This section summarizes new features and functionality of Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database Release 11.2.1 that are documented in this guide, providing links into the guide for more information.
TTClasses implements the following features beginning with the TimesTen Release 11.2.1.6.0.
OUT and IN OUT parameters
Discussion of binding parameters includes new support for binding OUT and IN OUT parameters.
See appropriate subsections under "Binding parameters".
Duplicate parameters
TimesTen supports either of two modes for binding duplicate parameters in a SQL statement. Use the DuplicateBindMode general connection attribute to choose between Oracle mode (now the default) and traditional TimesTen mode.
REF CURSORs
REF CURSOR is a PL/SQL concept, where a REF CURSOR is a handle to a cursor over a SQL result set and can be passed between PL/SQL and an application.
Rowids
Each row in a TimesTen database table has a unique identifier known as its rowid. TimesTen now supports Oracle-style rowids. An application can retrieve the rowid of a row from the ROWID pseudocolumn. Rowids can be represented in either binary or character format.
DML returning (RETURNING INTO clause)
TimesTen now supports the RETURNING INTO clause, referred to as DML returning, with an INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statement to return specified items from a row that was affected by the action. This is included in the discussion of OUT parameters in "Binding OUT or IN OUT parameters".
Exception handling
By default, beginning with TimesTen release 11.2.1.6.0, TTStatus objects are thrown as exceptions whenever an error or warning occurs. This allows C++ applications to use {try/catch} blocks to detect and recover from failure, which is the recommended mode of operation. However, to use TTClasses in this mode, you must compile the TTClasses library, as well as your applications, with the TTEXCEPT flag. (See information about this flag under "TTClasses compiler macros".) Old method signatures taking a TTStatus& parameter have been replaced by new signatures that do not take this parameter.
Note that in this release it is possible to selectively suppress exceptions, use the old method signatures, and manually check the TTStatus objects for error or warning conditions. You can accomplish this by initializing the TTStatus object with the value TTStatus::DO_NOT_THROW, then passing a pointer to it as the last parameter of a method call. Most TTClasses methods documented in this manual still support that, although these signatures are no longer documented and it is generally not recommended to operate in this way.
See "TTStatus".
API changes
Be aware that there have been numerous method additions and changes, especially regarding TTStatus parameters in the calling sequences. Consult the documentation in Chapter 3, "Class Descriptions," carefully. Many methods were documented with a TTStatus parameter in previous releases, and while these are still supported for backward compatibility, using these methods is no longer documented or encouraged.
Quick Start demos
The 11.2.1 release includes an optional Quick Start feature with introductory information, tutorials, and new or reworked demo applications. Note that the demos are in a different location than in earlier releases and some have been renamed.
See "About the TimesTen TTClasses demos" and install_dir/quickstart.html in your installation.
Access control
Perhaps the most significant overall change to previous functionality in TimesTen Release 11.2.1 is access control. TimesTen has features to control database access with object-level resolution for database objects such as tables, views, materialized views, and sequences. This also affects access to certain TimesTen built-in procedures, utilities, and connection attributes.
See "Considering TimesTen features for access control". For general information, see "Managing Access Control" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database Operations Guide.