Ada to SQL interfaces for C/sup 3/I applications

The implementation considerations for Ada to Structured Query Language (SQL) interfaces in command, control, communications, and intelligence (C/sup 3/I) applications are described. In particular, four aspects of these interfaces are considered: program portability, query optimization, null value treatment, and host variable semantics. Three different proposals for a standard Ada-to-SQL interface are examined with respect to these criteria: the ANSI proposal, the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) Ada/SQL approach, and the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) SQL Ada module extension (SAME) technique. The SAME binding was found to be most appropriate for C3I systems due to its support for separate application and database development, integrated support for null-values, type conversion, and error handling. Alternatively, the ANSI interface could also be used by creating a layer of interfacing programs which are used by the application program.<>