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SQL programming
You can use the HCL Informix® implementation of the SQL language to develop applications for Informix database servers.
Guide to SQL: Syntax
The Informix® Guide to SQL: Syntax describes the syntax of the statements, data types, expressions, operators, and built-in functions of the Informix dialect of the SQL language.
Other syntax segments
These topics describe syntax segments, which are language elements, such as database object names or optimizer directives, that appear as a subdiagram reference in the syntax diagrams of some SQL or SPL statements.
Collection-Derived Table
A collection-derived table is a virtual table in which the values in the rows of the table are equivalent to elements of a collection. Use this segment where you see a reference to Collection-Derived Table in a syntax diagram. This syntax is an extension to the ANSI/ISO standard for SQL.
Using a Collection Variable to Manipulate Collection Elements

SQL programming
You can use the HCL Informix® implementation of the SQL language to develop applications for Informix database servers.
- Guide to SQL: Syntax
  The Informix® Guide to SQL: Syntax describes the syntax of the statements, data types, expressions, operators, and built-in functions of the Informix dialect of the SQL language.
  - Overview of SQL syntax
    These topics provide an overview about how to use the SQL statements, SPL statements, and syntax segments.
  - SQL statements
    This chapter describes the syntax and semantics of SQL statements that are recognized by Informix®.
  - SPL statements
    These topics describe Stored Procedure Language (SPL) statements, which you use to write SPL routines. You can store these routines in the database as user-defined routines (UDRs).
  - Data types and expressions
    These topics describe the data types and expressions that Informix®supports.
  - Other syntax segments
    These topics describe syntax segments, which are language elements, such as database object names or optimizer directives, that appear as a subdiagram reference in the syntax diagrams of some SQL or SPL statements.
    - Arguments
    - Collection-Derived Table
      A collection-derived table is a virtual table in which the values in the rows of the table are equivalent to elements of a collection. Use this segment where you see a reference to Collection-Derived Table in a syntax diagram. This syntax is an extension to the ANSI/ISO standard for SQL.
    - Database Name
    - Database Object Name
    - External Routine Reference
      Include the External Routine Reference clause when you write an external routine. This option is not available for SPL routines.
    - Identifier
      An identifier specifies the unqualified name of a database object, such as an access method, aggregate, alias, blobspace, cast, column, constraint, correlation, data type, index, operator class, partition, procedure, table, trigger, sequence, synonym, or view. Use the Identifier segment whenever you see a reference to an identifier in a syntax diagram.
    - Jar Name
      Use the Jar Name segment to specify the name of a jar ID. Use this segment whenever you see a reference to Jar Name in a syntax diagram.
    - Optimizer Directives
      The Optimizer Directives segment specifies keywords that you can use to partially or fully specify the query plan of the optimizer. Use this segment whenever you see a reference to Optimizer Directives in a syntax diagram.
    - Owner name
      The owner name specifies the owner of a database object. Use this segment whenever you see a reference to Owner Name in a syntax diagram.
    - Purpose Options
    - Return Clause
    - Routine modifier
      A routine modifier specifies characteristics of how a user-defined routine (UDR) behaves.
    - Routine Parameter List
    - Shared-Object Filename
      Use a shared-object filename to specify a pathname to an executable object file when you register or alter an external routine.
    - Specific Name
    - Statement Block
  - Built-In Routines
  - Appendixes
- Guide to SQL: Reference
  The Informix® Guide to SQL: Reference contains the reference information for the system catalog tables, data types, and environment variables of the HCL Informix dialect of the SQL language, as implemented in HCL Informix. These topics also include information about the stores_demo, sales_demo, and superstore_demo databases that are included with HCL Informix.
- Guide to SQL: Tutorial
  The Informix® Guide to SQL: Tutorial shows how to use basic and advanced structured query language (SQL) to access and manipulate the data in your databases. It discusses the data manipulation language (DML) statements as well as triggers and stored procedure language (SPL) routines, which DML statements often use.

Using a Collection Variable to Manipulate Collection Elements

About this task

When you use data manipulation statements (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE) of Informix® in conjunction with a collection variable, you can modify one or more elements in a collection.

To modify elements in a collection

Procedure

Create a collection variable in your SPL routine or Informix® ESQL/C program.
For information on how to declare a collection variable in Informix® ESQL/C, see the Informix® ESQL/C Programmer's Manual. For information on how to define a COLLECTION variable in SPL, see DEFINE.
In Informix® ESQL/C, allocate memory for the collection; see ALLOCATE COLLECTION statement.
Optionally, use a SELECT statement to select a COLLECTION column into the collection variable.
If the variable is an untyped COLLECTION variable, you must perform a SELECT from the COLLECTION column before you use the variable in the collection-derived table segment. The SELECT statement allows the database server to obtain the collection data type.
Use the appropriate data manipulation statement with the collection-derived table segment to add, delete, or update elements in the collection variable.
To insert more than one element or to update or delete a specific element of a collection, you must use a cursor for the collection variable.
- For more information on how to use an update cursor with ESQL/C, see DECLARE statement.
- For more information on how to use an update cursor with SPL, see FOREACH.
After the collection variable contains the correct elements, use an INSERT or UPDATE statement on the table or view that holds the actual collection column to save the changes that the collection variable holds.
- With UPDATE, specify the collection variable in the SET clause.
- With INSERT, specify the collection variable in the VALUES clause.

Results

The collection variable stores the elements of the collection. It has no intrinsic connection, however, with a database column. Once the collection variable contains the correct elements, you must then save the variable into the actual collection column of the table with either an INSERT or an UPDATE statement.