Data Types

Individual DB Link type definitions are provided in the Reference Manual.

The minimal set of ANSI database data types are translated to the same types for all supported RDBMSs. The data types that are handled by DB Link are the same for input and for output. The database system input and output types are mapped to DB Link types according to tables that show which DB Link type is used to retrieve the database data.

A one-to-one correspondence between database data types and DB Link types cannot be established. The DB Link principle for mapping is economy—that is, DB Link defines a minimal set of data types to which database types are converted. This does not prevent DB Link from converting all database data types for each supported RDBMS.

This chapter is divided as follows:

• Output Mode provides the correspondence between DB Link types and RDBMSs in output mode.

• Input Mode provides the correspondence between DB Link types and RDBMSs in input mode.