> > I think you are describing an approximate numeric data type, in which > two distinct values would be considered to be equal if the difference > between them was small. So sometimes when manipulating a value we would > pay attention to the entire precision, sometimes we would not. > > Is that right? > You are right. Besides usually precision is lost on the client side, while data is processed in formulas after retrieval. Because it is a part of metrology theory to figure out minimal precision loss due formula calculations. As a result it would be a good perspective to use Derby in embed, real time Java systems. So there is a good chance to balance client/storage performance in such a precision driven way
> > 2. XML type compatibility >> > > I didn't understand this proposal. Derby currently supports an XML > data type; it is described here: > http://db.apache.org/derby/docs/10.5/ref/rrefsqljtypexml.html > > "Because none of the JDBC-side support for SQL/XML is implemented in Derby, it is not possible to bind directly into an XML value or to retrieve an XML value directly from a result set using JDBC. Instead, you must bind and retrieve the XML data as Java strings or character streams by explicitly specifying the appropriate XML operators, XMLPARSE and XMLSERIALIZE, as part of your SQL queries" But if XML values would be retrievable from indexed only columns (non-indexed data would not be critical to retrieve; rather would be retrieved in other client and/or way)... so I was meaning that client connector would support XML. But you would not have overloads to Derby doing XMLPARSE/XMLSERIALIZE - Derby engine would feel like it is processing normal SQL queries > Do you feel that this data type is not compatible with Oracle or DB2? > I remember that, at least, SQL Server has direct XML support, with binding or something like that. Tell me what support in SQL you see minimal. Besides customizability level in those databases comes to the skies ;), unlike Derby for existing XML support ;=( John > > thanks, > > bryan > >
