Net.Data Language Environment Reference

Sybase Language Environment

The Sybase language environment provides native access to your Sybase data. You can access Sybase tables from Net.Data running in CGI, FastCGI, NSAPI, ISAPI, or GWAPI mode.

Restrictions:

• The Sybase language environment does not support large objects, such as images and audio. Stored procedures are supported only for procedures without a SELECT statement.

• The Sybase language environment requires Live Connection to use FastCGI.

To access Sybase from Net.Data

1. Verify that the ENVIRONMENT statement in the Net.Data initialization file is correct for the Sybase language environment. See the configuration chapter in Net.Data Administration and Programming Guide for steps and examples.

2. Ensure the appropriate components of Sybase are installed and working as follows:

   1. Install Sybase's Open Client on the machine where Net.Data is installed, if it is not already installed. For more information, see the Sybase Open Client documentation for more information.

   2. Verify that the Sybase ping function can be used with the same security authorization that your Web server uses. To verify, log on with your Web server's user ID and type:

      ping sybase-instance-name
      

      Where sybase-instance-name is the name of the Sybase system that your Net.Data macros access.

      You might not be able to verify the ping function on Windows NT if your Web server runs under system authority. If so, skip this step.

   3. Verify that the Sybase tables can be accessed with the same security authorization that your Web server uses. To verify, enter an SQL SELECT statement, using the ISQL line command tool, to access an Sybase table with the authority of your Web server. For example:

      SELECT * FROM tablename
      

      You might not be able to verify table access on Windows NT if your Web server runs under system authority. If so, skip this step.

   Troubleshooting: Do not proceed if the above steps fail. If any of the steps fail, check your Sybase configuration.

3. Ensure that the Sybase environment variables are set correctly in your Web server process.

   • For AIX, put the following lines in the /etc/environment file:

     DSQUERY=sybase-instance-name
     SYBASE=sybase-runtime-library-directory
     

   • For Windows NT, use the System Properties Control panel to add the following environment variables:

     DSQUERY=sybase-instance-name
     SYBASE=sybase-runtime-library-directory
     

   Hint: You might require additional lines for other Sybase environment variables, depending on the Sybase facilities you plan to use, such as national language support and two-phase commit. Consult the Sybase administration documentation for more information on these environment variables.

4. Test the connection to Sybase from Net.Data. In your Net.Data macro file, specify the appropriate values in the LOGIN, PASSWORD, and DATABASE variables. The following is an example of connect statement in a macro file:

   %DEFINE DATABASE=database-name
   %DEFINE LOGIN=user_ID@remote-sybase-instance-name
   %DEFINE PASSWORD=password 
   

   Live Connection: If you use Live Connection, then you can specify the LOGIN and PASSWORD in the Live Connection configuration file, although it is not recommend for security purposes. For example:

   DATABASE=database-name
   LOGIN=user_ID
   PASSWORD=password
   

5. Test your configuration by running a CGI shell script to ensure that the Sybase instance can be accessed from your Web server, as in the following example:

   #! /bin/sh
   echo "content-type; text/html
   echo
   echo "< html>< pre>"
   set
   echo "</pre>< p>< pre>"
   isql -u user_ID -p password << EOFF
   SELECT * FROM tablename
   EOFF
   echo
   

   Troubleshooting:

   If the verification step fails, check that all the preceding steps were successful by verifying the following items:

   • Check your Sybase configuration.

   • Verify that the Sybase environment variable syntax is correct and that no variables are missing.

   • Check the Sybase connection, ensuring that you have entered the correct user ID and password.

Example:

Once you have completed the accessing verification steps, you can make calls to the Sybase language environment with functions in the macro file, as in the following example:

%function(DTW_SYB) STL1() {
insert into $(tablename) (int1,int2) values (111,NULL)
%}