C Data Dictionary
The Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server translates a query that refers to an Oracle database data dictionary table into a query that retrieves the data from SQL Server system tables. You perform queries on data dictionary tables over the database link in the same way you query data dictionary tables in the Oracle database. The gateway data dictionary is similar to the Oracle database data dictionary in appearance and use.
Topics:
Data Dictionary Support
The following paragraphs describe the Oracle Database Gateway for SQL Server data dictionary support.
SQL Server System Tables
SQL Server data dictionary information is stored in the SQL Server database as SQL Server system tables. All SQL Server system tables have names prefixed with "sys". The SQL Server system tables define the structure of a database. When you change data definitions, SQL Server reads and modifies the SQL Server system tables to add information about the user tables.
Accessing the Gateway Data Dictionary
Accessing a gateway data dictionary table or view is identical to accessing a data dictionary in an Oracle database. You issue a SQL SELECT statement specifying a database link. The Oracle database data dictionary view and column names are used to access the gateway data dictionary in an Oracle database. Synonyms of supported views are also acceptable. For example, the following statement queries the data dictionary table ALL_CATALOG to retrieve all table names in the SQL Server database:
SQL> SELECT * FROM "ALL_CATALOG"@MSQL;
When a data dictionary access query is issued, the gateway:
Direct Queries to SQL Server Tables
Queries issued directly to individual SQL Server system tables are allowed but they return different results because the SQL Server system table column names differ from those of the data dictionary view. Also, certain columns in an SQL Server system table cannot be used in data dictionary processing.
Supported Views and Tables
The gateway supports the following views and tables:
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No other Oracle database data dictionary tables or views are supported. If you use a view not on the list, you will receive the Oracle database error code for no more rows available.
Queries through the gateway of any data dictionary table or view beginning with ALL_ can return rows from the SQL Server database even when access privileges for those SQL Server objects have not been granted. When querying an Oracle database with the Oracle data dictionary, rows are returned only for those objects you are permitted to access.
Data Dictionary Mapping
The tables in this section list Oracle data dictionary view names and the equivalent SQL Server system tables used. A plus sign (+) indicates that a join operation is involved.
Table C-1 Oracle Data Dictionary View Names and SQL Server Equivalents
| View Name | SQL Server System Table Name |
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Default Column Values
There is a minor difference between the gateway data dictionary and a typical Oracle database data dictionary. The Oracle database columns that are missing in an SQL Server system table are filled with zeros, spaces, null values, not-applicable values (N.A.), or default values, depending on the column type.
Gateway Data Dictionary Descriptions
The gateway data dictionary tables and views provide the following information:
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Name, data type, and width of each column
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The contents of columns with fixed values
They are described here with information retrieved by an Oracle SQL*Plus DESCRIBE command. The values in the Null? column might differ from the Oracle database data dictionary tables and views. Any default value is shown to the right of an item, but this is not information returned by DESCRIBE.
Note:
The column width of some columns in the translated data dictionary tables would be different when the gateway connects to a SQL Server Version 7.0 database.
ALL_CATALOG
Table C-2 ALL_CATALOG
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_COL_COMMENTS
Table C-3 ALL_COL_COMMENTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_CONS_COLUMNS
Table C-4 ALL_CONS_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_CONSTRAINTS
Table C-5 ALL_CONSTRAINTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_IND_COLUMNS
Table C-6 ALL_IND_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_INDEXES
Table C-7 ALL_INDEXES
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_OBJECTS
Table C-8 ALL_OBJECTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_TAB_COLUMNS
Table C-9 ALL_TAB_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_TAB_COMMENTS
Table C-10 ALL_TAB_COMMENTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_TABLES
Table C-11 ALL_TABLES
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_USERS
Table C-12 ALL_USERS
| Name | Type | Value |
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ALL_VIEWS
Table C-13 ALL_VIEWS
| Name | Type | Value |
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DBA_CATALOG
Table C-14 DBA_CATALOG
| Name | Type | Value |
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DBA_COL_COMMENTS
Table C-15 DBA_COL_COMMENTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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DBA_OBJECTS
Table C-16 DBA_OBJECTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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DBA_TAB_COLUMNS
Table C-17 DBA_TAB_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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DBA_TAB_COMMENTS
Table C-18 DBA_TAB_COMMENTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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DBA_TABLES
Table C-19 DBA_TABLES
| Name | Type | Value |
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DICT_COLUMNS
Table C-20 DICT_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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TABLE_PRIVILEGES
Table C-23 TABLE_PRIVILEGES
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_CATALOG
Table C-24 USER_CATALOG
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_COL_COMMENTS
Table C-25 USER_COL_COMMENTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_CONS_COLUMNS
Table C-26 USER_CONS_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_CONSTRAINTS
Table C-27 USER_CONSTRAINTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_IND_COLUMNS
Table C-28 USER_IND_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_INDEXES
Table C-29 USER_INDEXES
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_OBJECTS
Table C-30 USER_OBJECTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_TAB_COLUMNS
Table C-31 USER_TAB_COLUMNS
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_TAB_COMMENTS
Table C-32 USER_TAB_COMMENTS
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_TABLES
Table C-33 USER_TABLES
| Name | Type | Value |
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USER_USERS
Table C-34 USER_USERS
| Name | Type | Value |
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