PVX Technologies

The PxPlus SQL Evolution Revolution

Circuit boardThings evolve in order to survive and flourish. Just like PxPlus has evolved to adapt to newer technologies, so has SQL, and as such, we need to keep pace with its evolution. SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is a standardized method of accessing data from a database or file system. The first versions of SQL were standardized back in the 1980s when both the American National Standard Institute and the International Organization for Standardization adopted it. Since that time, the language has undergone numerous changes and enhancements from SQL-86 through SQL 2008, with each new version adding functionality and changes to the core syntax.

The PxPlus Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver and related server process are how we provide SQL access to the native PxPlus file system. It should come as no surprise that PVX Plus Technologies has, over the years, made various changes along the way to ensure its SQL interface continues to support this evolving standard.

Well, our next release of the ODBC driver and server products, due out this spring, is no exception — except that this release will be exceptional.

To make sure we addressed your needs, we solicited feedback about the PxPlus ODBC products: how the products are currently used and what new features are needed. Your valuable input allowed us to focus on those elements of the SQL interface that are important to you, our clients.

For this release, we went the extra mile to bring many new features and new SQL syntax support to the drivers to ensure your software is interoperable across platforms and across multiple database management systems.

Take a quick look at what the new ODBC driver will offer!

[cta style=”background: lightyellow;”]Greater Compatibility

  • No need to escape joins, scalar functions, and dates
  • More flexibility for joining three or more tables
  • Empty string and NULL treated as equivalent
  • Comments are allowed on SQL commands

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[cta style=”background: lightgreen;”]New Capabilities

  • Combine results of multiple select statements via SQL union
  • Support conditional processing via SQL case
  • Perform a right-join on two tables
  • Convert one data type to another via CAST scalar function within the query

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[cta style=”background: lightblue;”]Enhanced Performance

  • View queries that use a date to filter out results
  • Queries with multiple keys, where using an alternate key would be faster, can now be forced to use an alternate key via an SQL hint

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[cta style=”background: #dbb8f8;”]New Functionality

  • PxPlus SQL Command Line Client can return column names
  • Data source name (DSN) configuration application with option to quickly test access to PxPlus data via Data Dictionary/INI
  • ODBC driver can be used in Linux/UNIX, where supported (e.g., LibreOffice, OpenOffice)
  • 64-bit Linux/UNIX ODBC file server and ODBC driver enable compatibility with 64-bit Linux/UNIX systems and PxPlus

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Big changes call for a new name
With so many enhancements to our ODBC/SQL interface, we felt it necessary to change its name. Introducing our new products:

  • PxPlus ODBC SQL Driver
  • PxPlus SQL Server

These new SQL capabilities will not only help meet the needs of your users but also provide better access to your data from many of the industry-leading third party products.

Once you get your hands on these new products, we are sure you will agree that it is a SQL Evolution Revolution.

[cta]Looking for the full list of enhancements in the latest PxPlus release? Find details about PxPlus 2014 Feature Pack 1 here.[/cta]

PVX Plus Technologies