CREATE DATABASE statement

Creates a new OpenEdge database.

Syntax

CREATE DATABASE new-database [ FROM old-database [ NEW-INSTANCE ] ]
  [ REPLACE ] [ NO-ERROR ]

new-database

A CHARACTER expression that returns the absolute or relative pathname of the database you want to create. Any relative pathname is relative to the current working directory. If the database already exists, a new database is not created unless you specify REPLACE. The pathname is restricted to alphanumeric characters. Diacritical marks and the symbols \ " ' * ; | ? [ ] ( ) ! { } < > @ + = : ~ are not permitted.

FROM old-database

A CHARACTER expression that returns the name of the database whose schema and data you want to copy to the new database. The value of old-database can be an absolute or relative pathname or one of the special strings "EMPTY", "DEMO", or "Sports2020". If you omit this option, the AVM creates an empty database. Any relative pathname is relative to the current working directory.

NEW-INSTANCE

If specified, the AVM assigns the new database a new globally unique identifier (GUID) value as the database identifier. If not specified, the AVM assigns the new database the same GUID database identifier as the old database.

When you create a new database by copying an existing database provided by OpenEdge (such as the empty database, demo database, or Sports2020 database), the AVM always assigns the new database a new GUID database identifier.

Note: Use this option only when creating a new database by copying an existing database.

REPLACE

If specified and a database already exists with the name specified by new-database, the existing database is deleted and replaced with the new database. If not specified and a database already exists with the name specified by new-database, an error occurs.

NO-ERROR

The NO-ERROR option is used to prevent the statement from raising ERROR and displaying error messages.

Example

This procedure prompts for the name of a database to connect. If the database does not exist, the procedure creates it.

r-credb.p

DEFINE VARIABLE dbname AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO LABEL "Database" FORMAT "x(65)".

/* Prompt the user for the name of a demo database to connect. */
SET dbname HELP "Enter the name of your database."
  WITH FRAME dbname-frame SIDE-LABELS.

/* If the entered name does not have the .db suffix, add it. This is necessary
   for the search function to work correctly. */
IF LENGTH(dbname) < 3 THEN
  dbname = dbname + ".db".
ELSE IF SUBSTRING(dbname, LENGTH(dbname) - 2) = ".db" THEN
  dbname = dbname + ".db".

/* If the database does not exist, create it from Sports2020. */
IF SEARCH(dbname) = ? THEN DO:
  MESSAGE "Database does not exist. Do you want to create it?"
    VIEW-AS ALERT-BOX QUESTION BUTTONS YES-NO TITLE "Connect Database"
    UPDATE create-it AS LOGICAL.

  IF create-it THEN DO:
    CREATE DATABASE dbname FROM "Sports2020".
    MESSAGE "New database created:" dbname.
  END.
  ELSE UNDO, RETRY.
END.

/* Connect the database. */
CONNECT VALUE(dbname) -1.

Notes

If you omit the FROM option, the AVM uses the empty database.

See also

ALIAS function, CONNECT statement, CONNECTED function, CREATE ALIAS statement, DATASERVERS function, DBCODEPAGE function, DBCOLLATION function, DBRESTRICTIONS function, DBTYPE function, DELETE ALIAS statement, DISCONNECT statement, ERROR-STATUS system handle, FRAME-DB function, LDBNAME function, NO-ERROR option, NUM-DBS function, PDBNAME function, SDBNAME function