Execute a UDR across databases of the same database server instance

You can implicitly and explicitly execute a UDR (written in SPL, C, or Java™) across databases with built-in data types and user-defined distinct types whose base types are built-in data type parameters and return types. These built-in data types include BOOLEAN, LVARCHAR, BLOB, and CLOB data types. User-defined opaque data types and distinct types whose base types are opaque data types must be explicitly cast to built-in data types if you want multiple databases on the same server instance to access them. All user-defined data types and casts must be defined in all of the participating databases of the same database server instance.

You can execute SQL statements, such as SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and EXECUTE (implicit and explicit) involving the following data types across databases on the same server instance:
  • Built-in data types
  • User-defined distinct types whose base types are built-in data types
  • Explicitly cast opaque data types
  • Explicitly cast distinct types with opaque data-type columns
For example, if you use the SELECT statement in a query involving a user-defined opaque data type, be sure that the user-defined opaque data type is defined in all databases that you are using in the query. Then use the SELECT statement as follows:
SELECT coludt::lvarchar FROM db2:tab2 WHERE colint > 100;
SELECT loccolint, extcoludt::lvarchar FROM loctab, db2:exttab
   WHERE loctab.loccolint = exttab.extcolint;

SELECT coldistint, coldistudt::lvarchar FROM db2:tab2 
   WHERE coldistint > 100;
SELECT loccoldistint, extcoludt::lvarchar FROM loctab, db2:exttab
       WHERE loctab.loccoldistint = exttab.extcoldistint;

For more information about the SQL to use in statements for more than one database in the same database server instance, see the Informix® Guide to SQL: Syntax.

Explicit execution occurs when the EXECUTE FUNCTION or EXECUTE PROCEDURE statement executes the UDR. Implicit execution occurs when the UDR appears in the projection list or predicate of a query, when the UDR is called to convert a function argument from one data type to another, or when an operator function for a user-defined data type is executed. The execution context of the UDR is the database in which the UDR is defined, not the local database.