The Teradata Database System (Teradata DBS) is a processing system that lets you manage and use data stored in the database computer. The Teradata DBS is connected to and operated through your organization’s main computer.
You may get at the data stored in the Teradata DBS through one of the following means:
ITEQ (pronounced “eye-teek”) enables you to use an interactive CRT (display) terminal. You key (enter) requests (queries) for the data you need and instructions for changing the data.
BTEQ (pronounced “bee-teek”) enables you to submit requests and instructions for the Teradata DBS in batch mode.
Using the COBOL Preprocessor or the PL/I Preprocessor, you may write a COBOL or PL/I application program that contains requests and instructions for the Teradata DBS embedded directly in the source code. The preprocessors are described in the Teradata Preprocessor2 for Embedded SQL Programmer Guide (B035-2446).
Using the Call-Level Interface (CLI), you may write applications containing requests and instructions in high-level languages that have a CALL statement (including COBOL and PL/I). The CLI is described in the Teradata DBS Host Interface Manual.
You enter Teradata Structured Query Language (Teradata SQL) statements through ITEQ, BTEQ, or an application program, to tell the Teradata DBS what to do. Based on English words, Teradata SQL is easily understood by people with minimal knowledge of computers. Teradata SQL syntax is broadly compatible with SQL, the emerging industry standard.
As shown in Figure 1, which illustrates three concurrent Teradata DBS sessions under an MVS system, a Teradata DBS request is communicated to the Teradata Director Program (TDP). The TDP creates a request message and sends it over a block multiplexer channel to the Teradata DBS.
Figure 1: Communicating with the Teradata DBS