Getting started with DB-Access

provides a menu-driven interface for entering, running, and debugging Structured Query Language (SQL) statements and Stored Procedure Language (SPL) routines. You can also run interactively from the command line.

You use SQL and SPL commands to perform data-definition tasks, such as specifying the number and type of data columns in a table, and data-management tasks, such as storing, viewing, and changing table data.

You can use for the following aspects of database processing:
  • Running ad hoc queries that you run infrequently
  • Connecting to one or more databases, transferring data between the database and external text files, and displaying information about a database
  • Displaying system catalog tables and the Information Schema of databases
  • Practicing the SQL and SPL statements and examples that are provided in the HCL® Informix® Guide to SQL: Tutorial or the IBM® Informix® Database Design and Implementation Guide
  • Testing applications that you intend to store for use in a production environment
  • Creating demonstration databases
Important: is not intended as an application-development environment. You cannot branch conditionally or loop through SQL statements when you run them within .

The utility is included with the Informix® server and with the Informix® Client Software Development Kit.