Lotus Domino Designer 8 Help - Accessing external databases through LS:DO using @functions

FORMULA LANGUAGE

Accessing external databases through LS:DO using @functions
Example

The following @functions access an external database through ODBC and return a value or list of values:

@DbColumn returns all the values in one column of a table, or all the distinct values.
@DbLookup returns selected values in one column of a table by matching keys.
@DbCommand passes a command to an external DBMS and returns the result.

@DbColumn and @DbLookup can only retrieve data. They can't add, delete, or modify data, or perform other operations. @DbCommand can retrieve data or send other SQL statements that can change data. LotusScript provides a wider range of capabilities, including the ability to update the external database.

The first four parameters are the same for all three @functions and establish access to the database through ODBC. The parameters are:

"ODBC" as a string constant; or "ODBC" : "NoCache"
Name of the data source as defined in the table of data sources (odbc.ini in Windows)
User ID, list of two user IDs, or a null string, depending on the external data source
Password, list of two passwords, or a null string, depending on the external data source
(@DbColumn and @DbLookup) Name of the table to be accessed
(@DbCommand) Command string to be executed
(@DbColumn and @DbLookup) Name of the column to be accessed
Option for handling null data returned by the data source
(@DbLookup) Name of the column containing the key
(@DbLookup) Value of the key as the appropriate data type, or a list
(@DbColumn and @DbLookup) List of two elements: "Distinct" as a string argument or null string; "Ascending" or "Descending" as a string argument

Where user IDs and passwords are required, you can specify null strings and let the user supply them when the @function executes.

Example
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