Database columns and types

The Database Interface Designer and mtsmaker with the Type Tree Maker generate type trees for queries, tables, views, and stored procedures in an OLE DB-compliant RDBMS (Relational Database Management System). Item types are created in a type tree that represent the data types of the columns of a query, table, view, or stored procedure.

The Database Interface Designer and mtsmaker get information about columns by calling the OLE DB Adapter that calls the OLE DB provider for your RDBMS to describe the columns associated with a query, table, view, or stored procedure. The OLE DB provider for the RDBMS has mapped the data types in each column to OLE DB data types as appropriate. From the RDBMS, the OLE DB Adapter returns the OLE DB data type, length, and other information to the Database Interface Designer and mtsmaker. The OLE DB data types are then mapped to types in a type tree. The Database Interface Designer and mtsmaker have no knowledge of the RDBMS-specific data types, only the OLE DB data types.