14.2.3 Initialization functions and variables

The initialization of the chosen database type is achieved by calling sql:initialize-database-type on that database-type. In an application, this step should be done at runtime. It is possible to initialize more than one database type if needed.

The following functions and variables are relevant to initialization:

*default-database-type*

Variable

Specifies the default type of database.

*initialized-database-types*

Variable

Contains a list of database types which have been initialized by calls to initialize-database-type .

initialize-database-type

Function

Initializes a database type according to the value of database-type . Adds database-type to the list of initialized types.

A sample code sequence for initializing SQL to work with an ODBC database, using the above functions and variables, is as follows:

(require "odbc")

(setf sql:*default-database-type* :odbc)

(sql:initialize-database-type)