r9734: Document idiosyncrasies of the individual backends and differences from CommonSQL.
[clsql.git] / doc / ref-syntax.xml
1 <?xml version='1.0' ?>
2 <!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.2//EN"
3 "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.2/docbookx.dtd" [
4 <!ENTITY % myents SYSTEM "entities.inc">
5 %myents;
6 ]>
7
8 <!-- Symbolic SQL Syntax --> 
9 <reference id="ref-syntax"> 
10   <title>The Symbolic SQL Syntax</title> 
11   <partintro>
12     <para> 
13       &clsql; provides a symbolic syntax allowing the construction of
14       SQL expressions as lists delimited by square brackets. The
15       syntax is turned off by default. This section describes
16       utilities for enabling and disabling the square bracket reader
17       syntax and for constructing symbolic SQL expressions.
18     </para>
19   </partintro>  
20
21   <refentry id="enable-sql-reader-syntax">
22     <refmeta>
23       <refentrytitle>ENABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</refentrytitle>
24     </refmeta>
25     <refnamediv>
26       <refname><emphasis>Macro</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">ENABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</emphasis></refname>
27       <refpurpose>Globally enable square bracket reader syntax.</refpurpose>
28       <refclass>Macro</refclass>
29     </refnamediv>
30     <refsect1>
31       <title>Syntax</title>
32       <synopsis>
33       <function>enable-sql-reader-syntax</function> => <returnvalue></returnvalue></synopsis>
34     </refsect1>
35     <refsect1>
36       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
37       <para>None.</para> 
38     </refsect1>
39     <refsect1>
40       <title>Description</title>
41       <para>Turns on the SQL reader syntax setting the syntax state
42       such that if the syntax is subsequently disabled, <link
43       linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state">
44       <function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link> will
45       enable it again.
46       </para>
47     </refsect1>
48     <refsect1>
49       <title>Examples</title>
50       <para>None.</para> 
51     </refsect1>
52     <refsect1>
53       <title>Side Effects</title>
54       <para>
55         Sets the internal syntax state to enabled.
56       </para> 
57       <para> 
58         Modifies the default readtable.
59       </para>
60     </refsect1>
61     <refsect1>
62       <title>Affected by</title>
63       <para>
64         None. 
65       </para>
66     </refsect1>
67     <refsect1>
68       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
69       <para>
70         None. 
71       </para>
72     </refsect1>
73     <refsect1>
74       <title>See Also</title>
75       <simplelist>
76         <member><link linkend="disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
77         <member><link linkend="locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
78         <member><link linkend="locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
79         <member><link linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state"><function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link></member>
80       </simplelist>
81     </refsect1>
82     <refsect1>
83       <title>Notes</title>
84       <para>
85         The symbolic SQL syntax is disabled by default. 
86       </para>
87       <para> 
88         &clsql; differs from &commonsql; in that
89         <function>enable-sql-reader-syntax</function> is defined as a
90         macro rather than a function.
91       </para>
92     </refsect1>
93   </refentry>
94
95   <refentry id="disable-sql-reader-syntax">
96     <refmeta>
97       <refentrytitle>DISABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</refentrytitle>
98     </refmeta>
99     <refnamediv>
100       <refname><emphasis>Macro</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">DISABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</emphasis></refname>
101       <refpurpose>Globally disable square bracket reader syntax.</refpurpose>
102       <refclass>Macro</refclass>
103     </refnamediv>
104     <refsect1>
105       <title>Syntax</title>
106       <synopsis>
107       <function>disable-sql-reader-syntax</function> => <returnvalue></returnvalue></synopsis>
108     </refsect1>
109     <refsect1>
110       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
111       <para>None.</para> 
112     </refsect1>
113     <refsect1>
114       <title>Description</title>
115       <para>Turns off the SQL reader syntax setting the syntax state
116       such that if the syntax is subsequently enabled,
117       <link linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state">
118         <function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link> will
119         disable it again.
120       </para>
121     </refsect1>
122     <refsect1>
123       <title>Examples</title>
124       <para>None.</para> 
125     </refsect1>
126     <refsect1>
127       <title>Side Effects</title>
128       <para>
129         Sets the internal syntax state to disabled.
130       </para> 
131       <para> 
132         Modifies the default readtable.
133       </para>
134     </refsect1>
135     <refsect1>
136       <title>Affected by</title>
137       <para>
138         None. 
139       </para>
140     </refsect1>
141     <refsect1>
142       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
143       <para>
144         None. 
145       </para>
146     </refsect1>
147     <refsect1>
148       <title>See Also</title>
149       <simplelist>
150         <member><link linkend="enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
151         <member><link linkend="locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
152         <member><link linkend="locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
153         <member><link linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state"><function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link></member>
154       </simplelist>
155     </refsect1>
156     <refsect1>
157       <title>Notes</title>
158       <para>
159         The symbolic SQL syntax is disabled by default. 
160       </para>
161       <para> 
162         &clsql; differs from &commonsql; in that
163         <function>disable-sql-reader-syntax</function> is defined as a
164         macro rather than a function.
165       </para>
166     </refsect1>
167   </refentry>
168
169   <refentry id="locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax">
170     <refmeta>
171       <refentrytitle>LOCALLY-ENABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</refentrytitle>
172     </refmeta>
173     <refnamediv>
174       <refname><emphasis>Macro</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">LOCALLY-ENABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</emphasis></refname>
175       <refpurpose>Globally enable square bracket reader syntax.</refpurpose>
176       <refclass>Macro</refclass>
177     </refnamediv>
178     <refsect1>
179       <title>Syntax</title>
180       <synopsis>
181       <function>locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax</function> => <returnvalue></returnvalue></synopsis>
182     </refsect1>
183     <refsect1>
184       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
185       <para>None.</para> 
186     </refsect1>
187     <refsect1>
188       <title>Description</title>
189       <para>Turns on the SQL reader syntax without changing the syntax
190       state such that <link linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state">
191       <function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link> will
192       re-establish the current syntax state.
193       </para>
194     </refsect1>
195     <refsect1>
196       <title>Examples</title> 
197       <para>Intended to be used in a file for code which uses the 
198       square bracket syntax without changing the global state.
199       </para> 
200       <screen>
201         #.(locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax) 
202         
203         ... CODE USING SYMBOLIC SQL SYNTAX ... 
204         
205         #.(restore-sql-reader-syntax-state) 
206       </screen>
207     </refsect1>
208     <refsect1>
209       <title>Side Effects</title>
210       <para>
211         Modifies the default readtable.
212       </para>
213     </refsect1>
214     <refsect1>
215       <title>Affected by</title>
216       <para>None.</para>
217     </refsect1>
218     <refsect1>
219       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
220       <para>
221         None. 
222       </para>
223     </refsect1>
224     <refsect1>
225       <title>See Also</title>
226       <simplelist>
227         <member><link linkend="enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
228         <member><link linkend="disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
229         <member><link linkend="locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
230         <member><link linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state"><function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link></member>
231       </simplelist>
232     </refsect1>
233     <refsect1>
234       <title>Notes</title>
235       <para>
236         The symbolic SQL syntax is disabled by default. 
237       </para>
238       <para> 
239         &clsql; differs from &commonsql; in that
240         <function>locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax</function> is
241         defined as a macro rather than a function.
242       </para>
243     </refsect1>
244   </refentry>
245
246
247   <refentry id="locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax">
248     <refmeta>
249       <refentrytitle>LOCALLY-DISABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</refentrytitle>
250     </refmeta>
251     <refnamediv>
252       <refname><emphasis>Macro</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">LOCALLY-DISABLE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX</emphasis></refname>
253       <refpurpose>Locally disable square bracket reader syntax.</refpurpose>
254       <refclass>Macro</refclass>
255     </refnamediv>
256     <refsect1>
257       <title>Syntax</title>
258       <synopsis>
259       <function>locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax</function> => <returnvalue></returnvalue></synopsis>
260     </refsect1>
261     <refsect1>
262       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
263       <para>None.</para> 
264     </refsect1>
265     <refsect1>
266       <title>Description</title>
267       <para>Turns off the SQL reader syntax without changing the
268       syntax state such that <link
269       linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state">
270       <function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link> will
271       re-establish the current syntax state.
272       </para>
273     </refsect1>
274     <refsect1>
275       <title>Examples</title>
276       <para>Intended to be used in a file for code in which the square
277       bracket syntax should be disabled without changing the global
278       state.
279       </para> 
280       <screen>
281         #.(locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax) 
282         
283         ... CODE NOT USING SYMBOLIC SQL SYNTAX ... 
284         
285         #.(restore-sql-reader-syntax-state) 
286       </screen>
287     </refsect1>
288     <refsect1>
289       <title>Side Effects</title>
290       <para>
291         Modifies the default readtable.
292       </para>
293     </refsect1>
294     <refsect1>
295       <title>Affected by</title>
296       <para>
297         None. 
298       </para>
299     </refsect1>
300     <refsect1>
301       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
302       <para>
303         None. 
304       </para>
305     </refsect1>
306     <refsect1>
307       <title>See Also</title>
308       <simplelist>
309         <member><link linkend="enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
310         <member><link linkend="disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
311         <member><link linkend="locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
312         <member><link linkend="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state"><function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function></link></member>
313       </simplelist>
314     </refsect1>
315     <refsect1>
316       <title>Notes</title>
317       <para>
318         The symbolic SQL syntax is disabled by default. 
319       </para>
320       <para> 
321         &clsql; differs from &commonsql; in that
322         <function>locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax</function> is
323         defined as a macro rather than a function.
324       </para>
325     </refsect1>
326   </refentry>
327
328   <refentry id="restore-sql-reader-syntax-state">
329     <refmeta>
330       <refentrytitle>RESTORE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX-STATE</refentrytitle>
331     </refmeta>
332     <refnamediv>
333       <refname><emphasis>Macro</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">RESTORE-SQL-READER-SYNTAX-STATE</emphasis></refname>
334       <refpurpose>
335         Restore square bracket reader syntax to its previous state.
336       </refpurpose>
337       <refclass>Macro</refclass>
338     </refnamediv>
339     <refsect1>
340       <title>Syntax</title>
341       <synopsis>
342       <function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function> => <returnvalue></returnvalue></synopsis>
343     </refsect1>
344     <refsect1>
345       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
346       <para>None.</para> 
347     </refsect1>
348     <refsect1>
349       <title>Description</title>
350       <para>Enables the SQL reader syntax if <link
351       linkend="enable-sql-reader-syntax">
352       <function>enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link> has been
353       called more recently than <link
354       linkend="disable-sql-reader-syntax">
355       <function>disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link> and
356       otherwise disables the SQL reader syntax. By default, the SQL
357       reader syntax is disabled.
358       </para>
359     </refsect1>
360     <refsect1>
361       <title>Examples</title>
362       <para> 
363         See <link
364         linkend="locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax">
365         <function>locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link> and 
366         <link
367          linkend="locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax">
368           <function>locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link>.
369       </para> 
370     </refsect1>
371     <refsect1>
372       <title>Side Effects</title>
373       <para>
374         Reverts the internal syntax state. 
375       </para> 
376       <para> 
377         Modifies the default readtable.
378       </para>
379     </refsect1>
380     <refsect1>
381       <title>Affected by</title>
382       <para>The current internal syntax state.</para> 
383     </refsect1>
384     <refsect1>
385       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
386       <para>
387         None. 
388       </para>
389     </refsect1>
390     <refsect1>
391       <title>See Also</title>
392       <simplelist>
393         <member><link linkend="enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
394         <member><link linkend="disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
395         <member><link linkend="locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-enable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
396         <member><link linkend="locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax"><function>locally-disable-sql-reader-syntax</function></link></member>
397       </simplelist>
398     </refsect1>
399     <refsect1>
400       <title>Notes</title>
401       <para>
402         The symbolic SQL syntax is disabled by default. 
403       </para>
404       <para> 
405         &clsql; differs from &commonsql; in that
406         <function>restore-sql-reader-syntax-state</function> is
407         defined as a macro rather than a function.
408       </para>
409     </refsect1>
410   </refentry>
411
412   <refentry id="sql">
413     <refmeta>
414       <refentrytitle>SQL</refentrytitle>
415     </refmeta>
416     <refnamediv>
417       <refname><emphasis>Function</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">SQL</emphasis></refname>
418       <refpurpose>Construct an SQL string from supplied expressions.</refpurpose>
419       <refclass>Function</refclass>
420     </refnamediv>
421     <refsect1>
422       <title>Syntax</title>
423       <synopsis>
424       <function>sql &amp;rest</function> <replaceable>args</replaceable> => <returnvalue>sql-expression</returnvalue></synopsis>
425     </refsect1>
426     <refsect1>
427       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
428       <variablelist>
429         <varlistentry>
430           <term><parameter>args</parameter></term>
431           <listitem>
432             <para>A set of expressions.</para>
433           </listitem>
434         </varlistentry>
435         <varlistentry>
436           <term><returnvalue>sql-expression</returnvalue></term>
437           <listitem>
438             <para>A string representing an SQL expression.</para>
439           </listitem>
440         </varlistentry>
441       </variablelist>
442     </refsect1>
443     <refsect1>
444       <title>Description</title>
445       <para>Returns an SQL string generated from the expressions
446       <parameter>args</parameter>. The expressions are translated into
447       SQL strings and then concatenated with a single space delimiting
448       each expression.
449       </para>
450     </refsect1>
451     <refsect1>
452       <title>Examples</title>
453       <screen>
454 (sql nil)
455 => "NULL"
456
457 (sql 'foo)
458 => "FOO"
459
460 (sql "bar")
461  => "'bar'"
462  
463 (sql 10)
464 => "10"
465
466 (sql '(nil foo "bar" 10))
467 => "(NULL,FOO,'bar',10)"
468
469 (sql #(nil foo "bar" 10))
470 => "NULL,FOO,'bar',10"
471         
472 (sql [select [foo] [bar] :from [baz]] 'having [= [foo id] [bar id]] 
473      'and [foo val] '&lt; 5)
474 => "SELECT FOO,BAR FROM BAZ HAVING (FOO.ID = BAR.ID) AND FOO.VAL &lt; 5"
475       </screen>
476     </refsect1>
477     <refsect1>
478       <title>Side Effects</title>
479       <para>None.</para>
480     </refsect1>
481     <refsect1>
482       <title>Affected by</title>
483       <para>
484         None.
485       </para>
486     </refsect1>
487     <refsect1>
488       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
489       <para>An error of type <link
490       linkend="sql-user-error"><function>sql-user-error</function></link>
491       is signalled if any element in <parameter>args</parameter> is
492       not of the supported types (a symbol, string, number or symbolic
493       SQL expression) or a list or vector containing only these
494       supported types. 
495       </para> 
496     </refsect1>
497     <refsect1>
498       <title>See Also</title>
499       <simplelist>
500         <member><link linkend="sql-expression"><function>sql-expression</function></link></member>
501         <member><link linkend="sql-operation"><function>sql-operation</function></link></member>
502         <member><link linkend="sql-operator"><function>sql-operator</function></link></member>
503       </simplelist>
504     </refsect1>
505     <refsect1>
506       <title>Notes</title>
507       <para>None.</para>
508     </refsect1>
509   </refentry>
510
511   <refentry id="sql-expression">
512     <refmeta>
513       <refentrytitle>SQL-EXPRESSION</refentrytitle>
514     </refmeta>
515     <refnamediv>
516       <refname><emphasis>Function</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">SQL-EXPRESSION</emphasis></refname>
517       <refpurpose>Constructs an SQL expression from supplied keyword arguments.</refpurpose>
518       <refclass>Function</refclass>
519     </refnamediv>
520     <refsect1>
521       <title>Syntax</title>
522       <synopsis>
523       <function>sql-expression &amp;key</function> <parameter>string</parameter> <parameter>table</parameter> <parameter>alias</parameter> <parameter>attribute</parameter> <parameter>type</parameter> => <returnvalue>result</returnvalue></synopsis>
524     </refsect1>
525     <refsect1>
526       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
527       <variablelist>
528         <varlistentry>
529           <term><parameter>string</parameter></term>
530           <listitem>
531             <para>A string.</para>
532           </listitem>
533         </varlistentry>
534         <varlistentry>
535           <term><parameter>table</parameter></term>
536           <listitem>
537             <para>A symbol representing a database table identifier.</para>
538           </listitem>
539         </varlistentry>
540         <varlistentry>
541           <term><parameter>alias</parameter></term>
542           <listitem>
543             <para>A table alias.</para>
544           </listitem>
545         </varlistentry>
546         <varlistentry>
547           <term><parameter>attribute</parameter></term>
548           <listitem>
549             <para>A symbol representing an attribute identifier.</para>
550           </listitem>
551         </varlistentry>
552         <varlistentry>
553           <term><parameter>type</parameter></term>
554           <listitem>
555             <para>A type specifier.</para>
556           </listitem>
557         </varlistentry>
558         <varlistentry>
559           <term><returnvalue>result</returnvalue></term>
560           <listitem>
561             <para>A object of type <type>sql-expression</type>.</para>
562           </listitem>
563         </varlistentry>
564       </variablelist>
565     </refsect1>
566     <refsect1>
567       <title>Description</title>
568       <para>Returns an SQL expression constructed from the supplied
569       arguments which may be combined as follows:</para>
570       <itemizedlist mark='opencircle'>
571         <listitem>
572           <para>
573             <parameter>attribute</parameter> and
574             <parameter>type</parameter>; 
575           </para>
576         </listitem>
577         <listitem>
578           <para> 
579             <parameter>attribute</parameter>; 
580           </para>
581         </listitem>
582         <listitem>
583           <para> 
584             <parameter>alias</parameter> or <parameter>table</parameter> and
585             <parameter>attribute</parameter> and
586             <parameter>type</parameter>; 
587           </para>
588         </listitem>
589         <listitem>
590           <para> 
591             <parameter>alias</parameter> or
592             <parameter>table</parameter> and
593             <parameter>attribute</parameter>; 
594           </para>
595         </listitem>
596         <listitem>
597           <para> 
598             <parameter>table</parameter>,
599             <parameter>attribute</parameter> and
600             <parameter>type</parameter>; 
601           </para>
602         </listitem>
603         <listitem>
604           <para> 
605             <parameter>table</parameter> and
606             <parameter>attribute</parameter>; 
607           </para>
608         </listitem>
609         <listitem>
610           <para> 
611             <parameter>table</parameter>
612             and <parameter>alias</parameter>; 
613           </para>
614         </listitem>
615         <listitem>
616           <para> 
617             <parameter>table</parameter>; 
618           </para>
619         </listitem>
620         <listitem>
621           <para>
622             <parameter>string</parameter>.
623           </para>
624         </listitem> 
625       </itemizedlist>
626     </refsect1>
627     <refsect1>
628       <title>Examples</title>
629       <screen>
630 (sql-expression :table 'foo :attribute 'bar)
631 => #&lt;CLSQL-SYS:SQL-IDENT-ATTRIBUTE FOO.BAR>
632
633 (sql-expression :attribute 'baz)
634 => #&lt;CLSQL-SYS:SQL-IDENT-ATTRIBUTE BAZ>
635       </screen>
636     </refsect1>
637     <refsect1>
638       <title>Side Effects</title>
639       <para>None.</para>
640     </refsect1>
641     <refsect1>
642       <title>Affected by</title>
643       <para>
644         None.
645       </para>
646     </refsect1>
647     <refsect1>
648       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
649       <para>An error of type <link
650       linkend="sql-user-error"><function>sql-user-error</function></link>
651       is signalled if an unsupported combination of keyword arguments is 
652       specified. 
653       </para> 
654     </refsect1>
655     <refsect1>
656       <title>See Also</title>
657       <simplelist>
658         <member><link linkend="sql"><function>sql</function></link></member>
659         <member><link linkend="sql-operation"><function>sql-operation</function></link></member>
660         <member><link linkend="sql-operator"><function>sql-operator</function></link></member>
661         </simplelist>
662     </refsect1>
663     <refsect1>
664       <title>Notes</title>
665       <para>None.</para>
666     </refsect1>
667   </refentry>
668
669   <refentry id="sql-operation">
670     <refmeta>
671       <refentrytitle>SQL-OPERATION</refentrytitle>
672     </refmeta>
673     <refnamediv>
674       <refname><emphasis>Function</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">SQL-OPERATION</emphasis></refname>
675       <refpurpose>Constructs an SQL expression from a supplied operator and arguments.</refpurpose>
676       <refclass>Function</refclass>
677     </refnamediv>
678     <refsect1>
679       <title>Syntax</title>
680       <synopsis>
681       <function>sql-operation</function> <parameter>operator</parameter> <function>&amp;rest</function> <parameter>args</parameter> => <returnvalue>result</returnvalue></synopsis>
682       <synopsis>
683       <function>sql-operation</function> 'function <parameter>func</parameter> <function>&amp;rest</function> <parameter>args</parameter> => <returnvalue>result</returnvalue></synopsis>
684     </refsect1>
685     <refsect1>
686       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
687       <variablelist>
688         <varlistentry>
689           <term><parameter>operator</parameter></term>
690           <listitem>
691             <para>A symbol denoting an SQL operator.</para>
692           </listitem>
693         </varlistentry>
694         <varlistentry>
695           <term><parameter>func</parameter></term>
696           <listitem>
697             <para>A string denoting an SQL function.</para>
698           </listitem>
699         </varlistentry>
700         <varlistentry>
701           <term><parameter>args</parameter></term>
702           <listitem>
703             <para>A set of arguments for the specified SQL operator or function.</para>
704           </listitem>
705         </varlistentry>
706         <varlistentry>
707           <term><returnvalue>result</returnvalue></term>
708           <listitem>
709             <para>A object of type <function>sql-expression</function>.</para>
710           </listitem>
711         </varlistentry>
712       </variablelist>
713     </refsect1>
714     <refsect1>
715       <title>Description</title>
716       <para>Returns an SQL expression constructed from the supplied
717       SQL operator or function <parameter>operator</parameter> and
718       its arguments <parameter>args</parameter>. If
719       <parameter>operator</parameter> is passed the symbol 'function
720       then the first value in <parameter>args</parameter> is taken to
721       be a valid SQL function and the remaining values in
722       <parameter>args</parameter> its arguments.
723       </para>
724     </refsect1>
725     <refsect1>
726       <title>Examples</title>
727       <screen>
728 (sql-operation 'select 
729           (sql-expression :table 'foo :attribute 'bar)
730           (sql-operation 'sum  (sql-expression :table 'foo :attribute 'baz))
731           :from 
732           (sql-expression :table 'foo) 
733           :where 
734           (sql-operation '> (sql-expression :attribute 'bar) 12)
735           :order-by (sql-operation 'sum (sql-expression :attribute 'baz)))
736 => #&lt;SQL-QUERY SELECT FOO.BAR,SUM(FOO.BAZ) FROM FOO WHERE (BAR > 12) ORDER BY SUM(BAZ)>
737
738 (sql-operation 'function "strpos" "CLSQL" "SQL")
739 => #&lt;CLSQL-SYS:SQL-FUNCTION-EXP STRPOS('CLSQL','SQL')>
740       </screen>
741     </refsect1>
742     <refsect1>
743       <title>Side Effects</title>
744       <para>None.</para>
745     </refsect1>
746     <refsect1>
747       <title>Affected by</title>
748       <para>
749         None.
750       </para>
751     </refsect1>
752     <refsect1>
753       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
754       <para>An error of type <link
755       linkend="sql-user-error"><function>sql-user-error</function></link>
756       is signalled if <parameter>operator</parameter> is not a symbol
757       representing a supported SQL operator.</para>
758     </refsect1>
759     <refsect1>
760       <title>See Also</title>
761       <simplelist>
762         <member><link linkend="sql"><function>sql</function></link></member>
763         <member><link linkend="sql-expression"><function>sql-expression</function></link></member>
764         <member><link linkend="sql-operator"><function>sql-operator</function></link></member>
765       </simplelist>
766     </refsect1>
767     <refsect1>
768       <title>Notes</title>
769       <para>None.</para>
770     </refsect1>
771   </refentry>
772
773   <refentry id="sql-operator">
774     <refmeta>
775       <refentrytitle>SQL-OPERATOR</refentrytitle>
776     </refmeta>
777     <refnamediv>
778       <refname><emphasis>Function</emphasis> <emphasis role="bold">SQL-OPERATOR</emphasis></refname>
779       <refpurpose>Returns the symbol for the supplied SQL operator.</refpurpose>
780       <refclass>Function</refclass>
781     </refnamediv>
782     <refsect1>
783       <title>Syntax</title>
784       <synopsis>
785       <function>sql-operator</function> <parameter>operator</parameter> => <returnvalue>result</returnvalue></synopsis>
786     </refsect1>
787     <refsect1>
788       <title>Arguments and Values</title>
789       <variablelist>
790         <varlistentry>
791           <term><parameter>operator</parameter></term>
792           <listitem>
793             <para>A symbol denoting an SQL operator.</para>
794           </listitem>
795         </varlistentry>
796         <varlistentry>
797           <term><returnvalue>result</returnvalue></term>
798           <listitem>
799             <para>The Lisp symbol used by &clsql; to represent the 
800             specified operator.</para>
801           </listitem>
802         </varlistentry>
803       </variablelist>
804     </refsect1>
805     <refsect1>
806       <title>Description</title>
807       <para>Returns the Lisp symbol corresponding to the SQL operator
808       represented by the symbol <parameter>operator</parameter>. If 
809       <parameter>operator</parameter> does not represent a supported 
810       SQL operator or is not a symbol, nil is returned. 
811       </para>
812     </refsect1>
813     <refsect1>
814       <title>Examples</title>
815       <screen>
816 (sql-operator 'like)
817 => SQL-LIKE
818       </screen>
819     </refsect1>
820     <refsect1>
821       <title>Side Effects</title>
822       <para>None.</para> 
823     </refsect1>
824     <refsect1>
825       <title>Affected by</title>
826       <para>
827         None.
828       </para>
829     </refsect1>
830     <refsect1>
831       <title>Exceptional Situations</title>
832       <para>None.</para>
833     </refsect1>
834     <refsect1>
835       <title>See Also</title>
836       <simplelist>
837         <member><link linkend="sql"><function>sql</function></link></member>
838         <member><link linkend="sql-expression"><function>sql-expression</function></link></member>
839         <member><link linkend="sql-operation"><function>sql-operation</function></link></member>
840       </simplelist>
841     </refsect1>
842     <refsect1>
843       <title>Notes</title>
844       <para>
845         &clsql;'s symbolic SQL syntax currently has support for the
846         following &commonsql; compatible SQL operators:
847       </para> 
848       <simplelist> 
849         <!-- CommonSQL Compatible --> 
850         <member><function>any
851         </function></member>, 
852         <member><function>some 
853         </function></member>, 
854         <member><function>all
855         </function></member>, 
856         <member><function>not
857         </function></member>, 
858         <member><function>union
859         </function></member>, 
860         <member><function>intersect
861         </function></member>, 
862         <member><function>minus
863         </function></member>, 
864         <member><function>except 
865         </function></member>, 
866         <member><function>order-by 
867         </function></member>, 
868         <member><function>null
869         </function></member>, 
870         <member><function>*
871         </function></member>, 
872         <member><function>+
873         </function></member>, 
874         <member><function>/
875         </function></member>, 
876         <member><function>-
877         </function></member>, 
878         <member><function>like
879         </function></member>, 
880         <member><function>and
881         </function></member>, 
882         <member><function>or
883         </function></member>, 
884         <member><function>in
885         </function></member>, 
886         <member><function>substr 
887         </function></member>, 
888         <member><function>|| 
889         </function></member>, 
890         <member><function>=
891         </function></member>, 
892         <member><function>&lt;
893         </function></member>, 
894         <member><function>>
895         </function></member>, 
896         <member><function>>=
897         </function></member>, 
898         <member><function>&lt;=
899         </function></member>, 
900         <member><function>&lt;>
901         </function></member>, 
902         <member><function>count
903         </function></member>, 
904         <member><function>max
905         </function></member>, 
906         <member><function>min
907         </function></member>, 
908         <member><function>avg
909         </function></member>, 
910         <member><function>sum
911         </function></member>, 
912         <member><function>function 
913         </function></member>, 
914         <member><function>between 
915         </function></member>, 
916         <member><function>distinct 
917         </function></member>, 
918         <member><function>nvl 
919         </function></member>, 
920         <member><function>slot-value
921         </function></member>, 
922         <member><function>userenv 
923         </function></member>, 
924       </simplelist> 
925       <para>
926         as well as the pseudo-operator <function>function</function>. 
927       </para>
928       <para> The following operators are provided as &clsql; extensions to 
929       the &commonsql; API. 
930       <simplelist> 
931         <!-- CLSQL Extensions --> 
932         <member><function>concat
933         </function></member>, 
934         <member><function>substring 
935         </function></member>, 
936         <member><function>limit 
937         </function></member>, 
938         <member><function>group-by
939         </function></member>, 
940         <member><function>having
941         </function></member>, 
942         <member><function>not-null
943         </function></member>, 
944         <member><function>exists
945         </function></member>, 
946         <member><function>uplike
947         </function></member>, 
948         <member><function>is
949         </function></member>, 
950         <member><function>==
951         </function></member>, 
952         <member><function>the 
953         </function></member>, 
954         <member><function>coalesce 
955         </function></member>, 
956         <member><function>view-class.
957         </function></member> 
958       </simplelist>
959       </para>
960       <para> 
961         Note that some of these operators are not supported by all of
962         the RDBMS supported by &clsql; (see the <link
963         linkend="appendix">Appendix</link> for details).
964       </para>
965     </refsect1>
966   </refentry>
967
968 </reference>