1. Databases and Interchange

Interchange can use GDBM, DB_File, SQL, LDAP, or in-memory databases. In most cases, these different database formats should operate the same when called by Interchange's access methods.

Also, Interchange does not require an external SQL database. If you have a small database and do not want to integrate your own tool set, you might want to use Interchange's internal database. However, the order management functions of Interchange will be slower and not as robust without an SQL database. SQL is strongly recommended for at least the orderline, transactions, and userdb tables.

Keeping a database in an SQL manager makes it easier to integrate Interchange with other tools. Interchange can be used to maintain a spreadsheet containing product information through modifying the file products.txt as needed. References to SQL, DBI, and DBD can be ignored.

Text Source Files

Interchange Database Conventions

The Product Database

Multiple Database Tables

Character Usage Restrictions

Database Attributes

Dictionary Indexing With INDEX

MEMORY for Memory-Only Databases

IMPORT_ONCE

Importing in a Page

Exporting from a Database

Write Control

Global Databases