"Thies C. Arntzen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote... :
> the ora_ extension uses the pre oracle8 api. if you need to > compile with oracle7 libraries you have to use the ora_*() > functions. OK, but isn't it a bit confusing? can't all PHP's Oracle functionality depend on the same functionset and use, internally, the libraries needed? > if you have libs >= oracle8 installed use the oci*() > functions. they will allow you to connect to oracle servers > running from version 7 till 9 (currently). the oci8 > extension is btw 100% compatible with oracle9 - what do you > mean by saying 90%? There were the issues where Oracle 9 was limited from Oracle 8 functionality. In other words, for the most of the parts, OCI8 can do with Ora9 as much as it can with Ora8. But, many new things were added in v9, for instance PLSQL features, variables that can be referred etc... these would be nice to support from the same PHP's extension. That is what I meant by 90% :) > > Only this way, one could firmly admit that PHP fully supports Oracle > > database. > > hmm, i really don't know what you are talking about. the PHP > project (like all OpenSource projects i know of) does not > formally "certify" itself for certyin 3rd party libraries and > systems.. I didn't mean legally or something. I meant in the common sense terms. When you are considering to use PHP for your PostgreSQL or mySQL database, you see one single extension and the functionality which seems to be compatible with all and every version of the DB. For Oracle is a little different. One starts looking and finds more extensions, he asks why and sees that one does not *fully* support the other. So, one finds ora_* for v7, OCI for v8, and ... v9? how compatible is it? This is a little discouraging, in my opinion, even if the reality is not all that bad. What's I'd like is something united that seems as one single extension supporting everything. But, I believe this will be pretty hard to do as Oracle has change enormously since v6 to v9... > > 2. What costs merging the two extensions (ora_* and OCI8) in one (oracle_* > > ?) that fully supports both 6*, 8* and 9* versions of Oracle and remains > > the only one to be used (as well as maintained, debugged) in the feature? > > that would make no sense whatsoever, oci* has all that ora* > has, we could drop he oracle extension, but then we'd make > all the ppls unhappy that use it. (and may depend on it: see > above) Well, we could alias them or something. But, I still wonder whether OCI*, besides functionality, is better than ora_* as in regards of the naming convention. > you mean renaming the oci8 extension - could be done... but i > personally see no pressing reason for doing so. One reason is that people will start using it for any Oracle installation and ora_* gets deprecated. This way we get sorta inline with other DB extensions PHP support. Some sort of cleaning it up, I guess. It would make it easier for everyone. > > > > Hope to see someone to anser, commenting my thoughts on this. I am very > > much willing contributing to the PHP's Oracle support development. > > that always appreciated. wher do you want to start? I think for now I would like to look through the bugs and features of OCI extension to get rolled with it. Then, we can start making a plan for PHP5 releases. These could include the things we discussed before. Maxim Maletsky [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.PHPBeginner.com // where PHP Begins -- PHP Development Mailing List <http://www.php.net/> To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
