The Firebird Book: A Reference for Database Developers

Description

Although less publicized than other open source database management systems, Firebird continues to gain a dedicated following of professional users. Figures have already reached hundreds of thousands worldwide, in Firebird's short history in open source. And until now, no other book has been available. This is the first, official book on Firebird—the free, independent, open source relational database server that emerged in 2000. Based on the actual Firebird Project, this book will provide all you need to know about Firebird database development, like installation, multi-platform configuration, SQL, interfaces, and maintenance. This comprehensive guide will help you build stable and scalable relational database back-ends for all sizes of client/server networks. The text is well-stocked with tips, code examples, and explanations to reinforce the material covered. This book concentrates on Firebird edition 1.5—complete with updated language, security and optimization features—without neglecting the needs of Firebird 1.0 users. Front Matter....Pages i-xxxiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Installation....Pages 3-27 Network Setup....Pages 29-44 Configuring Firebird....Pages 45-54 Operating Basics....Pages 55-72 Front Matter....Pages 73-73 Introduction to Client/Server Architecture....Pages 75-84 Firebird Server....Pages 85-93 Firebird Clients....Pages 95-110 Front Matter....Pages 111-111 About Firebird Data Types....Pages 113-126 Number Types....Pages 127-141 Date and Time Types....Pages 143-160 Character Types....Pages 161-180 BLOBs and Arrays....Pages 181-190 Domains....Pages 191-203 Front Matter....Pages 205-205 From Drawing Board to Database....Pages 207-230 Creating and Maintaining a Database....Pages 231-259 Tables....Pages 261-296 Referential Integrity....Pages 297-313 Indexes....Pages 315-343 Front Matter....Pages 345-345 Firebird’s SQL Language....Pages 347-352 DML Queries....Pages 353-385 Front Matter....Pages 345-345 Expressions and Predicates....Pages 387-430 Querying Multiple Tables....Pages 431-466 Ordered and Aggregated Sets....Pages 467-483 Views....Pages 485-501 Front Matter....Pages 503-503 Overview of Firebird Transactions....Pages 505-520 Configuring Transactions....Pages 521-533 Programming with Transactions....Pages 535-560 Front Matter....Pages 561-561 Introduction to Firebird Programming....Pages 563-571 Developing PSQL Modules....Pages 573-600 Stored Procedures....Pages 601-639 Triggers....Pages 641-663 Error Handling and Events....Pages 665-685 Front Matter....Pages 687-687 Security in the Operating Environment....Pages 689-695 Server Protection....Pages 697-712 Database-Level Security....Pages 713-738 Configuration and Special Features....Pages 739-775 Front Matter....Pages 777-777 Interactive SQL Utility (isql)....Pages 779-811 Database Backup and Restore (gbak)....Pages 813-834 Housekeeping Tool (gfix)....Pages 835-853 Understanding the Lock Manager....Pages 855-880 Back Matter....Pages 881-1094