Scalar Functions - ODBC Driver for Teradata

The new lightweight parser transforms the ODBC Scalar functions within the ODBC Escape Sequence syntax to the Teradata Database specific functions. The ODBC Escape Sequence for calling a scalar function is: {fn scalar-function}.

The new lightweight parser ignores ODBC scalar functions outside of the ODBC escape sequence (i.e., scalar-function vs. {fn scalar-function}) and the query is passed as is to the Teradata Database. The query executes successfully if the Teradata Database supports the ODBC scalar function; otherwise the query produces an error. Please refer to the Teradata Database Functions, Operators, Expressions and Predicates User Guide (B035-1445) for the list of the Teradata Database supported scalar functions.

The following table details a few examples exhibiting the above described behavior.

select
{ fn LTRIM (' Teradata') }

select  TRIM( LEADING FROM ' Teradata' )

select
   LTRIM (' Teradata')

select    LTRIM(' Teradata')

select
{ fn LTRIM (' Teradata') },
  LTRIM (' Teradata')

select  TRIM( LEADING FROM ' Teradata' ), 
 LTRIM(' Teradata')

select
{fn BIT_LENGTH('Teradata')}

SELECT(Octet_Length('Teradata')*8)

select
  BIT_LENGTH('Teradata')

select    BIT_LENGTH('Teradata')

The ODBC scalar functions shown in the following should only be used with escape sequences. Scalar functions could be used with or without escape sequences in previous versions; however, this feature has been deprecated. For more information, see ODBC Scalar Functions Outside Escape Sequences (deprecated in 14.10).