Standard Flags and Parameters
The following parameters and flags are common to many commands. Each command description in this guide indicates whether these parameters or flags are valid for that command.
The following syntax is typical for many commands:
command dbname|vnode::dbname [-fproduct]
[+user[=authuser]] [-uusername] [-Ggroupid] [-Rroleid]
[other flags] [other parameters]
dbname
Identifies the name of a database. This parameter must precede all other non-flag parameters (with the exception of vnode::dbname).
vnode::
Identifies the remote node on which the database is located. It must be followed by two colons (::) and the dbname parameter, with no intervening space.
The remote node can be specified as either of the following:
vnode_name
Is the virtual node name (as defined to Net) that points to the connection data and authorization data necessary to access a particular remote instance.
@host+
Is a “dynamic vnode” connection string that includes the connection data, user authorization, and attributes that are associated with a remote node. The format of @host+ is described in Dynamic Vnode Specification.
-fproduct
Specifies the name of a product parameter. In selected commands, the catalog modules for one or more products can be specified. The user interface catalogs are grouped into modules. Each tool requires a set of modules to operate. If you omit the product, the command reads the installation’s authorization string and specifies all products that the authorization string permits.
The product parameter must be one of the following:
ingres
Processes catalogs for the Ingres tools (Applications-By-Forms, Query-By-Forms, Report-By-Forms, and Visual Forms Editor).
ingres/dbd
Processes catalogs for DBD.
vision
Processes catalogs for Vision.
windows_4gl
Processes catalogs for OpenROAD.
nofeclients
Directs the command not to process catalogs for any user interface products. You cannot use the nofeclients name with the name of any valid user interface product; nofeclients is valid only in specified commands.
+user[=authuser]
Specifies the user name (authuser) and password used for connecting to a remote database, whether through OS authentication, DBMS authentication, or another mechanism. This syntax is useful when using DBMS authentication because it allows password entry or prompting with simplified syntax.
One of the following can be used:
+user
Prompts for the password of the user.
+user=username
Connects as the specified user name and prompts for password.
@[username, password]
Connects as the specified user name and password. Password is exposed on the command line.
-uusername
Specifies the effective user name for the session. Valid only for a privileged user, DBA, or sessions that have the db_admin database privilege. (Some commands, including ckpdb, rollforwarddb, verifydb, createdb, and destroydb, restrict the use of the -u flag to privileged users.)
Note: The -u flag does not assume the group of the effective user. Use the -G flag to distinguish between the real and effective user.
-Ggroupid
Specifies the group identifier for the session. After the system administrator defines a group identifier, a DBA can grant database permissions to the group. When you issue a command, specifying group ID (using the -G flag), the group’s permissions are applied to the session.
To specify a group, you must be a member of the specified group identifier’s user list, a system administrator, the DBA of the specified database, or a user that has the db_admin privilege.
If you omit this flag and there is a default group identifier specified for you, the default group identifier is assigned to the session. (Default group identifiers are assigned using accessdb.)
-Rroleid
Specifies the role identifier for an application image. After the system administrator defines a role identifier, a DBA can grant database permissions to the role ID. When you invoke an application and specify role ID (using the -R flag), the role permissions are applied to your session.
The roleid must be an existing role identifier. If the role identifier requires a password, you are prompted for the password. If you specify the -R flag, but omit both the role identifier and password, you are prompted for both. If no password is defined for the specified roleid, press the Enter key when prompted for the password.
Neither roleid nor password is validated if you are a system administrator, DBA for the specified database, or a user that has the db_admin privilege.