A
ABORT
In Teradata SQL, a statement that stops a transaction in progress and backs out changes to the database only if the conditional expression associated with the abort statement is true.
administrator
A special user responsible for allocating resources to a community of users.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute. ANSI maintains a standard for SQL. For information about Teradata compliance with ANSI SQL, see SQL Fundamentals (B035‑1141).
API
Application Program Interface. An interface (calling conventions) by which an application program accesses an operating system and other services. An API is defined at source code level and provides a level of abstraction between the application and the kernel (or other privileged utilities) to ensure the portability of the code.
An API can also provide an interface between a high level language and lower level utilities and services written without consideration for the calling conventions supported by compiled languages. In this case, the API may translate the parameter lists from one format to another and the interpret call-by-value and call-by-reference arguments in one or both directions.
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a character set used primarily on personal computers.
B
BLOB
An acronym for binary large object. A BLOB is a large database object that can be anything that doesn’t require character set conversion. This includes MIDI, MP3, PDF, graphics and much more. BLOBS can be up to 2 GB in size.
BTEQ
Basic Teradata Query facility. A utility that allows users on a workstation to access data on a Teradata Database, and format reports for both print and screen output.
C
Call-Level Interface Version 2 (CLIv2)
A library of routines that enable an application program to access data stored in Teradata Database. When used with workstation-attached clients, CLIv2 contains the following components:
Version 2 of the CLI interface. A collection of callable service routines that provide an interface to a Teradata Database. The interface between the application program and the MTDP (for workstation-attached clients) or TDP (for mainframe-attached clients).
mainframe-attached
A mainframe computer that communicates with a server (for example, a Teradata Database) through a channel driver.
character set
A grouping of alphanumeric and special characters used by computer systems to support different user languages and applications. Various character sets have been codified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
client
A computer that can access Teradata Database.
CLOB
An acronym for character large object. A CLOB is a pure character-based large object in a database. It can be a large text file. HTML, RTF or other character-based file. CLOBs can be up 2 GB in size. Also see BLOB and LOB.
column
In the relational model of Teradata SQL, databases consist of one or more tables. In turn, each table consists of fields, organized into one or more columns by zero or more rows. All of the fields of a given column share the same attributes.
D
Data Definition Language (DDL)
In Teradata SQL, the statements and facilities that manipulate database structures (such as CREATE, MODIFY, DROP, GRANT, REVOKE, and GIVE) and the Data Dictionary information kept about those structures. In the typical, pre-relational data management system, data definition and data manipulation facilities are separated, and the data definition facilities are less flexible and more difficult to use than in a relational system.
DB2
IBM DATABASE 2
DDL
Data definition language, which supports manipulating database structures and the Data Dictionary information kept about these structures.
DEFINE Statement
A statement preceding the INSERT statement that describes the fields in a record before the record is inserted in the table. This statement is similar to the SQL USING clause.
delimiter
In Teradata SQL, a punctuation mark or other special symbol that separates one clause in a Teradata SQL statement from another, or that separates one Teradata SQL statement from another.
DLL
Dynamic-link library. A feature of the Windows family of operating systems that allows executable routines to be stored separately as files with .dll extensions and to be loaded only when needed by a program.
domain name
A group of computers whose host names (the unique name by which a computer is known on a network) share a common suffix, that is the domain name.
EBCDIC
Extended binary coded decimal interchange code. An IBM code that uses 8 bits to represent 256 possible characters. It is used primarily in IBM mainframes, whereas personal computers use ASCII.
exit routine
Specifies a predefined action to be performed whenever certain significant events occur during a MultiLoad job.
F
failure
Any condition that precludes complete processing of a Teradata SQL statement. Any failure will abort the current transaction.
field
The basic unit of information stored in the Teradata Database. A field is either null, or has a single numeric or string value. See also column, database, row, table.
function
User-defined functions (UDF) are extensions to Teradata SQL. Users can write UDFs to analyze and transform data already stored in their data warehouse in ways that are beyond the functionality of Teradata’s native functions.
G
Gateway
A device that connects networks having different protocols.
GSS
Generic Security Services. An application level interface (API) to system security services. It provides a generic interface to services which may be provided by a variety of different security mechanisms. Vanilla GSS-API supports security contexts between two entities (known as “principals”).
I
In-Doubt
A transaction that was in process on two or more independent computer processing systems when an interruption of service occurred on one or more of the systems. The transaction is said to be in doubt because it is not known whether the transaction was successfully processed on all of the systems.
internet protocol (IP)
Data transmission standard; the standard that controls the routing and structure of data transmitted over the Internet.
I/O
Input/output.
J
JIS
Japanese Industrial Standards specify the standards used for industrial activities in Japan. The standardization process is coordinated by Japanese Industrial Standards Committee and published through Japanese Standards Association.
L
LAN
Local Area Network. LANs supported by Teradata products must conform to the IEEE 802.3 standard (Ethernet LAN).
LOB
An acronym for large object. A large object is a database object that is large in size. LOBs can be up to 2 gigabytes. There are two types of LOBs, CLOBs and BLOBs. CLOBs are character-based objects, BLOBs are binary-based objects.
log
A record of events. A file that records events. Many programs produce log files. Often you will look at a log file to determine what is happening when problems occur. Log files have the extension .log.
M
macro
a file that is created and stored on the Teradata Database, and is executed in response to a Teradata SQL EXECUTE statement
methods
In object-oriented programming, methods are the programming routines by which objects are manipulated.
MOSI
Micro Operating System Interface. A library of routines that implement operating system dependent and protocol dependent operations on the workstation.
MTDP
Micro Teradata Director Program. A library of routines that implement the session layer on the workstation. MTDP is the interface between CLI and the Teradata Database.
multi-threading
An option that enables you to speed up your export and import operations with multiple connections.
N
network
In the context of the Teradata Database, a LAN (see LAN).
network attached
A computer that communicates over the LAN with a server (for example, a Teradata Database).
null
The absence of a value for a field.
O
object
In object-oriented programming, a unique instance of a data structure defined according to the template provided by its class. Each object has its own values for the variables belonging to its class and can respond to the messages, or methods, defined by its class.
P
parameter
A variable name in a macro for which an argument value is substituted when the macro is executed.
privilege
A user’s right to perform the Teradata SQL statements granted to him against a table, database, user, macro, or view. Also known as access right.
procedure
Short name for Teradata stored procedure. Teradata provides Stored Procedural Language (SPL) to create stored procedures. A stored procedure contains SQL to access data from within Teradata and SPL to control the execution of the SQL.
protocol
The rules for the format, sequence and relative timing of messages exchanged on a network.
R
records
When using the Teradata utilities, both formatted and unformatted records are accepted for loading. A formatted record, in the Teradata Database world, consists of a record created by a Teradata Database utility, such as BTEQ, where the record is packaged with begin- and end-record bytes specific to the Teradata Database. Unformatted records are any records not originating on a Teradata Database These files contain records that must be defined before loading onto the Teradata Database.
request
In host software, a message sent from an application program to the Teradata Database.
result
The information returned to the user to satisfy a request made of the Teradata Database.
results table/file
In the Schedule Request environment, a results table or file is a database table or a Windows file into which result data for a schedule request that is not self-contained are stored.
row
Whether null or not, that represent one entry under each column in a table. The row is the smallest unit of information operated on by data manipulation statements.
RowID join
In Teradata SQL, this join occurs when one of the join tables has a non-unique primary index constant, and another column of that table matches weakly with a non-unique secondary index column of the second table.
S
script
A file that contains a set of BTEQ commands, SQL statements, or both.
server
A computer system running the Teradata Database. Typically, a Teradata Database server has multiple nodes, which may include both TPA and non-TPA nodes. All nodes of the server are connected through the Teradata BYNET or other similar interconnect.
session
In client software, a logical connection between an application program on a host and the Teradata Database that permits the application program to send one request to and receive one response from the Teradata Database at a time.
source database
The database from which data will be extracted or copied into the Data Warehouse.
SQL
Structured Query Language. An industry-standard language for creating, updating and, querying relational database management systems. SQL was developed by IBM in the 1970s for use in System R. It is the de facto standard as well as being an ISO and ANSI standard. It is often embedded in general purpose programming languages.
Programming language used to communicate with the Teradata Database.
SSO
Single Sign-On, an authentication option that allows users of the Teradata Database on Windows systems to access the Teradata Database based on their authorized network usernames and passwords. This feature simplifies the procedure requiring users to enter an additional username and password when logging on to Teradata Database through client applications.
statement
A request for processing by the Teradata Databasethat consists of a keyword verb, optional phrases, operands and is processed as a single entity.
statistics
These are the details of the processes used to collect, analyze, and transform the database objects used by a given query.
stored procedure
Teradata Version 2 Release 4 and later supports stored procedures. A stored procedure is a combination of SQL statements and control and conditional handling statements that run using a single call statement.
T
table
A set of one or more columns with zero or more rows that consist of fields of related information.
target database
The database in which data will be loaded or inserted.
target table
A user table where changes are to be made by an MLOAD task.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
TDPID
Teradata Director Program Identifier. The name of the Teradata Database being accessed.
Teradata SQL
The Teradata Database dialect of the relational language SQL, having data definition and data manipulation statements. A data definition statement would be a CREATE TABLE statement and a data manipulation statement would be a data retrieval statement (a SELECT statement).
TDP
Teradata Director Program; TDP provides a high-performance interface for messages communicated between the client and the Teradata system.
title
In Teradata SQL, a string used as a column heading in a report. By default, it is
the column name, but a title can also be explicitly declared by a TITLE phrase.
transaction
A set of Teradata SQL statements that is performed as a unit. Either all of the statements are executed normally or else any changes made during the transaction are backed out and the remainder of the statements in the transaction are not executed. The Teradata Database supports both ANSI and Teradata transaction semantics.
trigger
One or more Teradata SQL statements associated with a table and executed when specified conditions are met.
type
An attribute of a column that specifies the representation of data values for fields in that column. Teradata SQL data types include numerics and strings.
U
UDF
User-defined function
Unicode®
A fixed-width (16 bits) encoding of virtually all characters present in all languages in the world.
user
In Teradata SQL, a database associated with a person who uses the Teradata Database. The database stores the person’s private information and accesses other Teradata Databases.
UTF-16
A 16-bit Unicode® Translation Format.
V
varbyte
A data type that represents a variable-length binary string.
varchar
A data type that represents a variable-length non-numeric character.
vargraphic
A data type that represents a variable-length string of characters.
view
An alternate way of organizing and presenting information in a Teradata Database. A view, like a table, has rows and columns. However, the rows and columns of a view are not directly stored by the Teradata Database. They are derived from the rows and columns of tables (or other views) whenever the view is referenced.
W
workstation
A workstation-attached client.