ASA SQL User's Guide
Working with Database Objects
Working with databases
Adaptive Server Anywhere provides a number of ways to create a database: in Sybase Central, in Interactive SQL, and at the command line. Creating a database is also called initializing it. Once the database is created, you can connect to it and build the tables and other objects that you need in the database.
When you create a database, you must decide where to place the transaction log. This log stores all changes made to a database, in the order in which they are made. In the event of a media failure on a database file, the transaction log is essential for database recovery. It also makes your work more efficient. By default, it is placed in the same directory as the database file, but this is not recommended for production use.
For more information on placing the transaction log, see Configuring your database for data protection.
An Adaptive Server Anywhere database is an operating system file. It can be copied to other locations just as any other file is copied.
Database files are compatible among all operating systems, except where file system file size limitations or Adaptive Server Anywhere support for large files apply. A database created from any operating system can be used from another operating system by copying the database file(s). Similarly, a database created with a personal server can be used with a network server. Adaptive Server Anywhere servers can manage databases created with earlier versions of the software, but old servers cannot manage newer databases.
For more information about limitations, see Size and number limitations.
Some application design systems, such as Sybase PowerBuilder, contain tools for creating database objects. These tools construct SQL statements that are submitted to the server, typically through its ODBC interface. If you are using one of these tools, you do not need to construct SQL statements to create tables, assign permissions, and so on.
This chapter describes the SQL statements for defining database objects. You can use these statements directly if you are building your database from an interactive SQL tool, such as Interactive SQL. Even if you are using an application design tool, you may want to use SQL statements to add features to the database if they are not supported by the design tool.
For more advanced use, database design tools such as Sybase PowerDesigner provide a more thorough and reliable approach to developing well-designed databases.
For more information about database design, see Designing Your Database.
Creating databases (Sybase Central)
Creating databases (SQL)
Creating databases (command line)