ALLBASE/SQL Reference Manual (36216-90216)

202 Chapter6
Names
Basic Names
Basic Names
The syntax rules in this chapter apply to most SQL names. Names that are required to
conform to the following rules can be classified as basic names:
• A basic name can be up to 20 bytes in length.
• A name can be made up of any combination of letters (A to Z), decimal digits (0 to 9), $,
#, @, or underscore (_). However, the first character cannot be an underscore or a
decimal digit.
• Lowercase letters (a to z) are automatically changed to the corresponding uppercase
letters (A to Z) unless enclosed in double quotation marks.
• You can use any combination of characters in a basic name if you enclose it in double
quotation marks. However, note that if you define a name using double quotes, you
must use double quotes when you use the name later. Moreover, if the context in which
you are using the name would itself require the use of double quotes, you must precede
each of the quotes around the basic name with a backslash, as in the following example:
UNLOAD TO EXTERNAL EParts FROM
"SELECT * FROM \"PurchDB\".PARTS";
In addition, application programs must be capable of distinguishing double-quoted
names. To prevent any possible conflict, minimize the use of double-quoted basic names.
The following are classified as basic names:
Class names Log file names
Column names Module names
Constraint names Procedure names
Cursor names Rule names
DBEFile names Table names
DBEFileSet names TempSpace names
Group names View names
Index names