Question:

Could you elaborate on the standout characteristics that distinguish Absolute Database in the realm of database solutions?

Answer:

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No BDE, DLLs, or OCXs:

Absolute Database is a BDE (Borland Database Engine) alternative that doesn’t require any additional installations or configurations. It compiles directly into your application, making deployment straightforward.

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Single-file Database Format:

The database engine allows for a single-file format, which can be merged with the application EXE file, reducing complexity and improving portability.

High Speed:

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Advanced Caching and Buffering:

The system employs an advanced cache management and buffering architecture, ensuring high-speed data access and manipulation.

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Optimized SQL Query Engine:

A sophisticated SQL query and filter optimizer is included to speed up operations and improve efficiency.

Multi-User Capabilities:

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Zero-admin File-server:

It operates as a zero-administration file server, simplifying multi-user setup and maintenance.

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Automatic Locking and Change Detection:

The system automatically handles record and table locking and detects changes made by other users, ensuring data integrity in multi-user environments.

SQL Support:

• Absolute Database supports a subset of SQL-92, covering the most commonly used SQL commands and options, making it compatible with existing SQL knowledge and practices.

Compactness:

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Small Footprint:

The database engine adds only a small amount of code to the application, and the database file size is minimized through customizable page sizes and compression techniques.

Compatibility:

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Standard DB-aware Controls:

It is fully compatible with standard DB-aware visual controls, making it easy to integrate with existing applications and tools.

Functionality:

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Unicode Support:

Unicode is supported in String and Memo fields, ensuring that the database can handle internationalization requirements.

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Multiple-fields Indexes:

Indexes can be created with multiple fields, with options for descending, ascending, case-sensitive, and insensitive ordering.

Security:

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Strong Encryption:

The database file can be encrypted using a variety of strong algorithms, providing robust security for sensitive data.

In summary, Absolute Database stands out for its ease of deployment, high performance, multi-user support, comprehensive SQL compatibility, compactness, compatibility with existing tools, rich functionality, and strong security features. These characteristics make it an attractive option for developers looking for a reliable and efficient embedded database solution.