Once the data has been published over to the target server, the applications need to query the published data (content files and their associated properties and attributes) for display on the website.
This is where Documentum JDBC Services, formerly known as eConnector for JDBC, comes into the picture. JDBC is a standard interface to access a database from Java-based applications.
Documentum JDBC Services is a Documentum utility tool that supports most of the standard JDBC APIs and helps applications perform the following functions:
- Making connections to either Docbase or SCS repository.
- Issuing DQL queries in Docbase or SQL queries in SCS repository.
- Retrieving content files and associated metadata (attributes) from Docbase or SCS repository.
- Connecting to databases using logical names rather than their actual names through its support for JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface).
- Reusing existing connections in a pool, saving the overhead of opening and closing new database connections through its support for creation of database connection pools.
Both Docbase JDBC Drivers and SCS JDBC Drivers are available from Documentum JDBC Services. The Docbase JDBC Driver implements JDBC APIs using Documentum's proprietary DQL (Document Query Language). On the other hand, the SCS JDBC Driver serves as a 'wrapper driver' that supports database connections with standard JDBC drivers for common database servers like Oracle, Sybase, etc.
Figure 4.7 should give you a brief idea about the Documentum JDBC Services architecture.
Figure 4.7: Documentum JDBC Services architecture