program comprised of a sequence of SQL instructions, stored in the database and used to perform a particular task.

subquery

A SELECT statement that is nested inside another SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statement, or another subquery.

There are two types of subquery: correlated and nested.

subscription

In SQL Remote replication, a link between a publication and a remote user, allowing the user to exchange updates on that publication with the consolidated database.

In MobiLink synchronization, a synchronization subscription is a link in a client database between a publication and a MobiLink user allowing the data described by the publication to be synchronized.

Sybase Central

A database management tool that provides Adaptive Server Anywhere database settings, properties, and utilities in a graphical user interface. Sybase Central can also be used for managing other Sybase products, including MobiLink.

synchronization

The process of replicating data between databases using MobiLink technology.

In SQL Remote, synchronization is used exclusively to denote the process of initializing a remote database with an initial set of data.

SYS

A special user that owns most of the system objects. You cannot log in as SYS.

system object

Database objects owned by SYS or dbo.

system table

A table, owned by SYS or dbo, that holds metadata. System tables, also known as data dictionary tables, are created and maintained by the database server.

system view

A type of view, included in every database, that presents the information held in the system tables in an easily understood format.

temporary table

A table that is created for the temporary storage of data. There are two types: global and local.

transaction

A sequence of SQL statements that comprise a logical unit of work. A transaction is processed in its entirety or not at all. Adaptive Server Anywhere supports transaction processing, with locking features built in to allow concurrent transactions to access the database without corrupting the data. Transactions end either with a COMMIT statement, which makes the changes to the data permanent, or a ROLLBACK statement, which undoes all the changes made during the transaction.

transaction log

A file storing all changes made to a database, in the order in which they are made. It improves performance and allows data recovery in the event the database file is damaged. For best results, the transaction log should be kept on a different device from the database files.

transaction log mirror

An optional identical copy of the transaction log file, maintained simultaneously. Every time a database change is written to the transaction log file, it is also written to the transaction log mirror file.

A mirror file should be kept on a separate device from the transaction log, so that if either device fails, the other copy of the log keeps the data safe for recovery.

trigger

A special form of stored procedure executed automatically when a user executes a query that modifies the data.

UltraLite

A deployment technology for Adaptive Server Anywhere databases, aimed at small, mobile, and embedded devices. Intended platforms include cell phones, pagers, and personal organizers.

unique constraint

A restriction on a column or set of columns requiring that all non-null values are different. A table can have multiple unique constraints.

unload

Unloading a database exports the structure and/or data of the database to text files (SQL command files for the structure, and ASCII comma-separated files for the data). You unload a database with the Unload utility.

In addition, you can unload selected portions of your data using the UNLOAD statement.

upload

The stage in synchronization where data is transferred from a remote database to a consolidated database.

user-defined data type

A data type that users create to specify a base data type, and optionally a default value, check condition, and nullability. User-defined data types, also called user-defined domains, can be applied to columns to enforce consistency throughout the database.

validate

To test for particular types of file corruption of a database, table, or index.

view

A SELECT statement that is stored in the database as an object. It allows users to see a subset of rows or columns from one or more tables. Each time a user uses a view of a particular table, or combination of tables, it is recomputed from the information stored in those tables. Views are useful for security purposes, and to tailor the appearance of database information to make data access straightforward.

Windows

The Microsoft Windows family of operating systems, including Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows CE, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

Windows CE

A family of operating systems produced by Microsoft for mobile devices.

work table

An internal storage area for interim results during query optimization.

write file

A file used to record changes to a read-only database. Often used with compressed databases.