DB2 10.5 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
DB2 10.5 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
DB2® Call Level Interface (CLI) is IBM's callable SQL interface to the DB2 family of database servers. It is a 'C' and 'C++' application programming interface for relational database access that uses function calls to pass dynamic SQL statements as function arguments.
CLI is an alternative to embedded dynamic SQL, but unlike embedded SQL, it does not require host variables or a precompiler. Applications can be run against a variety of databases without having to be compiled against each of these databases. Applications use procedure calls at run time to connect to databases, issue SQL statements, and retrieve data and status information.
The CLI interface provides many features not available in embedded SQL. For example:
CLI is based on the Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) specification, and the International Standard for SQL/CLI. These specifications were chosen as the basis for the DB2 Call Level Interface in an effort to follow industry standards and to provide a shorter learning curve for those application programmers already familiar with either of these database interfaces. In addition, some DB2 specific extensions have been added to help the application programmer specifically exploit DB2 features.
The CLI driver also acts as an ODBC driver when loaded by an ODBC driver manager. It conforms to ODBC 3.51.
To understand CLI or any callable SQL interface, it is helpful to understand what it is based on, and to compare it with existing interfaces.
The X/Open Company and the SQL Access Group jointly developed a specification for a callable SQL interface referred to as the X/Open Call Level Interface. The goal of this interface is to increase the portability of applications by enabling them to become independent of any one database vendor's programming interface. Most of the X/Open Call Level Interface specification has been accepted as part of the ISO Call Level Interface International Standard (ISO/IEC 9075-3:1995 SQL/CLI).
Microsoft developed a callable SQL interface called Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) for Microsoft operating systems based on a preliminary draft of X/Open CLI.
The ODBC specification also includes an operating environment where database-specific ODBC drivers are dynamically loaded at run time by a driver manager based on the data source (database name) provided on the connect request. The application is linked directly to a single driver manager library rather than to each DBMS's library. The driver manager mediates the application's function calls at run time and ensures they are directed to the appropriate DBMS-specific ODBC driver. Because the ODBC driver manager only knows about the ODBC-specific functions, DBMS-specific functions cannot be accessed in an ODBC environment. DBMS-specific dynamic SQL statements are supported through a mechanism called an escape clause.
ODBC is not limited to Microsoft operating systems; other implementations are available on various platforms.
The CLI load library can be loaded as an ODBC driver by an ODBC driver manager. For ODBC application development, you must obtain an ODBC Software Development Kit. For the Windows platform, the ODBC SDK is available as part of the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) SDK, available for download from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads. For non-Windows platforms, the ODBC SDK is provided by other vendors. When developing ODBC applications that may connect to DB2 servers, use the Call Level Interface Guide and Reference Volume 1 and the Call Level Interface Guide and Reference Volume 2 (for information about DB2 specific extensions and diagnostic information), in conjunction with the ODBC Programmer's Reference and SDK Guide available from Microsoft.
Applications written using CLI APIs link directly to the CLI library. CLI includes support for many ODBC and ISO SQL/CLI functions, as well as DB2 specific functions.