Firebird 2.1 Language Reference Update

DML statements
COLLATE in variable and parameter declarations
Changed in: 2.1
Description: Firebird 2.1 and up allow COLLATE clauses in declarations of input/output parameters and local
variables.
Example:
execute block
(es_1 varchar(20) character set iso8859_1 collate es_es = ?)
returns
(nl_1 varchar(20) character set iso8859_1 collate du_nl)
as
declare s_temp varchar(100) character set utf8 collate unicode;
begin
...
...
end
NOT NULL in variable and parameter declarations
Changed in: 2.1
Description: Firebird 2.1 and up allow NOT NULL constraints in declarations of input/output parameters and
local variables.
Example:
execute block (a int not null = ?, b int not null = ?)
returns (product bigint not null, message varchar(20) not null)
as
declare useless_dummy timestamp not null;
begin
product = a*b;
if (product < 0) then message = 'This is below zero.';
else if (product > 0) then message = 'This is above zero.';
else message = 'This must be zero.';
suspend;
end
Domains instead of datatypes
Changed in: 2.1
Description: Firebird 2.1 and up allow the use of domains instead of SQL datatypes when declaring input/output
parameters and local variables. With the “TYPE OF” modifier only the domain's type is used, not its NOT NULL
setting, CHECK constraint and/or default value.
61