ifx_query

ifx_query -- Send Informix query

Description

int ifx_query(string query, int [link_identifier] , int [cursor_type] , mixed [blobidarray] );

Returns: A positive Informix result identifier on success, or false on error.

An integer "result_id" used by other functions to retrieve the query results. Sets "affected_rows" for retrieval by the ifx_affected_rows() function.

ifx_query() sends a query to the currently active database on the server that's associated with the specified link identifier. If the link identifier isn't specified, the last opened link is assumed. If no link is open, the function tries to establish a link as if ifx_connect() was called, and use it.

Executes query on connection conn_id. For "select-type" queries a cursor is declared and opened. The optional cursor_type parameter allows you to make this a "scroll" and/or "hold" cursor. It's a mask and can be either IFX_SCROLL, IFX_HOLD, or both or'ed together. Non-select queries are "execute immediate".

For either query type the number of (estimated or real) affected rows is saved for retrieval by ifx_affected_rows().

If you have BLOB (BYTE or TEXT) columns in an update query, you can add a blobidarray parameter containing the corresponding "blob ids", and you should replace those columns with a "?" in the query text.

If the contents of the TEXT (or BYTE) column allow it, you can also use "ifx_textasvarchar(1)" and "ifx_byteasvarchar(1)". This allows you to treat TEXT (or BYTE) columns just as if they were ordinary (but long) VARCHAR columns for select queries, and you don't need to bother with blob id's.

With ifx_textasvarchar(0) or ifx_byteasvarchar(0) (the default situation), select queries will return BLOB columns as blob id's (integer value). You can get the value of the blob as a string or file with the blob functions (see below).

See also: ifx_connect().

Example 1. Show all rows of the "orders" table as a html table

ifx_textasvarchar(1);      // use "text mode" for blobs
$res_id = ifx_query("select * from orders", $conn_id);
if (! $res_id) {
    printf("Can't select orders : %s\n<br>%s<br>\n", ifx_error());
    ifx_errormsg();
    die;
}
ifx_htmltbl_result($res_id, "border=\"1\"");
ifx_free_result($res_id);
      

Example 2. Insert some values into the "catalog" table

                      // create blob id's for a byte and text column
$textid = ifx_create_blob(0, 0, "Text column in memory");
$byteid = ifx_create_blob(1, 0, "Byte column in memory");
                      // store blob id's in a blobid array
$blobidarray[] = $textid;
$blobidarray[] = $byteid;
                      // launch query
$query = "insert into catalog (stock_num, manu_code, " .
         "cat_descr,cat_picture) values(1,'HRO',?,?)";
$res_id = ifx_query($query, $conn_id, $blobidarray);
if (! $res_id) {
  ... error ...
}
                     // free result id
ifx_free_result($res_id);