Jim C. Nasby wrote:
> FWIW, DB2 and (I think) Oracle both use a global namespace for
> indexes. Sybase and (I think) MSSQL don't. I really don't understand
> why you'd want indexes in a global namespace and wish IBM and Oracle
> would change their products.
There are at least four compelling disadvantages to implementing a
"table" namespace for indices:
a) It is a change from current functionality, and would break things that work now;
b) It introduces a new namespace, and the need to manage it.
c) It is incompatible with several other databases' treatment of indices, and probably the SQL standards, too.
d) It introduces the need to change syntax on indices, requiring something like DROP INDEX "index_name" ON
TABLE"some_table"; which parallels the handling of RI triggers.
They may not all be individually compelling, but they add up...
--
output = ("cbbrowne" "@acm.org")
http://www3.sympatico.ca/cbbrowne/lisp.html
"More computing sins are committed in the name of efficiency (without
necessarily achieving it) than for any other single reason - including
blind stupidity." -- W.A. Wulf