alvinalexander.com | career | drupal | java | mac | mysql | perl | scala | uml | unix  

Java example source code file (DatabaseMetaData.java)

This example Java source code file (DatabaseMetaData.java) is included in the alvinalexander.com "Java Source Code Warehouse" project. The intent of this project is to help you "Learn Java by Example" TM.

Learn more about this Java project at its project page.

Java - Java tags/keywords

connection, databasemetadata, resultset, rowidlifetime, sqlexception, string, wrapper

The DatabaseMetaData.java Java example source code

/*
 * Copyright (c) 1996, 2013, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
 * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
 *
 * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
 * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
 * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
 * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
 *
 * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
 * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
 * accompanied this code).
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
 * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
 * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 *
 * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
 * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
 * questions.
 */


package java.sql;

/**
 * Comprehensive information about the database as a whole.
 * <P>
 * This interface is implemented by driver vendors to let users know the capabilities
 * of a Database Management System (DBMS) in combination with
 * the driver based on JDBC™ technology
 * ("JDBC driver") that is used with it.  Different relational DBMSs often support
 * different features, implement features in different ways, and use different
 * data types.  In addition, a driver may implement a feature on top of what the
 * DBMS offers.  Information returned by methods in this interface applies
 * to the capabilities of a particular driver and a particular DBMS working
 * together. Note that as used in this documentation, the term "database" is
 * used generically to refer to both the driver and DBMS.
 * <P>
 * A user for this interface is commonly a tool that needs to discover how to
 * deal with the underlying DBMS.  This is especially true for applications
 * that are intended to be used with more than one DBMS. For example, a tool might use the method
 * <code>getTypeInfo to find out what data types can be used in a
 * <code>CREATE TABLE statement.  Or a user might call the method
 * <code>supportsCorrelatedSubqueries to see if it is possible to use
 * a correlated subquery or <code>supportsBatchUpdates to see if it is
 * possible to use batch updates.
 * <P>
 * Some <code>DatabaseMetaData methods return lists of information
 * in the form of <code>ResultSet objects.
 * Regular <code>ResultSet methods, such as
 * <code>getString and getInt, can be used
 * to retrieve the data from these <code>ResultSet objects.  If
 * a given form of metadata is not available, an empty <code>ResultSet
 * will be returned. Additional columns beyond the columns defined to be
 * returned by the <code>ResultSet object for a given method
 * can be defined by the JDBC driver vendor and must be accessed
 * by their <B>column label.
 * <P>
 * Some <code>DatabaseMetaData methods take arguments that are
 * String patterns.  These arguments all have names such as fooPattern.
 * Within a pattern String, "%" means match any substring of 0 or more
 * characters, and "_" means match any one character. Only metadata
 * entries matching the search pattern are returned. If a search pattern
 * argument is set to <code>null, that argument's criterion will
 * be dropped from the search.
 *
 */
public interface DatabaseMetaData extends Wrapper {

    //----------------------------------------------------------------------
    // First, a variety of minor information about the target database.

    /**
     * Retrieves whether the current user can call all the procedures
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedures.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean allProceduresAreCallable() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether the current user can use all the tables returned
     * by the method <code>getTables in a SELECT
     * statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean allTablesAreSelectable() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the URL for this DBMS.
     *
     * @return the URL for this DBMS or <code>null if it cannot be
     *          generated
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getURL() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the user name as known to this database.
     *
     * @return the database user name
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getUserName() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database is in read-only mode.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean isReadOnly() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether <code>NULL values are sorted high.
     * Sorted high means that <code>NULL values
     * sort higher than any other value in a domain.  In an ascending order,
     * if this method returns <code>true,  NULL values
     * will appear at the end. By contrast, the method
     * <code>nullsAreSortedAtEnd indicates whether NULL values
     * are sorted at the end regardless of sort order.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean nullsAreSortedHigh() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether <code>NULL values are sorted low.
     * Sorted low means that <code>NULL values
     * sort lower than any other value in a domain.  In an ascending order,
     * if this method returns <code>true,  NULL values
     * will appear at the beginning. By contrast, the method
     * <code>nullsAreSortedAtStart indicates whether NULL values
     * are sorted at the beginning regardless of sort order.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean nullsAreSortedLow() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether <code>NULL values are sorted at the start regardless
     * of sort order.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean nullsAreSortedAtStart() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether <code>NULL values are sorted at the end regardless of
     * sort order.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean nullsAreSortedAtEnd() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the name of this database product.
     *
     * @return database product name
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getDatabaseProductName() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the version number of this database product.
     *
     * @return database version number
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getDatabaseProductVersion() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the name of this JDBC driver.
     *
     * @return JDBC driver name
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getDriverName() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the version number of this JDBC driver as a <code>String.
     *
     * @return JDBC driver version
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getDriverVersion() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves this JDBC driver's major version number.
     *
     * @return JDBC driver major version
     */
    int getDriverMajorVersion();

    /**
     * Retrieves this JDBC driver's minor version number.
     *
     * @return JDBC driver minor version number
     */
    int getDriverMinorVersion();

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database stores tables in a local file.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean usesLocalFiles() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database uses a file for each table.
     *
     * @return <code>true if this database uses a local file for each table;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean usesLocalFilePerTable() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
     * case sensitive and as a result stores them in mixed case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsMixedCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
     * case insensitive and stores them in upper case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean storesUpperCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
     * case insensitive and stores them in lower case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean storesLowerCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
     * case insensitive and stores them in mixed case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean storesMixedCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
     * case sensitive and as a result stores them in mixed case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsMixedCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
     * case insensitive and stores them in upper case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean storesUpperCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
     * case insensitive and stores them in lower case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean storesLowerCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
     * case insensitive and stores them in mixed case.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean storesMixedCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the string used to quote SQL identifiers.
     * This method returns a space " " if identifier quoting is not supported.
     *
     * @return the quoting string or a space if quoting is not supported
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getIdentifierQuoteString() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a comma-separated list of all of this database's SQL keywords
     * that are NOT also SQL:2003 keywords.
     *
     * @return the list of this database's keywords that are not also
     *         SQL:2003 keywords
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getSQLKeywords() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a comma-separated list of math functions available with
     * this database.  These are the Open /Open CLI math function names used in
     * the JDBC function escape clause.
     *
     * @return the list of math functions supported by this database
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getNumericFunctions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a comma-separated list of string functions available with
     * this database.  These are the  Open Group CLI string function names used
     * in the JDBC function escape clause.
     *
     * @return the list of string functions supported by this database
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getStringFunctions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a comma-separated list of system functions available with
     * this database.  These are the  Open Group CLI system function names used
     * in the JDBC function escape clause.
     *
     * @return a list of system functions supported by this database
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getSystemFunctions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a comma-separated list of the time and date functions available
     * with this database.
     *
     * @return the list of time and date functions supported by this database
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getTimeDateFunctions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the string that can be used to escape wildcard characters.
     * This is the string that can be used to escape '_' or '%' in
     * the catalog search parameters that are a pattern (and therefore use one
     * of the wildcard characters).
     *
     * <P>The '_' character represents any single character;
     * the '%' character represents any sequence of zero or
     * more characters.
     *
     * @return the string used to escape wildcard characters
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getSearchStringEscape() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves all the "extra" characters that can be used in unquoted
     * identifier names (those beyond a-z, A-Z, 0-9 and _).
     *
     * @return the string containing the extra characters
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getExtraNameCharacters() throws SQLException;

    //--------------------------------------------------------------------
    // Functions describing which features are supported.

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports <code>ALTER TABLE
     * with add column.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsAlterTableWithAddColumn() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports <code>ALTER TABLE
     * with drop column.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsAlterTableWithDropColumn() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports column aliasing.
     *
     * <P>If so, the SQL AS clause can be used to provide names for
     * computed columns or to provide alias names for columns as
     * required.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsColumnAliasing() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports concatenations between
     * <code>NULL and non-NULL values being
     * <code>NULL.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean nullPlusNonNullIsNull() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the JDBC scalar function
     * <code>CONVERT for the conversion of one JDBC type to another.
     * The JDBC types are the generic SQL data types defined
     * in <code>java.sql.Types.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsConvert() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the JDBC scalar function
     * <code>CONVERT for conversions between the JDBC types fromType
     * and <i>toType.  The JDBC types are the generic SQL data types defined
     * in <code>java.sql.Types.
     *
     * @param fromType the type to convert from; one of the type codes from
     *        the class <code>java.sql.Types
     * @param toType the type to convert to; one of the type codes from
     *        the class <code>java.sql.Types
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see Types
     */
    boolean supportsConvert(int fromType, int toType) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports table correlation names.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsTableCorrelationNames() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether, when table correlation names are supported, they
     * are restricted to being different from the names of the tables.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsDifferentTableCorrelationNames() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports expressions in
     * <code>ORDER BY lists.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsExpressionsInOrderBy() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports using a column that is
     * not in the <code>SELECT statement in an
     * <code>ORDER BY clause.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsOrderByUnrelated() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports some form of
     * <code>GROUP BY clause.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsGroupBy() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports using a column that is
     * not in the <code>SELECT statement in a
     * <code>GROUP BY clause.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsGroupByUnrelated() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports using columns not included in
     * the <code>SELECT statement in a GROUP BY clause
     * provided that all of the columns in the <code>SELECT statement
     * are included in the <code>GROUP BY clause.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsGroupByBeyondSelect() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports specifying a
     * <code>LIKE escape clause.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsLikeEscapeClause() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports getting multiple
     * <code>ResultSet objects from a single call to the
     * method <code>execute.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsMultipleResultSets() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database allows having multiple
     * transactions open at once (on different connections).
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsMultipleTransactions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether columns in this database may be defined as non-nullable.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsNonNullableColumns() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the ODBC Minimum SQL grammar.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsMinimumSQLGrammar() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the ODBC Core SQL grammar.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsCoreSQLGrammar() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the ODBC Extended SQL grammar.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsExtendedSQLGrammar() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the ANSI92 entry level SQL
     * grammar.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsANSI92EntryLevelSQL() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the ANSI92 intermediate SQL grammar supported.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsANSI92IntermediateSQL() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the ANSI92 full SQL grammar supported.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsANSI92FullSQL() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the SQL Integrity
     * Enhancement Facility.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsIntegrityEnhancementFacility() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports some form of outer join.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsOuterJoins() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports full nested outer joins.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsFullOuterJoins() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database provides limited support for outer
     * joins.  (This will be <code>true if the method
     * <code>supportsFullOuterJoins returns true).
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsLimitedOuterJoins() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the database vendor's preferred term for "schema".
     *
     * @return the vendor term for "schema"
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getSchemaTerm() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the database vendor's preferred term for "procedure".
     *
     * @return the vendor term for "procedure"
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getProcedureTerm() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the database vendor's preferred term for "catalog".
     *
     * @return the vendor term for "catalog"
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getCatalogTerm() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a catalog appears at the start of a fully qualified
     * table name.  If not, the catalog appears at the end.
     *
     * @return <code>true if the catalog name appears at the beginning
     *         of a fully qualified table name; <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean isCatalogAtStart() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the <code>String that this database uses as the
     * separator between a catalog and table name.
     *
     * @return the separator string
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    String getCatalogSeparator() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a data manipulation statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSchemasInDataManipulation() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a procedure call statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSchemasInProcedureCalls() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a table definition statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSchemasInTableDefinitions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in an index definition statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSchemasInIndexDefinitions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a privilege definition statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSchemasInPrivilegeDefinitions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a data manipulation statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsCatalogsInDataManipulation() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a procedure call statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsCatalogsInProcedureCalls() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a table definition statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsCatalogsInTableDefinitions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in an index definition statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsCatalogsInIndexDefinitions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a privilege definition statement.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsCatalogsInPrivilegeDefinitions() throws SQLException;


    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports positioned <code>DELETE
     * statements.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsPositionedDelete() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports positioned <code>UPDATE
     * statements.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsPositionedUpdate() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports <code>SELECT FOR UPDATE
     * statements.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSelectForUpdate() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports stored procedure calls
     * that use the stored procedure escape syntax.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsStoredProcedures() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in comparison
     * expressions.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSubqueriesInComparisons() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in
     * <code>EXISTS expressions.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSubqueriesInExists() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in
     * <code>IN expressions.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSubqueriesInIns() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in quantified
     * expressions.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsSubqueriesInQuantifieds() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports correlated subqueries.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsCorrelatedSubqueries() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports SQL <code>UNION.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsUnion() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports SQL <code>UNION ALL.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsUnionAll() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports keeping cursors open
     * across commits.
     *
     * @return <code>true if cursors always remain open;
     *       <code>false if they might not remain open
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsOpenCursorsAcrossCommit() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports keeping cursors open
     * across rollbacks.
     *
     * @return <code>true if cursors always remain open;
     *       <code>false if they might not remain open
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsOpenCursorsAcrossRollback() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports keeping statements open
     * across commits.
     *
     * @return <code>true if statements always remain open;
     *       <code>false if they might not remain open
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsOpenStatementsAcrossCommit() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports keeping statements open
     * across rollbacks.
     *
     * @return <code>true if statements always remain open;
     *       <code>false if they might not remain open
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsOpenStatementsAcrossRollback() throws SQLException;



    //----------------------------------------------------------------------
    // The following group of methods exposes various limitations
    // based on the target database with the current driver.
    // Unless otherwise specified, a result of zero means there is no
    // limit, or the limit is not known.

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of hex characters this database allows in an
     * inline binary literal.
     *
     * @return max the maximum length (in hex characters) for a binary literal;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxBinaryLiteralLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows
     * for a character literal.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a character literal;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit is
     *      not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxCharLiteralLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows
     * for a column name.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a column name;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxColumnNameLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in a
     * <code>GROUP BY clause.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxColumnsInGroupBy() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in an index.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxColumnsInIndex() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in an
     * <code>ORDER BY clause.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxColumnsInOrderBy() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in a
     * <code>SELECT list.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxColumnsInSelect() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in a table.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxColumnsInTable() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of concurrent connections to this
     * database that are possible.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of active connections possible at one time;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxConnections() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
     * cursor name.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a cursor name;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxCursorNameLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of bytes this database allows for an
     * index, including all of the parts of the index.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of bytes allowed; this limit includes the
     *      composite of all the constituent parts of the index;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxIndexLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
     * schema name.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a schema name;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxSchemaNameLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
     * procedure name.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a procedure name;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxProcedureNameLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
     * catalog name.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a catalog name;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxCatalogNameLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of bytes this database allows in
     * a single row.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of bytes allowed for a row; a result of
     *         zero means that there is no limit or the limit is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxRowSize() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether the return value for the method
     * <code>getMaxRowSize includes the SQL data types
     * <code>LONGVARCHAR and LONGVARBINARY.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean doesMaxRowSizeIncludeBlobs() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows in
     * an SQL statement.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed for an SQL statement;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxStatementLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of active statements to this database
     * that can be open at the same time.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of statements that can be open at one time;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxStatements() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows in
     * a table name.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a table name;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxTableNameLength() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of tables this database allows in a
     * <code>SELECT statement.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of tables allowed in a <code>SELECT
     *         statement; a result of zero means that there is no limit or
     *         the limit is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxTablesInSelect() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows in
     * a user name.
     *
     * @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a user name;
     *      a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
     *      is not known
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    int getMaxUserNameLength() throws SQLException;

    //----------------------------------------------------------------------

    /**
     * Retrieves this database's default transaction isolation level.  The
     * possible values are defined in <code>java.sql.Connection.
     *
     * @return the default isolation level
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see Connection
     */
    int getDefaultTransactionIsolation() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports transactions. If not, invoking the
     * method <code>commit is a noop, and the isolation level is
     * <code>TRANSACTION_NONE.
     *
     * @return <code>true if transactions are supported;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsTransactions() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the given transaction isolation level.
     *
     * @param level one of the transaction isolation levels defined in
     *         <code>java.sql.Connection
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see Connection
     */
    boolean supportsTransactionIsolationLevel(int level)
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports both data definition and
     * data manipulation statements within a transaction.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsDataDefinitionAndDataManipulationTransactions()
        throws SQLException;
    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports only data manipulation
     * statements within a transaction.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean supportsDataManipulationTransactionsOnly()
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a data definition statement within a transaction forces
     * the transaction to commit.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean dataDefinitionCausesTransactionCommit()
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database ignores a data definition statement
     * within a transaction.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    boolean dataDefinitionIgnoredInTransactions()
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the stored procedures available in the given
     * catalog.
     * <P>
     * Only procedure descriptions matching the schema and
     * procedure name criteria are returned.  They are ordered by
     * <code>PROCEDURE_CAT, PROCEDURE_SCHEM,
     * <code>PROCEDURE_NAME and SPECIFIC_ NAME.
     *
     * <P>Each procedure description has the the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>PROCEDURE_CAT String {@code =>} procedure catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>PROCEDURE_SCHEM String {@code =>} procedure schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>PROCEDURE_NAME String {@code =>} procedure name
     *  <LI> reserved for future use
     *  <LI> reserved for future use
     *  <LI> reserved for future use
     *  <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the procedure
     *  <LI>PROCEDURE_TYPE short {@code =>} kind of procedure:
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> procedureResultUnknown - Cannot determine if  a return value
     *       will be returned
     *      <LI> procedureNoResult - Does not return a return value
     *      <LI> procedureReturnsResult - Returns a return value
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>SPECIFIC_NAME String  {@code =>} The name which uniquely identifies this
     * procedure within its schema.
     *  </OL>
     * <p>
     * A user may not have permissions to execute any of the procedures that are
     * returned by <code>getProcedures
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param procedureNamePattern a procedure name pattern; must match the
     *        procedure name as it is stored in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a procedure description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     */
    ResultSet getProcedures(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                            String procedureNamePattern) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that it is not known whether the procedure returns
     * a result.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>PROCEDURE_TYPE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getProcedures.
     */
    int procedureResultUnknown  = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that the procedure does not return a result.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>PROCEDURE_TYPE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getProcedures.
     */
    int procedureNoResult               = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that the procedure returns a result.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>PROCEDURE_TYPE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getProcedures.
     */
    int procedureReturnsResult  = 2;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the given catalog's stored procedure parameter
     * and result columns.
     *
     * <P>Only descriptions matching the schema, procedure and
     * parameter name criteria are returned.  They are ordered by
     * PROCEDURE_CAT, PROCEDURE_SCHEM, PROCEDURE_NAME and SPECIFIC_NAME. Within this, the return value,
     * if any, is first. Next are the parameter descriptions in call
     * order. The column descriptions follow in column number order.
     *
     * <P>Each row in the ResultSet is a parameter description or
     * column description with the following fields:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>PROCEDURE_CAT String {@code =>} procedure catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>PROCEDURE_SCHEM String {@code =>} procedure schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>PROCEDURE_NAME String {@code =>} procedure name
     *  <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column/parameter name
     *  <LI>COLUMN_TYPE Short {@code =>} kind of column/parameter:
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> procedureColumnUnknown - nobody knows
     *      <LI> procedureColumnIn - IN parameter
     *      <LI> procedureColumnInOut - INOUT parameter
     *      <LI> procedureColumnOut - OUT parameter
     *      <LI> procedureColumnReturn - procedure return value
     *      <LI> procedureColumnResult - result column in ResultSet
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} SQL type name, for a UDT type the
     *  type name is fully qualified
     *  <LI>PRECISION int {@code =>} precision
     *  <LI>LENGTH int {@code =>} length in bytes of data
     *  <LI>SCALE short {@code =>} scale -  null is returned for data types where
     * SCALE is not applicable.
     *  <LI>RADIX short {@code =>} radix
     *  <LI>NULLABLE short {@code =>} can it contain NULL.
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> procedureNoNulls - does not allow NULL values
     *      <LI> procedureNullable - allows NULL values
     *      <LI> procedureNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} comment describing parameter/column
     *  <LI>COLUMN_DEF String {@code =>} default value for the column, which should be interpreted as a string when the value is enclosed in single quotes (may be null)
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> The string NULL (not enclosed in quotes) - if NULL was specified as the default value
     *      <LI> TRUNCATE (not enclosed in quotes)        - if the specified default value cannot be represented without truncation
     *      <LI> NULL                                     - if a default value was not specified
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>SQL_DATA_TYPE int  {@code =>} reserved for future use
     *  <LI>SQL_DATETIME_SUB int  {@code =>} reserved for future use
     *  <LI>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH int  {@code =>} the maximum length of binary and character based columns.  For any other datatype the returned value is a
     * NULL
     *  <LI>ORDINAL_POSITION int  {@code =>} the ordinal position, starting from 1, for the input and output parameters for a procedure. A value of 0
     *is returned if this row describes the procedure's return value.  For result set columns, it is the
     *ordinal position of the column in the result set starting from 1.  If there are
     *multiple result sets, the column ordinal positions are implementation
     * defined.
     *  <LI>IS_NULLABLE String  {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine the nullability for a column.
     *       <UL>
     *       <LI> YES           --- if the column can include NULLs
     *       <LI> NO            --- if the column cannot include NULLs
     *       <LI> empty string  --- if the nullability for the
     * column is unknown
     *       </UL>
     *  <LI>SPECIFIC_NAME String  {@code =>} the name which uniquely identifies this procedure within its schema.
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <P>Note: Some databases may not return the column
     * descriptions for a procedure.
     *
     * <p>The PRECISION column represents the specified column size for the given column.
     * For numeric data, this is the maximum precision.  For character data, this is the length in characters.
     * For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
     * maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes.  For the ROWID datatype,
     * this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
     * column size is not applicable.
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param procedureNamePattern a procedure name pattern; must match the
     *        procedure name as it is stored in the database
     * @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column name
     *        as it is stored in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row describes a stored procedure parameter or
     *      column
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     */
    ResultSet getProcedureColumns(String catalog,
                                  String schemaPattern,
                                  String procedureNamePattern,
                                  String columnNamePattern) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that type of the column is unknown.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>COLUMN_TYPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureColumnUnknown = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that the column stores IN parameters.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>COLUMN_TYPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureColumnIn = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that the column stores INOUT parameters.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>COLUMN_TYPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureColumnInOut = 2;

    /**
     * Indicates that the column stores OUT parameters.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>COLUMN_TYPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet
    * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureColumnOut = 4;
    /**
     * Indicates that the column stores return values.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>COLUMN_TYPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureColumnReturn = 5;

    /**
     * Indicates that the column stores results.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>COLUMN_TYPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureColumnResult = 3;

    /**
     * Indicates that <code>NULL values are not allowed.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureNoNulls = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that <code>NULL values are allowed.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureNullable = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that whether <code>NULL values are allowed
     * is unknown.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getProcedureColumns.
     */
    int procedureNullableUnknown = 2;


    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the tables available in the given catalog.
     * Only table descriptions matching the catalog, schema, table
     * name and type criteria are returned.  They are ordered by
     * <code>TABLE_TYPE, TABLE_CAT,
     * <code>TABLE_SCHEM and TABLE_NAME.
     * <P>
     * Each table description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} table name
     *  <LI>TABLE_TYPE String {@code =>} table type.  Typical types are "TABLE",
     *                  "VIEW", "SYSTEM TABLE", "GLOBAL TEMPORARY",
     *                  "LOCAL TEMPORARY", "ALIAS", "SYNONYM".
     *  <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the table
     *  <LI>TYPE_CAT String {@code =>} the types catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_SCHEM String {@code =>} the types schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} type name (may be null)
     *  <LI>SELF_REFERENCING_COL_NAME String {@code =>} name of the designated
     *                  "identifier" column of a typed table (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>REF_GENERATION String {@code =>} specifies how values in
     *                  SELF_REFERENCING_COL_NAME are created. Values are
     *                  "SYSTEM", "USER", "DERIVED". (may be <code>null)
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <P>Note: Some databases may not return information for
     * all tables.
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the
     *        table name as it is stored in the database
     * @param types a list of table types, which must be from the list of table types
     *         returned from {@link #getTableTypes},to include; <code>null returns
     * all types
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a table description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     */
    ResultSet getTables(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                        String tableNamePattern, String types[]) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the schema names available in this database.  The results
     * are ordered by <code>TABLE_CATALOG and
     * <code>TABLE_SCHEM.
     *
     * <P>The schema columns are:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} schema name
     *  <LI>TABLE_CATALOG String {@code =>} catalog name (may be null)
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row is a
     *         schema description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     *
     */
    ResultSet getSchemas() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the catalog names available in this database.  The results
     * are ordered by catalog name.
     *
     * <P>The catalog column is:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} catalog name
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row has a
     *         single <code>String column that is a catalog name
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    ResultSet getCatalogs() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the table types available in this database.  The results
     * are ordered by table type.
     *
     * <P>The table type is:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_TYPE String {@code =>} table type.  Typical types are "TABLE",
     *                  "VIEW", "SYSTEM TABLE", "GLOBAL TEMPORARY",
     *                  "LOCAL TEMPORARY", "ALIAS", "SYNONYM".
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row has a
     *         single <code>String column that is a table type
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    ResultSet getTableTypes() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of table columns available in
     * the specified catalog.
     *
     * <P>Only column descriptions matching the catalog, schema, table
     * and column name criteria are returned.  They are ordered by
     * <code>TABLE_CAT,TABLE_SCHEM,
     * <code>TABLE_NAME, and ORDINAL_POSITION.
     *
     * <P>Each column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} table name
     *  <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column name
     *  <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} Data source dependent type name,
     *  for a UDT the type name is fully qualified
     *  <LI>COLUMN_SIZE int {@code =>} column size.
     *  <LI>BUFFER_LENGTH is not used.
     *  <LI>DECIMAL_DIGITS int {@code =>} the number of fractional digits. Null is returned for data types where
     * DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
     *  <LI>NUM_PREC_RADIX int {@code =>} Radix (typically either 10 or 2)
     *  <LI>NULLABLE int {@code =>} is NULL allowed.
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> columnNoNulls - might not allow NULL values
     *      <LI> columnNullable - definitely allows NULL values
     *      <LI> columnNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} comment describing column (may be null)
     *  <LI>COLUMN_DEF String {@code =>} default value for the column, which should be interpreted as a string when the value is enclosed in single quotes (may be null)
     *  <LI>SQL_DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} unused
     *  <LI>SQL_DATETIME_SUB int {@code =>} unused
     *  <LI>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH int {@code =>} for char types the
     *       maximum number of bytes in the column
     *  <LI>ORDINAL_POSITION int {@code =>} index of column in table
     *      (starting at 1)
     *  <LI>IS_NULLABLE String  {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine the nullability for a column.
     *       <UL>
     *       <LI> YES           --- if the column can include NULLs
     *       <LI> NO            --- if the column cannot include NULLs
     *       <LI> empty string  --- if the nullability for the
     * column is unknown
     *       </UL>
     *  <LI>SCOPE_CATALOG String {@code =>} catalog of table that is the scope
     *      of a reference attribute (<code>null if DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
     *  <LI>SCOPE_SCHEMA String {@code =>} schema of table that is the scope
     *      of a reference attribute (<code>null if the DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
     *  <LI>SCOPE_TABLE String {@code =>} table name that this the scope
     *      of a reference attribute (<code>null if the DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
     *  <LI>SOURCE_DATA_TYPE short {@code =>} source type of a distinct type or user-generated
     *      Ref type, SQL type from java.sql.Types (<code>null if DATA_TYPE
     *      isn't DISTINCT or user-generated REF)
     *   <LI>IS_AUTOINCREMENT String  {@code =>} Indicates whether this column is auto incremented
     *       <UL>
     *       <LI> YES           --- if the column is auto incremented
     *       <LI> NO            --- if the column is not auto incremented
     *       <LI> empty string  --- if it cannot be determined whether the column is auto incremented
     *       </UL>
     *   <LI>IS_GENERATEDCOLUMN String  {@code =>} Indicates whether this is a generated column
     *       <UL>
     *       <LI> YES           --- if this a generated column
     *       <LI> NO            --- if this not a generated column
     *       <LI> empty string  --- if it cannot be determined whether this is a generated column
     *       </UL>
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column specifies the column size for the given column.
     * For numeric data, this is the maximum precision.  For character data, this is the length in characters.
     * For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
     * maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes.  For the ROWID datatype,
     * this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
     * column size is not applicable.
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the
     *        table name as it is stored in the database
     * @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column
     *        name as it is stored in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     */
    ResultSet getColumns(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                         String tableNamePattern, String columnNamePattern)
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that the column might not allow <code>NULL values.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet returned by the method
     * <code>getColumns.
     */
    int columnNoNulls = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that the column definitely allows <code>NULL values.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet returned by the method
     * <code>getColumns.
     */
    int columnNullable = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that the nullability of columns is unknown.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet returned by the method
     * <code>getColumns.
     */
    int columnNullableUnknown = 2;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the access rights for a table's columns.
     *
     * <P>Only privileges matching the column name criteria are
     * returned.  They are ordered by COLUMN_NAME and PRIVILEGE.
     *
     * <P>Each privilege description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} table name
     *  <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column name
     *  <LI>GRANTOR String {@code =>} grantor of access (may be null)
     *  <LI>GRANTEE String {@code =>} grantee of access
     *  <LI>PRIVILEGE String {@code =>} name of access (SELECT,
     *      INSERT, UPDATE, REFRENCES, ...)
     *  <LI>IS_GRANTABLE String {@code =>} "YES" if grantee is permitted
     *      to grant to others; "NO" if not; <code>null if unknown
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name as it is
     *        stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is
     *        stored in the database
     * @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column
     *        name as it is stored in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a column privilege description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     */
    ResultSet getColumnPrivileges(String catalog, String schema,
                                  String table, String columnNamePattern) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the access rights for each table available
     * in a catalog. Note that a table privilege applies to one or
     * more columns in the table. It would be wrong to assume that
     * this privilege applies to all columns (this may be true for
     * some systems but is not true for all.)
     *
     * <P>Only privileges matching the schema and table name
     * criteria are returned.  They are ordered by
     * <code>TABLE_CAT,
     * <code>TABLE_SCHEM, TABLE_NAME,
     * and <code>PRIVILEGE.
     *
     * <P>Each privilege description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} table name
     *  <LI>GRANTOR String {@code =>} grantor of access (may be null)
     *  <LI>GRANTEE String {@code =>} grantee of access
     *  <LI>PRIVILEGE String {@code =>} name of access (SELECT,
     *      INSERT, UPDATE, REFRENCES, ...)
     *  <LI>IS_GRANTABLE String {@code =>} "YES" if grantee is permitted
     *      to grant to others; "NO" if not; <code>null if unknown
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the
     *        table name as it is stored in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a table privilege description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     */
    ResultSet getTablePrivileges(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                                 String tableNamePattern) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of a table's optimal set of columns that
     * uniquely identifies a row. They are ordered by SCOPE.
     *
     * <P>Each column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>SCOPE short {@code =>} actual scope of result
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> bestRowTemporary - very temporary, while using row
     *      <LI> bestRowTransaction - valid for remainder of current transaction
     *      <LI> bestRowSession - valid for remainder of current session
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column name
     *  <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} SQL data type from java.sql.Types
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} Data source dependent type name,
     *  for a UDT the type name is fully qualified
     *  <LI>COLUMN_SIZE int {@code =>} precision
     *  <LI>BUFFER_LENGTH int {@code =>} not used
     *  <LI>DECIMAL_DIGITS short  {@code =>} scale - Null is returned for data types where
     * DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
     *  <LI>PSEUDO_COLUMN short {@code =>} is this a pseudo column
     *      like an Oracle ROWID
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> bestRowUnknown - may or may not be pseudo column
     *      <LI> bestRowNotPseudo - is NOT a pseudo column
     *      <LI> bestRowPseudo - is a pseudo column
     *      </UL>
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column represents the specified column size for the given column.
     * For numeric data, this is the maximum precision.  For character data, this is the length in characters.
     * For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
     * maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes.  For the ROWID datatype,
     * this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
     * column size is not applicable.
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
     *        in the database
     * @param scope the scope of interest; use same values as SCOPE
     * @param nullable include columns that are nullable.
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    ResultSet getBestRowIdentifier(String catalog, String schema,
                                   String table, int scope, boolean nullable) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that the scope of the best row identifier is
     * very temporary, lasting only while the
     * row is being used.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>SCOPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getBestRowIdentifier.
     */
    int bestRowTemporary   = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that the scope of the best row identifier is
     * the remainder of the current transaction.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>SCOPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getBestRowIdentifier.
     */
    int bestRowTransaction = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that the scope of the best row identifier is
     * the remainder of the current session.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>SCOPE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getBestRowIdentifier.
     */
    int bestRowSession     = 2;

    /**
     * Indicates that the best row identifier may or may not be a pseudo column.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>PSEUDO_COLUMN
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getBestRowIdentifier.
     */
    int bestRowUnknown  = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that the best row identifier is NOT a pseudo column.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>PSEUDO_COLUMN
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getBestRowIdentifier.
     */
    int bestRowNotPseudo        = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that the best row identifier is a pseudo column.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>PSEUDO_COLUMN
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getBestRowIdentifier.
     */
    int bestRowPseudo   = 2;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of a table's columns that are automatically
     * updated when any value in a row is updated.  They are
     * unordered.
     *
     * <P>Each column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>SCOPE short {@code =>} is not used
     *  <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column name
     *  <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} SQL data type from java.sql.Types
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} Data source-dependent type name
     *  <LI>COLUMN_SIZE int {@code =>} precision
     *  <LI>BUFFER_LENGTH int {@code =>} length of column value in bytes
     *  <LI>DECIMAL_DIGITS short  {@code =>} scale - Null is returned for data types where
     * DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
     *  <LI>PSEUDO_COLUMN short {@code =>} whether this is pseudo column
     *      like an Oracle ROWID
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> versionColumnUnknown - may or may not be pseudo column
     *      <LI> versionColumnNotPseudo - is NOT a pseudo column
     *      <LI> versionColumnPseudo - is a pseudo column
     *      </UL>
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column represents the specified column size for the given column.
     * For numeric data, this is the maximum precision.  For character data, this is the length in characters.
     * For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
     * maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes.  For the ROWID datatype,
     * this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
     * column size is not applicable.
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
     *        in the database
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row is a
     *         column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    ResultSet getVersionColumns(String catalog, String schema,
                                String table) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that this version column may or may not be a pseudo column.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>PSEUDO_COLUMN
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getVersionColumns.
     */
    int versionColumnUnknown    = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that this version column is NOT a pseudo column.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>PSEUDO_COLUMN
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getVersionColumns.
     */
    int versionColumnNotPseudo  = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that this version column is a pseudo column.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>PSEUDO_COLUMN
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getVersionColumns.
     */
    int versionColumnPseudo     = 2;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the given table's primary key columns.  They
     * are ordered by COLUMN_NAME.
     *
     * <P>Each primary key column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} table name
     *  <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column name
     *  <LI>KEY_SEQ short {@code =>} sequence number within primary key( a value
     *  of 1 represents the first column of the primary key, a value of 2 would
     *  represent the second column within the primary key).
     *  <LI>PK_NAME String {@code =>} primary key name (may be null)
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
     *        in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a primary key column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    ResultSet getPrimaryKeys(String catalog, String schema,
                             String table) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the primary key columns that are
     * referenced by the given table's foreign key columns (the primary keys
     * imported by a table).  They are ordered by PKTABLE_CAT,
     * PKTABLE_SCHEM, PKTABLE_NAME, and KEY_SEQ.
     *
     * <P>Each primary key column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_CAT String {@code =>} primary key table catalog
     *      being imported (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} primary key table schema
     *      being imported (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_NAME String {@code =>} primary key table name
     *      being imported
     *  <LI>PKCOLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} primary key column name
     *      being imported
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_CAT String {@code =>} foreign key table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} foreign key table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key table name
     *  <LI>FKCOLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key column name
     *  <LI>KEY_SEQ short {@code =>} sequence number within a foreign key( a value
     *  of 1 represents the first column of the foreign key, a value of 2 would
     *  represent the second column within the foreign key).
     *  <LI>UPDATE_RULE short {@code =>} What happens to a
     *       foreign key when the primary key is updated:
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedNoAction - do not allow update of primary
     *               key if it has been imported
     *      <LI> importedKeyCascade - change imported key to agree
     *               with primary key update
     *      <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to NULL
     *               if its primary key has been updated
     *      <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default values
     *               if its primary key has been updated
     *      <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
     *                                 (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>DELETE_RULE short {@code =>} What happens to
     *      the foreign key when primary is deleted.
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedKeyNoAction - do not allow delete of primary
     *               key if it has been imported
     *      <LI> importedKeyCascade - delete rows that import a deleted key
     *      <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to NULL if
     *               its primary key has been deleted
     *      <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
     *                                 (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
     *      <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default if
     *               its primary key has been deleted
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>FK_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key name (may be null)
     *  <LI>PK_NAME String {@code =>} primary key name (may be null)
     *  <LI>DEFERRABILITY short {@code =>} can the evaluation of foreign key
     *      constraints be deferred until commit
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedKeyInitiallyDeferred - see SQL92 for definition
     *      <LI> importedKeyInitiallyImmediate - see SQL92 for definition
     *      <LI> importedKeyNotDeferrable - see SQL92 for definition
     *      </UL>
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
     *        in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a primary key column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getExportedKeys
     */
    ResultSet getImportedKeys(String catalog, String schema,
                              String table) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * For the column <code>UPDATE_RULE,
     * indicates that
     * when the primary key is updated, the foreign key (imported key)
     * is changed to agree with it.
     * For the column <code>DELETE_RULE,
     * it indicates that
     * when the primary key is deleted, rows that imported that key
     * are deleted.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE in the
     * <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeyCascade      = 0;

    /**
     * For the column <code>UPDATE_RULE, indicates that
     * a primary key may not be updated if it has been imported by
     * another table as a foreign key.
     * For the column <code>DELETE_RULE, indicates that
     * a primary key may not be deleted if it has been imported by
     * another table as a foreign key.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE in the
     * <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeyRestrict = 1;

    /**
     * For the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE, indicates that
     * when the primary key is updated or deleted, the foreign key (imported key)
     * is changed to <code>NULL.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE in the
     * <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeySetNull  = 2;

    /**
     * For the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE, indicates that
     * if the primary key has been imported, it cannot be updated or deleted.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE in the
     * <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeyNoAction = 3;

    /**
     * For the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE, indicates that
     * if the primary key is updated or deleted, the foreign key (imported key)
     * is set to the default value.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the columns <code>UPDATE_RULE
     * and <code>DELETE_RULE in the
     * <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeySetDefault  = 4;

    /**
     * Indicates deferrability.  See SQL-92 for a definition.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column <code>DEFERRABILITY
     * in the <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeyInitiallyDeferred  = 5;

    /**
     * Indicates deferrability.  See SQL-92 for a definition.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column <code>DEFERRABILITY
     * in the <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeyInitiallyImmediate  = 6;

    /**
     * Indicates deferrability.  See SQL-92 for a definition.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column <code>DEFERRABILITY
     * in the <code>ResultSet objects returned by the methods
     * <code>getImportedKeys,  getExportedKeys,
     * and <code>getCrossReference.
     */
    int importedKeyNotDeferrable  = 7;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the foreign key columns that reference the
     * given table's primary key columns (the foreign keys exported by a
     * table).  They are ordered by FKTABLE_CAT, FKTABLE_SCHEM,
     * FKTABLE_NAME, and KEY_SEQ.
     *
     * <P>Each foreign key column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_CAT String {@code =>} primary key table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} primary key table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_NAME String {@code =>} primary key table name
     *  <LI>PKCOLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} primary key column name
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_CAT String {@code =>} foreign key table catalog (may be null)
     *      being exported (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} foreign key table schema (may be null)
     *      being exported (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key table name
     *      being exported
     *  <LI>FKCOLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key column name
     *      being exported
     *  <LI>KEY_SEQ short {@code =>} sequence number within foreign key( a value
     *  of 1 represents the first column of the foreign key, a value of 2 would
     *  represent the second column within the foreign key).
     *  <LI>UPDATE_RULE short {@code =>} What happens to
     *       foreign key when primary is updated:
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedNoAction - do not allow update of primary
     *               key if it has been imported
     *      <LI> importedKeyCascade - change imported key to agree
     *               with primary key update
     *      <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to NULL if
     *               its primary key has been updated
     *      <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default values
     *               if its primary key has been updated
     *      <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
     *                                 (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>DELETE_RULE short {@code =>} What happens to
     *      the foreign key when primary is deleted.
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedKeyNoAction - do not allow delete of primary
     *               key if it has been imported
     *      <LI> importedKeyCascade - delete rows that import a deleted key
     *      <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to NULL if
     *               its primary key has been deleted
     *      <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
     *                                 (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
     *      <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default if
     *               its primary key has been deleted
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>FK_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key name (may be null)
     *  <LI>PK_NAME String {@code =>} primary key name (may be null)
     *  <LI>DEFERRABILITY short {@code =>} can the evaluation of foreign key
     *      constraints be deferred until commit
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedKeyInitiallyDeferred - see SQL92 for definition
     *      <LI> importedKeyInitiallyImmediate - see SQL92 for definition
     *      <LI> importedKeyNotDeferrable - see SQL92 for definition
     *      </UL>
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in this database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
     *        in this database
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row is a
     *         foreign key column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getImportedKeys
     */
    ResultSet getExportedKeys(String catalog, String schema,
                              String table) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the foreign key columns in the given foreign key
     * table that reference the primary key or the columns representing a unique constraint of the  parent table (could be the same or a different table).
     * The number of columns returned from the parent table must match the number of
     * columns that make up the foreign key.  They
     * are ordered by FKTABLE_CAT, FKTABLE_SCHEM, FKTABLE_NAME, and
     * KEY_SEQ.
     *
     * <P>Each foreign key column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_CAT String {@code =>} parent key table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} parent key table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>PKTABLE_NAME String {@code =>} parent key table name
     *  <LI>PKCOLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} parent key column name
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_CAT String {@code =>} foreign key table catalog (may be null)
     *      being exported (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} foreign key table schema (may be null)
     *      being exported (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>FKTABLE_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key table name
     *      being exported
     *  <LI>FKCOLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key column name
     *      being exported
     *  <LI>KEY_SEQ short {@code =>} sequence number within foreign key( a value
     *  of 1 represents the first column of the foreign key, a value of 2 would
     *  represent the second column within the foreign key).
     *  <LI>UPDATE_RULE short {@code =>} What happens to
     *       foreign key when parent key is updated:
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedNoAction - do not allow update of parent
     *               key if it has been imported
     *      <LI> importedKeyCascade - change imported key to agree
     *               with parent key update
     *      <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to NULL if
     *               its parent key has been updated
     *      <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default values
     *               if its parent key has been updated
     *      <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
     *                                 (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>DELETE_RULE short {@code =>} What happens to
     *      the foreign key when parent key is deleted.
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedKeyNoAction - do not allow delete of parent
     *               key if it has been imported
     *      <LI> importedKeyCascade - delete rows that import a deleted key
     *      <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to NULL if
     *               its primary key has been deleted
     *      <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
     *                                 (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
     *      <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default if
     *               its parent key has been deleted
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>FK_NAME String {@code =>} foreign key name (may be null)
     *  <LI>PK_NAME String {@code =>} parent key name (may be null)
     *  <LI>DEFERRABILITY short {@code =>} can the evaluation of foreign key
     *      constraints be deferred until commit
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> importedKeyInitiallyDeferred - see SQL92 for definition
     *      <LI> importedKeyInitiallyImmediate - see SQL92 for definition
     *      <LI> importedKeyNotDeferrable - see SQL92 for definition
     *      </UL>
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @param parentCatalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name
     * as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a
     * catalog; <code>null means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
     * @param parentSchema a schema name; must match the schema name as
     * it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     * <code>null means drop schema name from the selection criteria
     * @param parentTable the name of the table that exports the key; must match
     * the table name as it is stored in the database
     * @param foreignCatalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as
     * it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a
     * catalog; <code>null means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
     * @param foreignSchema a schema name; must match the schema name as it
     * is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     * <code>null means drop schema name from the selection criteria
     * @param foreignTable the name of the table that imports the key; must match
     * the table name as it is stored in the database
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a foreign key column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getImportedKeys
     */
    ResultSet getCrossReference(
                                String parentCatalog, String parentSchema, String parentTable,
                                String foreignCatalog, String foreignSchema, String foreignTable
                                ) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of all the data types supported by
     * this database. They are ordered by DATA_TYPE and then by how
     * closely the data type maps to the corresponding JDBC SQL type.
     *
     * <P>If the database supports SQL distinct types, then getTypeInfo() will return
     * a single row with a TYPE_NAME of DISTINCT and a DATA_TYPE of Types.DISTINCT.
     * If the database supports SQL structured types, then getTypeInfo() will return
     * a single row with a TYPE_NAME of STRUCT and a DATA_TYPE of Types.STRUCT.
     *
     * <P>If SQL distinct or structured types are supported, then information on the
     * individual types may be obtained from the getUDTs() method.
     *

     *
     * <P>Each type description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} Type name
     *  <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} SQL data type from java.sql.Types
     *  <LI>PRECISION int {@code =>} maximum precision
     *  <LI>LITERAL_PREFIX String {@code =>} prefix used to quote a literal
     *      (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>LITERAL_SUFFIX String {@code =>} suffix used to quote a literal
     (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>CREATE_PARAMS String {@code =>} parameters used in creating
     *      the type (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>NULLABLE short {@code =>} can you use NULL for this type.
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> typeNoNulls - does not allow NULL values
     *      <LI> typeNullable - allows NULL values
     *      <LI> typeNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>CASE_SENSITIVE boolean{@code =>} is it case sensitive.
     *  <LI>SEARCHABLE short {@code =>} can you use "WHERE" based on this type:
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> typePredNone - No support
     *      <LI> typePredChar - Only supported with WHERE .. LIKE
     *      <LI> typePredBasic - Supported except for WHERE .. LIKE
     *      <LI> typeSearchable - Supported for all WHERE ..
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>UNSIGNED_ATTRIBUTE boolean {@code =>} is it unsigned.
     *  <LI>FIXED_PREC_SCALE boolean {@code =>} can it be a money value.
     *  <LI>AUTO_INCREMENT boolean {@code =>} can it be used for an
     *      auto-increment value.
     *  <LI>LOCAL_TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} localized version of type name
     *      (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>MINIMUM_SCALE short {@code =>} minimum scale supported
     *  <LI>MAXIMUM_SCALE short {@code =>} maximum scale supported
     *  <LI>SQL_DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} unused
     *  <LI>SQL_DATETIME_SUB int {@code =>} unused
     *  <LI>NUM_PREC_RADIX int {@code =>} usually 2 or 10
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <p>The PRECISION column represents the maximum column size that the server supports for the given datatype.
     * For numeric data, this is the maximum precision.  For character data, this is the length in characters.
     * For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
     * maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes.  For the ROWID datatype,
     * this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
     * column size is not applicable.
     *
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row is an SQL
     *         type description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    ResultSet getTypeInfo() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that a <code>NULL value is NOT allowed for this
     * data type.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>NULLABLE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getTypeInfo.
     */
    int typeNoNulls = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that a <code>NULL value is allowed for this
     * data type.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>NULLABLE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getTypeInfo.
     */
    int typeNullable = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that it is not known whether a <code>NULL value
     * is allowed for this data type.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>NULLABLE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getTypeInfo.
     */
    int typeNullableUnknown = 2;

    /**
     * Indicates that <code>WHERE search clauses are not supported
     * for this type.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>SEARCHABLE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getTypeInfo.
     */
    int typePredNone = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that the data type
     * can be only be used in <code>WHERE search clauses
     * that  use <code>LIKE predicates.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>SEARCHABLE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getTypeInfo.
     */
    int typePredChar = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that the data type can be only be used in <code>WHERE
     * search clauses
     * that do not use <code>LIKE predicates.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>SEARCHABLE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getTypeInfo.
     */
    int typePredBasic = 2;

    /**
     * Indicates that all <code>WHERE search clauses can be
     * based on this type.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>SEARCHABLE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getTypeInfo.
     */
    int typeSearchable  = 3;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the given table's indices and statistics. They are
     * ordered by NON_UNIQUE, TYPE, INDEX_NAME, and ORDINAL_POSITION.
     *
     * <P>Each index column description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} table catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} table schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} table name
     *  <LI>NON_UNIQUE boolean {@code =>} Can index values be non-unique.
     *      false when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
     *  <LI>INDEX_QUALIFIER String {@code =>} index catalog (may be null);
     *      <code>null when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
     *  <LI>INDEX_NAME String {@code =>} index name; null when TYPE is
     *      tableIndexStatistic
     *  <LI>TYPE short {@code =>} index type:
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> tableIndexStatistic - this identifies table statistics that are
     *           returned in conjuction with a table's index descriptions
     *      <LI> tableIndexClustered - this is a clustered index
     *      <LI> tableIndexHashed - this is a hashed index
     *      <LI> tableIndexOther - this is some other style of index
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>ORDINAL_POSITION short {@code =>} column sequence number
     *      within index; zero when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
     *  <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column name; null when TYPE is
     *      tableIndexStatistic
     *  <LI>ASC_OR_DESC String {@code =>} column sort sequence, "A" {@code =>} ascending,
     *      "D" {@code =>} descending, may be <code>null if sort sequence is not supported;
     *      <code>null when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
     *  <LI>CARDINALITY long {@code =>} When TYPE is tableIndexStatistic, then
     *      this is the number of rows in the table; otherwise, it is the
     *      number of unique values in the index.
     *  <LI>PAGES long {@code =>} When TYPE is  tableIndexStatisic then
     *      this is the number of pages used for the table, otherwise it
     *      is the number of pages used for the current index.
     *  <LI>FILTER_CONDITION String {@code =>} Filter condition, if any.
     *      (may be <code>null)
     *  </OL>
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in this database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in this database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
     *        in this database
     * @param unique when true, return only indices for unique values;
     *     when false, return indices regardless of whether unique or not
     * @param approximate when true, result is allowed to reflect approximate
     *     or out of data values; when false, results are requested to be
     *     accurate
     * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is an index column description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     */
    ResultSet getIndexInfo(String catalog, String schema, String table,
                           boolean unique, boolean approximate)
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that this column contains table statistics that
     * are returned in conjunction with a table's index descriptions.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>TYPE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getIndexInfo.
     */
    short tableIndexStatistic = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that this table index is a clustered index.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>TYPE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getIndexInfo.
     */
    short tableIndexClustered = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that this table index is a hashed index.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>TYPE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getIndexInfo.
     */
    short tableIndexHashed    = 2;

    /**
     * Indicates that this table index is not a clustered
     * index, a hashed index, or table statistics;
     * it is something other than these.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for column <code>TYPE in the
     * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method
     * <code>getIndexInfo.
     */
    short tableIndexOther     = 3;

    //--------------------------JDBC 2.0-----------------------------

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the given result set type.
     *
     * @param type defined in <code>java.sql.ResultSet
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see Connection
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean supportsResultSetType(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the given concurrency type
     * in combination with the given result set type.
     *
     * @param type defined in <code>java.sql.ResultSet
     * @param concurrency type defined in <code>java.sql.ResultSet
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see Connection
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean supportsResultSetConcurrency(int type, int concurrency)
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     *
     * Retrieves whether for the given type of <code>ResultSet object,
     * the result set's own updates are visible.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if updates are visible for the given result set type;
     *        <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean ownUpdatesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a result set's own deletes are visible.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if deletes are visible for the given result set type;
     *        <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean ownDeletesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a result set's own inserts are visible.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if inserts are visible for the given result set type;
     *        <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean ownInsertsAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether updates made by others are visible.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if updates made by others
     *        are visible for the given result set type;
     *        <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean othersUpdatesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether deletes made by others are visible.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if deletes made by others
     *        are visible for the given result set type;
     *        <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean othersDeletesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether inserts made by others are visible.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if inserts made by others
     *         are visible for the given result set type;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean othersInsertsAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether or not a visible row update can be detected by
     * calling the method <code>ResultSet.rowUpdated.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if changes are detected by the result set type;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean updatesAreDetected(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether or not a visible row delete can be detected by
     * calling the method <code>ResultSet.rowDeleted.  If the method
     * <code>deletesAreDetected returns false, it means that
     * deleted rows are removed from the result set.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if deletes are detected by the given result set type;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean deletesAreDetected(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether or not a visible row insert can be detected
     * by calling the method <code>ResultSet.rowInserted.
     *
     * @param type the <code>ResultSet type; one of
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, or
     *        <code>ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE
     * @return <code>true if changes are detected by the specified result
     *         set type; <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean insertsAreDetected(int type) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports batch updates.
     *
     * @return <code>true if this database supports batch updates;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    boolean supportsBatchUpdates() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the user-defined types (UDTs) defined
     * in a particular schema.  Schema-specific UDTs may have type
     * <code>JAVA_OBJECT, STRUCT,
     * or <code>DISTINCT.
     *
     * <P>Only types matching the catalog, schema, type name and type
     * criteria are returned.  They are ordered by <code>DATA_TYPE,
     * <code>TYPE_CAT, TYPE_SCHEM  and
     * <code>TYPE_NAME.  The type name parameter may be a fully-qualified
     * name.  In this case, the catalog and schemaPattern parameters are
     * ignored.
     *
     * <P>Each type description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TYPE_CAT String {@code =>} the type's catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_SCHEM String {@code =>} type's schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} type name
     *  <LI>CLASS_NAME String {@code =>} Java class name
     *  <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} type value defined in java.sql.Types.
     *     One of JAVA_OBJECT, STRUCT, or DISTINCT
     *  <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the type
     *  <LI>BASE_TYPE short {@code =>} type code of the source type of a
     *     DISTINCT type or the type that implements the user-generated
     *     reference type of the SELF_REFERENCING_COLUMN of a structured
     *     type as defined in java.sql.Types (<code>null if DATA_TYPE is not
     *     DISTINCT or not STRUCT with REFERENCE_GENERATION = USER_DEFINED)
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <P>Note: If the driver does not support UDTs, an empty
     * result set is returned.
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schemaPattern a schema pattern name; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param typeNamePattern a type name pattern; must match the type name
     *        as it is stored in the database; may be a fully qualified name
     * @param types a list of user-defined types (JAVA_OBJECT,
     *        STRUCT, or DISTINCT) to include; <code>null returns all types
     * @return <code>ResultSet object in which each row describes a UDT
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     * @since 1.2
     */
    ResultSet getUDTs(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                      String typeNamePattern, int[] types)
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the connection that produced this metadata object.
     * <P>
     * @return the connection that produced this metadata object
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.2
     */
    Connection getConnection() throws SQLException;

    // ------------------- JDBC 3.0 -------------------------

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports savepoints.
     *
     * @return <code>true if savepoints are supported;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    boolean supportsSavepoints() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports named parameters to callable
     * statements.
     *
     * @return <code>true if named parameters are supported;
     *         <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    boolean supportsNamedParameters() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether it is possible to have multiple <code>ResultSet objects
     * returned from a <code>CallableStatement object
     * simultaneously.
     *
     * @return <code>true if a CallableStatement object
     *         can return multiple <code>ResultSet objects
     *         simultaneously; <code>false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a datanase access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    boolean supportsMultipleOpenResults() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether auto-generated keys can be retrieved after
     * a statement has been executed
     *
     * @return <code>true if auto-generated keys can be retrieved
     *         after a statement has executed; <code>false otherwise
     *<p>If true is returned, the JDBC driver must support the
     * returning of auto-generated keys for at least SQL INSERT statements
     *<p>
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    boolean supportsGetGeneratedKeys() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the user-defined type (UDT) hierarchies defined in a
     * particular schema in this database. Only the immediate super type/
     * sub type relationship is modeled.
     * <P>
     * Only supertype information for UDTs matching the catalog,
     * schema, and type name is returned. The type name parameter
     * may be a fully-qualified name. When the UDT name supplied is a
     * fully-qualified name, the catalog and schemaPattern parameters are
     * ignored.
     * <P>
     * If a UDT does not have a direct super type, it is not listed here.
     * A row of the <code>ResultSet object returned by this method
     * describes the designated UDT and a direct supertype. A row has the following
     * columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TYPE_CAT String {@code =>} the UDT's catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_SCHEM String {@code =>} UDT's schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} type name of the UDT
     *  <LI>SUPERTYPE_CAT String {@code =>} the direct super type's catalog
     *                           (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>SUPERTYPE_SCHEM String {@code =>} the direct super type's schema
     *                             (may be <code>null)
     *  <LI>SUPERTYPE_NAME String {@code =>} the direct super type's name
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <P>Note: If the driver does not support type hierarchies, an
     * empty result set is returned.
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; "" retrieves those
     *        without a schema
     * @param typeNamePattern a UDT name pattern; may be a fully-qualified
     *        name
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which a row gives information
     *         about the designated UDT
     * @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     * @since 1.4
     */
    ResultSet getSuperTypes(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                            String typeNamePattern) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the table hierarchies defined in a particular
     * schema in this database.
     *
     * <P>Only supertable information for tables matching the catalog, schema
     * and table name are returned. The table name parameter may be a fully-
     * qualified name, in which case, the catalog and schemaPattern parameters
     * are ignored. If a table does not have a super table, it is not listed here.
     * Supertables have to be defined in the same catalog and schema as the
     * sub tables. Therefore, the type description does not need to include
     * this information for the supertable.
     *
     * <P>Each type description has the following columns:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} the type's catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} type's schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} type name
     *  <LI>SUPERTABLE_NAME String {@code =>} the direct super type's name
     *  </OL>
     *
     * <P>Note: If the driver does not support type hierarchies, an
     * empty result set is returned.
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; "" retrieves those
     *        without a schema
     * @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; may be a fully-qualified
     *        name
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row is a type description
     * @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     * @since 1.4
     */
    ResultSet getSuperTables(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                             String tableNamePattern) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates that <code>NULL values might not be allowed.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column
     * <code>NULLABLE in the ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getAttributes.
     */
    short attributeNoNulls = 0;

    /**
     * Indicates that <code>NULL values are definitely allowed.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getAttributes.
     */
    short attributeNullable = 1;

    /**
     * Indicates that whether <code>NULL values are allowed is not
     * known.
     * <P>
     * A possible value for the column <code>NULLABLE
     * in the <code>ResultSet object
     * returned by the method <code>getAttributes.
     */
    short attributeNullableUnknown = 2;

    /**
     * Retrieves a description of the given attribute of the given type
     * for a user-defined type (UDT) that is available in the given schema
     * and catalog.
     * <P>
     * Descriptions are returned only for attributes of UDTs matching the
     * catalog, schema, type, and attribute name criteria. They are ordered by
     * <code>TYPE_CAT, TYPE_SCHEM,
     * <code>TYPE_NAME and ORDINAL_POSITION. This description
     * does not contain inherited attributes.
     * <P>
     * The <code>ResultSet object that is returned has the following
     * columns:
     * <OL>
     *  <LI>TYPE_CAT String {@code =>} type catalog (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_SCHEM String {@code =>} type schema (may be null)
     *  <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} type name
     *  <LI>ATTR_NAME String {@code =>} attribute name
     *  <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} attribute type SQL type from java.sql.Types
     *  <LI>ATTR_TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} Data source dependent type name.
     *  For a UDT, the type name is fully qualified. For a REF, the type name is
     *  fully qualified and represents the target type of the reference type.
     *  <LI>ATTR_SIZE int {@code =>} column size.  For char or date
     *      types this is the maximum number of characters; for numeric or
     *      decimal types this is precision.
     *  <LI>DECIMAL_DIGITS int {@code =>} the number of fractional digits. Null is returned for data types where
     * DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
     *  <LI>NUM_PREC_RADIX int {@code =>} Radix (typically either 10 or 2)
     *  <LI>NULLABLE int {@code =>} whether NULL is allowed
     *      <UL>
     *      <LI> attributeNoNulls - might not allow NULL values
     *      <LI> attributeNullable - definitely allows NULL values
     *      <LI> attributeNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
     *      </UL>
     *  <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} comment describing column (may be null)
     *  <LI>ATTR_DEF String {@code =>} default value (may be null)
     *  <LI>SQL_DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} unused
     *  <LI>SQL_DATETIME_SUB int {@code =>} unused
     *  <LI>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH int {@code =>} for char types the
     *       maximum number of bytes in the column
     *  <LI>ORDINAL_POSITION int {@code =>} index of the attribute in the UDT
     *      (starting at 1)
     *  <LI>IS_NULLABLE String  {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine
     * the nullability for a attribute.
     *       <UL>
     *       <LI> YES           --- if the attribute can include NULLs
     *       <LI> NO            --- if the attribute cannot include NULLs
     *       <LI> empty string  --- if the nullability for the
     * attribute is unknown
     *       </UL>
     *  <LI>SCOPE_CATALOG String {@code =>} catalog of table that is the
     *      scope of a reference attribute (<code>null if DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
     *  <LI>SCOPE_SCHEMA String {@code =>} schema of table that is the
     *      scope of a reference attribute (<code>null if DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
     *  <LI>SCOPE_TABLE String {@code =>} table name that is the scope of a
     *      reference attribute (<code>null if the DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
     * <LI>SOURCE_DATA_TYPE short {@code =>} source type of a distinct type or user-generated
     *      Ref type,SQL type from java.sql.Types (<code>null if DATA_TYPE
     *      isn't DISTINCT or user-generated REF)
     *  </OL>
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
     *        is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
     *        <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
     *        as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
     *        <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
     *        the search
     * @param typeNamePattern a type name pattern; must match the
     *        type name as it is stored in the database
     * @param attributeNamePattern an attribute name pattern; must match the attribute
     *        name as it is declared in the database
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row is an
     *         attribute description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     * @since 1.4
     */
    ResultSet getAttributes(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
                            String typeNamePattern, String attributeNamePattern)
        throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports the given result set holdability.
     *
     * @param holdability one of the following constants:
     *          <code>ResultSet.HOLD_CURSORS_OVER_COMMIT or
     *          <code>ResultSet.CLOSE_CURSORS_AT_COMMIT
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see Connection
     * @since 1.4
     */
    boolean supportsResultSetHoldability(int holdability) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves this database's default holdability for <code>ResultSet
     * objects.
     *
     * @return the default holdability; either
     *         <code>ResultSet.HOLD_CURSORS_OVER_COMMIT or
     *         <code>ResultSet.CLOSE_CURSORS_AT_COMMIT
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int getResultSetHoldability() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the major version number of the underlying database.
     *
     * @return the underlying database's major version
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int getDatabaseMajorVersion() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the minor version number of the underlying database.
     *
     * @return underlying database's minor version
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int getDatabaseMinorVersion() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the major JDBC version number for this
     * driver.
     *
     * @return JDBC version major number
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int getJDBCMajorVersion() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the minor JDBC version number for this
     * driver.
     *
     * @return JDBC version minor number
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int getJDBCMinorVersion() throws SQLException;

    /**
     *  A possible return value for the method
     * <code>DatabaseMetaData.getSQLStateType which is used to indicate
     * whether the value returned by the method
     * <code>SQLException.getSQLState is an
     * X/Open (now know as Open Group) SQL CLI SQLSTATE value.
     * <P>
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int sqlStateXOpen = 1;

    /**
     *  A possible return value for the method
     * <code>DatabaseMetaData.getSQLStateType which is used to indicate
     * whether the value returned by the method
     * <code>SQLException.getSQLState is an SQLSTATE value.
     * <P>
     * @since 1.6
     */
    int sqlStateSQL = 2;

     /**
     *  A possible return value for the method
     * <code>DatabaseMetaData.getSQLStateType which is used to indicate
     * whether the value returned by the method
     * <code>SQLException.getSQLState is an SQL99 SQLSTATE value.
     * <P>
     * <b>Note:This constant remains only for compatibility reasons. Developers
     * should use the constant <code>sqlStateSQL instead.
     *
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int sqlStateSQL99 = sqlStateSQL;

    /**
     * Indicates whether the SQLSTATE returned by <code>SQLException.getSQLState
     * is X/Open (now known as Open Group) SQL CLI or SQL:2003.
     * @return the type of SQLSTATE; one of:
     *        sqlStateXOpen or
     *        sqlStateSQL
     * @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    int getSQLStateType() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Indicates whether updates made to a LOB are made on a copy or directly
     * to the LOB.
     * @return <code>true if updates are made to a copy of the LOB;
     *         <code>false if updates are made directly to the LOB
     * @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    boolean locatorsUpdateCopy() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports statement pooling.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.4
     */
    boolean supportsStatementPooling() throws SQLException;

    //------------------------- JDBC 4.0 -----------------------------------

    /**
     * Indicates whether or not this data source supports the SQL <code>ROWID type,
     * and if so  the lifetime for which a <code>RowId object remains valid.
     * <p>
     * The returned int values have the following relationship:
     * <pre>{@code
     *     ROWID_UNSUPPORTED < ROWID_VALID_OTHER < ROWID_VALID_TRANSACTION
     *         < ROWID_VALID_SESSION < ROWID_VALID_FOREVER
     * }</pre>
     * so conditional logic such as
     * <pre>{@code
     *     if (metadata.getRowIdLifetime() > DatabaseMetaData.ROWID_VALID_TRANSACTION)
     * }</pre>
     * can be used. Valid Forever means valid across all Sessions, and valid for
     * a Session means valid across all its contained Transactions.
     *
     * @return the status indicating the lifetime of a <code>RowId
     * @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.6
     */
    RowIdLifetime getRowIdLifetime() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves the schema names available in this database.  The results
     * are ordered by <code>TABLE_CATALOG and
     * <code>TABLE_SCHEM.
     *
     * <P>The schema columns are:
     *  <OL>
     *  <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} schema name
     *  <LI>TABLE_CATALOG String {@code =>} catalog name (may be null)
     *  </OL>
     *
     *
     * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it is stored
     * in the database;"" retrieves those without a catalog; null means catalog
     * name should not be used to narrow down the search.
     * @param schemaPattern a schema name; must match the schema name as it is
     * stored in the database; null means
     * schema name should not be used to narrow down the search.
     * @return a <code>ResultSet object in which each row is a
     *         schema description
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @see #getSearchStringEscape
     * @since 1.6
     */
    ResultSet getSchemas(String catalog, String schemaPattern) throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether this database supports invoking user-defined or vendor functions
     * using the stored procedure escape syntax.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.6
     */
    boolean supportsStoredFunctionsUsingCallSyntax() throws SQLException;

    /**
     * Retrieves whether a <code>SQLException while autoCommit is true indicates
     * that all open ResultSets are closed, even ones that are holdable.  When a <code>SQLException occurs while
     * autocommit is <code>true, it is vendor specific whether the JDBC driver responds with a commit operation, a
     * rollback operation, or by doing neither a commit nor a rollback.  A potential result of this difference
     * is in whether or not holdable ResultSets are closed.
     *
     * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise
     * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs
     * @since 1.6
     */
    boolean autoCommitFailureClosesAllResultSets() throws SQLException;
        /**
         * Retrieves a list of the client info properties
         * that the driver supports.  The result set contains the following columns
         *
         * <ol>
         * <li>NAME String{@code =>} The name of the client info property
* <li>MAX_LEN int{@code =>} The maximum length of the value for the property
* <li>DEFAULT_VALUE String{@code =>} The default value of the property
* <li>DESCRIPTION String{@code =>} A description of the property. This will typically * contain information as to where this property is * stored in the database. * </ol> * <p> * The <code>ResultSet is sorted by the NAME column * <p> * @return A <code>ResultSet object; each row is a supported client info * property * <p> * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs * <p> * @since 1.6 */ ResultSet getClientInfoProperties() throws SQLException; /** * Retrieves a description of the system and user functions available * in the given catalog. * <P> * Only system and user function descriptions matching the schema and * function name criteria are returned. They are ordered by * <code>FUNCTION_CAT, FUNCTION_SCHEM, * <code>FUNCTION_NAME and * <code>SPECIFIC_ NAME. * * <P>Each function description has the the following columns: * <OL> * <LI>FUNCTION_CAT String {@code =>} function catalog (may be null) * <LI>FUNCTION_SCHEM String {@code =>} function schema (may be null) * <LI>FUNCTION_NAME String {@code =>} function name. This is the name * used to invoke the function * <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the function * <LI>FUNCTION_TYPE short {@code =>} kind of function: * <UL> * <LI>functionResultUnknown - Cannot determine if a return value * or table will be returned * <LI> functionNoTable- Does not return a table * <LI> functionReturnsTable - Returns a table * </UL> * <LI>SPECIFIC_NAME String {@code =>} the name which uniquely identifies * this function within its schema. This is a user specified, or DBMS * generated, name that may be different then the <code>FUNCTION_NAME * for example with overload functions * </OL> * <p> * A user may not have permission to execute any of the functions that are * returned by <code>getFunctions * * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it * is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog; * <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow * the search * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name * as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema; * <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow * the search * @param functionNamePattern a function name pattern; must match the * function name as it is stored in the database * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a function description * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs * @see #getSearchStringEscape * @since 1.6 */ ResultSet getFunctions(String catalog, String schemaPattern, String functionNamePattern) throws SQLException; /** * Retrieves a description of the given catalog's system or user * function parameters and return type. * * <P>Only descriptions matching the schema, function and * parameter name criteria are returned. They are ordered by * <code>FUNCTION_CAT, FUNCTION_SCHEM, * <code>FUNCTION_NAME and * <code>SPECIFIC_ NAME. Within this, the return value, * if any, is first. Next are the parameter descriptions in call * order. The column descriptions follow in column number order. * * <P>Each row in the ResultSet * is a parameter description, column description or * return type description with the following fields: * <OL> * <LI>FUNCTION_CAT String {@code =>} function catalog (may be null) * <LI>FUNCTION_SCHEM String {@code =>} function schema (may be null) * <LI>FUNCTION_NAME String {@code =>} function name. This is the name * used to invoke the function * <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column/parameter name * <LI>COLUMN_TYPE Short {@code =>} kind of column/parameter: * <UL> * <LI> functionColumnUnknown - nobody knows * <LI> functionColumnIn - IN parameter * <LI> functionColumnInOut - INOUT parameter * <LI> functionColumnOut - OUT parameter * <LI> functionColumnReturn - function return value * <LI> functionColumnResult - Indicates that the parameter or column * is a column in the <code>ResultSet * </UL> * <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types * <LI>TYPE_NAME String {@code =>} SQL type name, for a UDT type the * type name is fully qualified * <LI>PRECISION int {@code =>} precision * <LI>LENGTH int {@code =>} length in bytes of data * <LI>SCALE short {@code =>} scale - null is returned for data types where * SCALE is not applicable. * <LI>RADIX short {@code =>} radix * <LI>NULLABLE short {@code =>} can it contain NULL. * <UL> * <LI> functionNoNulls - does not allow NULL values * <LI> functionNullable - allows NULL values * <LI> functionNullableUnknown - nullability unknown * </UL> * <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} comment describing column/parameter * <LI>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH int {@code =>} the maximum length of binary * and character based parameters or columns. For any other datatype the returned value * is a NULL * <LI>ORDINAL_POSITION int {@code =>} the ordinal position, starting * from 1, for the input and output parameters. A value of 0 * is returned if this row describes the function's return value. * For result set columns, it is the * ordinal position of the column in the result set starting from 1. * <LI>IS_NULLABLE String {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine * the nullability for a parameter or column. * <UL> * <LI> YES --- if the parameter or column can include NULLs * <LI> NO --- if the parameter or column cannot include NULLs * <LI> empty string --- if the nullability for the * parameter or column is unknown * </UL> * <LI>SPECIFIC_NAME String {@code =>} the name which uniquely identifies * this function within its schema. This is a user specified, or DBMS * generated, name that may be different then the <code>FUNCTION_NAME * for example with overload functions * </OL> * * <p>The PRECISION column represents the specified column size for the given * parameter or column. * For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters. * For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the * maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype, * this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the * column size is not applicable. * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it * is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog; * <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow * the search * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name * as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema; * <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow * the search * @param functionNamePattern a procedure name pattern; must match the * function name as it is stored in the database * @param columnNamePattern a parameter name pattern; must match the * parameter or column name as it is stored in the database * @return <code>ResultSet - each row describes a * user function parameter, column or return type * * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs * @see #getSearchStringEscape * @since 1.6 */ ResultSet getFunctionColumns(String catalog, String schemaPattern, String functionNamePattern, String columnNamePattern) throws SQLException; /** * Indicates that type of the parameter or column is unknown. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>COLUMN_TYPE * in the <code>ResultSet * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. */ int functionColumnUnknown = 0; /** * Indicates that the parameter or column is an IN parameter. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>COLUMN_TYPE * in the <code>ResultSet * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionColumnIn = 1; /** * Indicates that the parameter or column is an INOUT parameter. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>COLUMN_TYPE * in the <code>ResultSet * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionColumnInOut = 2; /** * Indicates that the parameter or column is an OUT parameter. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>COLUMN_TYPE * in the <code>ResultSet * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionColumnOut = 3; /** * Indicates that the parameter or column is a return value. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>COLUMN_TYPE * in the <code>ResultSet * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionReturn = 4; /** * Indicates that the parameter or column is a column in a result set. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>COLUMN_TYPE * in the <code>ResultSet * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionColumnResult = 5; /** * Indicates that <code>NULL values are not allowed. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>NULLABLE * in the <code>ResultSet object * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionNoNulls = 0; /** * Indicates that <code>NULL values are allowed. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>NULLABLE * in the <code>ResultSet object * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionNullable = 1; /** * Indicates that whether <code>NULL values are allowed * is unknown. * <P> * A possible value for the column * <code>NULLABLE * in the <code>ResultSet object * returned by the method <code>getFunctionColumns. * @since 1.6 */ int functionNullableUnknown = 2; /** * Indicates that it is not known whether the function returns * a result or a table. * <P> * A possible value for column <code>FUNCTION_TYPE in the * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method * <code>getFunctions. * @since 1.6 */ int functionResultUnknown = 0; /** * Indicates that the function does not return a table. * <P> * A possible value for column <code>FUNCTION_TYPE in the * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method * <code>getFunctions. * @since 1.6 */ int functionNoTable = 1; /** * Indicates that the function returns a table. * <P> * A possible value for column <code>FUNCTION_TYPE in the * <code>ResultSet object returned by the method * <code>getFunctions. * @since 1.6 */ int functionReturnsTable = 2; //--------------------------JDBC 4.1 ----------------------------- /** * Retrieves a description of the pseudo or hidden columns available * in a given table within the specified catalog and schema. * Pseudo or hidden columns may not always be stored within * a table and are not visible in a ResultSet unless they are * specified in the query's outermost SELECT list. Pseudo or hidden * columns may not necessarily be able to be modified. If there are * no pseudo or hidden columns, an empty ResultSet is returned. * * <P>Only column descriptions matching the catalog, schema, table * and column name criteria are returned. They are ordered by * <code>TABLE_CAT,TABLE_SCHEM, TABLE_NAME * and <code>COLUMN_NAME. * * <P>Each column description has the following columns: * <OL> * <LI>TABLE_CAT String {@code =>} table catalog (may be null) * <LI>TABLE_SCHEM String {@code =>} table schema (may be null) * <LI>TABLE_NAME String {@code =>} table name * <LI>COLUMN_NAME String {@code =>} column name * <LI>DATA_TYPE int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types * <LI>COLUMN_SIZE int {@code =>} column size. * <LI>DECIMAL_DIGITS int {@code =>} the number of fractional digits. Null is returned for data types where * DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable. * <LI>NUM_PREC_RADIX int {@code =>} Radix (typically either 10 or 2) * <LI>COLUMN_USAGE String {@code =>} The allowed usage for the column. The * value returned will correspond to the enum name returned by {@link PseudoColumnUsage#name PseudoColumnUsage.name()} * <LI>REMARKS String {@code =>} comment describing column (may be null) * <LI>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH int {@code =>} for char types the * maximum number of bytes in the column * <LI>IS_NULLABLE String {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine the nullability for a column. * <UL> * <LI> YES --- if the column can include NULLs * <LI> NO --- if the column cannot include NULLs * <LI> empty string --- if the nullability for the column is unknown * </UL> * </OL> * * <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column specifies the column size for the given column. * For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters. * For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the * maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype, * this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the * column size is not applicable. * * @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it * is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog; * <code>null means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow * the search * @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name * as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema; * <code>null means that the schema name should not be used to narrow * the search * @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the * table name as it is stored in the database * @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column * name as it is stored in the database * @return <code>ResultSet - each row is a column description * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs * @see PseudoColumnUsage * @since 1.7 */ ResultSet getPseudoColumns(String catalog, String schemaPattern, String tableNamePattern, String columnNamePattern) throws SQLException; /** * Retrieves whether a generated key will always be returned if the column * name(s) or index(es) specified for the auto generated key column(s) * are valid and the statement succeeds. The key that is returned may or * may not be based on the column(s) for the auto generated key. * Consult your JDBC driver documentation for additional details. * @return <code>true if so; false otherwise * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs * @since 1.7 */ boolean generatedKeyAlwaysReturned() throws SQLException; //--------------------------JDBC 4.2 ----------------------------- /** * * Retrieves the maximum number of bytes this database allows for * the logical size for a {@code LOB}. *<p> * The default implementation will return {@code 0} * * @return the maximum number of bytes allowed; a result of zero * means that there is no limit or the limit is not known * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs * @since 1.8 */ default long getMaxLogicalLobSize() throws SQLException { return 0; } /** * Retrieves whether this database supports REF CURSOR. *<p> * The default implementation will return {@code false} * * @return {@code true} if this database supports REF CURSOR; * {@code false} otherwise * @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs * @since 1.8 */ default boolean supportsRefCursors() throws SQLException{ return false; } }

Other Java examples (source code examples)

Here is a short list of links related to this Java DatabaseMetaData.java source code file:

... this post is sponsored by my books ...

#1 New Release!

FP Best Seller

 

new blog posts

 

Copyright 1998-2024 Alvin Alexander, alvinalexander.com
All Rights Reserved.

A percentage of advertising revenue from
pages under the /java/jwarehouse URI on this website is
paid back to open source projects.