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Programming the Perl DBI
One of the greatest strengths of the Perl programming
language is its ability to manipulate large amounts of data.
Database programming is therefore a natural fit for Perl,
not only for business applications but also for CGI-based
web and intranet applications.
The primary interface for database programming in Perl is
DBI.
DBI is a database-independent package that provides a
consistent set of routines regardless of what database
product you use--Oracle, Sybase, Ingres, Informix, you name
it. The design of DBI is to separate the actual database
drivers (DBDs) from the programmer's API, so any DBI
program can work with any database, or even with multiple
databases by different vendors simultaneously.
Programming the Perl DBI is coauthored by Alligator
Descartes, one of the most active members of the DBI
community, and by Tim Bunce, the inventor of DBI. For the
uninitiated, the book explains the architecture of DBI and
shows you how to write DBI-based programs. For the
experienced DBI dabbler, this book reveals DBI's nuances and
the peculiarities of each individual DBD.
The book includes:
An introduction to DBI and its design
How to construct queries and bind parameters
Working with database, driver, and statement handles
Debugging techniques
Coverage of each existing DBD
A complete reference to DBI
This is the definitive book for database programming in
Perl.
Preface
1. Introduction
From Mainframes to Workstations
Perl
DBI in the Real World
A Historical Interlude and Standing Stones
2. Basic Non-DBI Databases
Storage Managers and Layers
Query Languages and Data Functions
Standing Stones and the Sample Database
Flat-File Databases
Putting Complex Data into Flat Files
Concurrent Database Access and Locking
DBM Files and the Berkeley Database Manager
The MLDBM Module
Summary
3. SQL and Relational Databases
The Relational Database Methodology
Datatypes and NULL Values
Querying Data
Modifying Data Within Tables
Creating and Destroying Tables
4. Programming with the DBI
DBI Architecture
Handles
Data Source Names
Connection and Disconnection
Error Handling
Utility Methods and Functions
5. Interacting with the Database
Issuing Simple Queries
Executing Non-SELECT Statements
Binding Parameters to Statements
Binding Output Columns
do( ) Versus prepare( )
Atomic and Batch Fetching
6. Advanced DBI
Handle Attributes and Metadata
Handling LONG/LOB Data
Transactions, Locking, and Isolation
7. ODBC and the DBI
ODBC-Embraced and Extended
DBI-Thrashed and Mutated
The Nuts and Bolts of ODBC
ODBC from Perl
The Marriage of DBI and ODBC
Questions and Choices
Moving Between Win32::ODBC and the DBI
And What About ADO?
8. DBI Shell and Database Proxying
dbish-The DBI Shell
Database Proxying
A. DBI Specification
B. Driver and Database Characteristics
C. ASLaN Sacred Site Charter
Index
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