 | Level: Intermediate Sam Marino (smarino@us.ibm.com), Advisory Software Engineer, IBM
03 Aug 2006 This article describes the differences between Oracle and Informix® Dynamic Server (IDS) functionality and syntax. In addition to DDL, DML and overall SQL syntax, you'll explore the differences between Oracle and Informix with regards to the use of large objects, user defined types, user defined routines, and table partitioning. The author discusses what needs to be changed to make an application running on an Oracle database run on an Informix database, and gives alternatives.
In this article
- DDL comparisons
- DML comparisons
- Embedded SQL
- Application architecture issues
- Using Bladelets
- Migration toolkit
- Planning guide
- Syntax comparison
- Database concepts
- Sample code
Introduction
This document is a technical document describing the differences between Oracle and Informix® Dynamic Server (IDS) functionality and syntax. This porting guide details differences between Oracle’s 10g release 1 (10.1) and 10g release 2 (10.2) and Informix Dynamic Server (version 10.00). In addition, it can be a useful reference for all migrations between the two database servers regardless of version. In addition to DDL, DML and overall SQL syntax, this document explores the differences between Oracle and Informix with regards to object technology through the use of large objects, user defined types, and user defined routines. It also looks at the differences between Oracle’s table partitioning and Informix’s table fragmentation. Part of the explanation is a discussion on what needs to be changed to make an application running on an Oracle database run on an Informix database. If there is more than one way to port some piece of functionality, alternatives and recommendations are also discussed.
This document is intended to be a living document. Missing items, better ways of implementing Oracle functionality in Informix other than what is documented here, examples to better illustrate a point, and other suggestions should be sent to Sam Marino (smarino@us.ibm.com) so they may be included with future revisions.
Purpose
This document should be used as a guide to assist in porting applications that run on an Oracle database server to run on an Informix Dynamic Server database server. Regardless of whether a porting effort will be completely manual or if tools will be utilized, this document can provide value. Obviously, if the port is performed manually, this guide will provide the most value. If the port will utilize tools, then analysis can be performed using this guide to determine how much of the application the tools will convert, and how much must be converted manually. In any case, this guide is intended to be used to both visualize the scope of a porting effort and to aid in the porting effort by addressing the technical issues.
Download | Description | Name | Size | Download method |
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| Article in PDF format | Oracle_to_IDS.pdf | 490 KB | HTTP |
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Resources Learn
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Visit the developerWorks Informix Zone to read articles and tutorials and connect to other resources to expand your Informix skills.
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The Informix Dynmic Server v10.0 Information Center contains documentation for IDS Enterprise and Workgroup Editions, IDS Express Edition, and Informix Client Software Developer Kit.
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"IBM Migration Toolkit" is your resource for migrating from Oracle, Sybase ASE, Sybase SQL Anywhere, Microsoft SQL Server, Informix IDS, and MySQL to DB2 on Linux, UNIX, and Windows, DB2 on iSeries, DB2 on z/OS, and Informix Dynamic Server..
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About the author | 
| | Sam Marino is an Advisory Software Engineer with IBM Data Services' Business Partner Technical Enablement organization. He consults business partners porting database applications from competitor products to DB2 and Informix. Sam is an IBM Certified Solutions Expert in both DB2 and Informix.
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