Improved Data Processing and Verification

Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5 enhances present cursor functionality by supporting updates on tables that do not have a unique index and cursors that automatically close when a transaction commits. SQL Server 6.5 allows Data Definition Language statements (for example, CREATE and DROP statements) within a transaction. The DBCC DBREINDEX statement allows one or more indexes for a table to be rebuilt.

Many improvements in SQL Server 6.5 are designed to ease the development process and provide you with greater programming options. Some of these improvements are:

• A 32-bit DB-Library for Visual Basic OLE custom control.
• Enhancements to DB-Library for C including support for enlisting in MS DTC transactions using the new dbenlisttrans and dbenlistxatrans functions, and the ability to open cursors on stored procedures using dynamic parameters.
• Additional Open Data Services (ODS) functionality including bound session support by using the new srv_getbindtoken function.
• Embedded SQL for C functionality including ANSI compatibility.

SQL Server provides support for extended stored procedures, allowing SQL Server to dynamically load and execute a function within a dynamic-link library (DLL) in a manner similar to that of a stored procedure. Actions outside of SQL Server can be triggered, and external information can be returned to SQL Server for manipulation.

SQL Server 6.5 now supports distributed, atomic transactions between two or more SQL Server systems. SQL Server 6.5 also adds new Transact-SQL capabilities such as CUBE and ROLLUP operators, row-level locking during certain transactions, and bound connections.

For a complete description of the enhancements contained in Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5, see the SQL Server documentation.