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	/*
	* Copyright (c) 1996, 2020, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
	* DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
	*
	* This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
	* under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
	* published by the Free Software Foundation. Oracle designates this
	* particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
	* by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
	*
	* This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
	* ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
	* FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
	* version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
	* accompanied this code).
	*
	* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
	* 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
	* Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
	*
	* Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
	* or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
	* questions.
	*/


	package java.sql;

	/**
	* Comprehensive information about the database as a whole.
	* <P>
	* This interface is implemented by driver vendors to let users know the capabilities
	* of a Database Management System (DBMS) in combination with
	* the driver based on JDBC technology
	* ("JDBC driver") that is used with it. Different relational DBMSs often support
	* different features, implement features in different ways, and use different
	* data types. In addition, a driver may implement a feature on top of what the
	* DBMS offers. Information returned by methods in this interface applies
	* to the capabilities of a particular driver and a particular DBMS working
	* together. Note that as used in this documentation, the term "database" is
	* used generically to refer to both the driver and DBMS.
	* <P>
	* A user for this interface is commonly a tool that needs to discover how to
	* deal with the underlying DBMS. This is especially true for applications
	* that are intended to be used with more than one DBMS. For example, a tool might use the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo} to find out what data types can be used in a
	* {@code CREATE TABLE} statement. Or a user might call the method
	* {@code supportsCorrelatedSubqueries} to see if it is possible to use
	* a correlated subquery or {@code supportsBatchUpdates} to see if it is
	* possible to use batch updates.
	* <P>
	* Some {@code DatabaseMetaData} methods return lists of information
	* in the form of {@code ResultSet} objects.
	* Regular {@code ResultSet} methods, such as
	* {@code getString} and {@code getInt}, can be used
	* to retrieve the data from these {@code ResultSet} objects. If
	* a given form of metadata is not available, an empty {@code ResultSet}
	* will be returned. Additional columns beyond the columns defined to be
	* returned by the {@code ResultSet} object for a given method
	* can be defined by the JDBC driver vendor and must be accessed
	* by their <B>column label</B>.
	* <P>
	* Some {@code DatabaseMetaData} methods take arguments that are
	* String patterns. These arguments all have names such as fooPattern.
	* Within a pattern String, "%" means match any substring of 0 or more
	* characters, and "_" means match any one character. Only metadata
	* entries matching the search pattern are returned. If a search pattern
	* argument is set to {@code null}, that argument's criterion will
	* be dropped from the search.
	*
	* @since 1.1
	*/
	public interface DatabaseMetaData extends Wrapper {

	//----------------------------------------------------------------------
	// First, a variety of minor information about the target database.

	/**
	* Retrieves whether the current user can call all the procedures
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedures}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean allProceduresAreCallable() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether the current user can use all the tables returned
	* by the method {@code getTables} in a {@code SELECT}
	* statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean allTablesAreSelectable() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the URL for this DBMS.
	*
	* @return the URL for this DBMS or {@code null} if it cannot be
	* generated
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getURL() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the user name as known to this database.
	*
	* @return the database user name
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getUserName() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database is in read-only mode.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean isReadOnly() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether {@code NULL} values are sorted high.
	* Sorted high means that {@code NULL} values
	* sort higher than any other value in a domain. In an ascending order,
	* if this method returns {@code true}, {@code NULL} values
	* will appear at the end. By contrast, the method
	* {@code nullsAreSortedAtEnd} indicates whether {@code NULL} values
	* are sorted at the end regardless of sort order.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean nullsAreSortedHigh() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether {@code NULL} values are sorted low.
	* Sorted low means that {@code NULL} values
	* sort lower than any other value in a domain. In an ascending order,
	* if this method returns {@code true}, {@code NULL} values
	* will appear at the beginning. By contrast, the method
	* {@code nullsAreSortedAtStart} indicates whether {@code NULL} values
	* are sorted at the beginning regardless of sort order.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean nullsAreSortedLow() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether {@code NULL} values are sorted at the start regardless
	* of sort order.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean nullsAreSortedAtStart() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether {@code NULL} values are sorted at the end regardless of
	* sort order.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean nullsAreSortedAtEnd() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the name of this database product.
	*
	* @return database product name
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getDatabaseProductName() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the version number of this database product.
	*
	* @return database version number
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getDatabaseProductVersion() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the name of this JDBC driver.
	*
	* @return JDBC driver name
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getDriverName() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the version number of this JDBC driver as a {@code String}.
	*
	* @return JDBC driver version
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getDriverVersion() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves this JDBC driver's major version number.
	*
	* @return JDBC driver major version
	*/
	int getDriverMajorVersion();

	/**
	* Retrieves this JDBC driver's minor version number.
	*
	* @return JDBC driver minor version number
	*/
	int getDriverMinorVersion();

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database stores tables in a local file.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean usesLocalFiles() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database uses a file for each table.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if this database uses a local file for each table;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean usesLocalFilePerTable() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
	* case sensitive and as a result stores them in mixed case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsMixedCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
	* case insensitive and stores them in upper case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean storesUpperCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
	* case insensitive and stores them in lower case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean storesLowerCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case unquoted SQL identifiers as
	* case insensitive and stores them in mixed case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean storesMixedCaseIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
	* case sensitive and as a result stores them in mixed case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsMixedCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
	* case insensitive and stores them in upper case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean storesUpperCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
	* case insensitive and stores them in lower case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean storesLowerCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database treats mixed case quoted SQL identifiers as
	* case insensitive and stores them in mixed case.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean storesMixedCaseQuotedIdentifiers() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the string used to quote SQL identifiers.
	* This method returns a space " " if identifier quoting is not supported.
	*
	* @return the quoting string or a space if quoting is not supported
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getIdentifierQuoteString() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a comma-separated list of all of this database's SQL keywords
	* that are NOT also SQL:2003 keywords.
	*
	* @return the list of this database's keywords that are not also
	* SQL:2003 keywords
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getSQLKeywords() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a comma-separated list of math functions available with
	* this database. These are the Open /Open CLI math function names used in
	* the JDBC function escape clause.
	*
	* @return the list of math functions supported by this database
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getNumericFunctions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a comma-separated list of string functions available with
	* this database. These are the Open Group CLI string function names used
	* in the JDBC function escape clause.
	*
	* @return the list of string functions supported by this database
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getStringFunctions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a comma-separated list of system functions available with
	* this database. These are the Open Group CLI system function names used
	* in the JDBC function escape clause.
	*
	* @return a list of system functions supported by this database
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getSystemFunctions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a comma-separated list of the time and date functions available
	* with this database.
	*
	* @return the list of time and date functions supported by this database
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getTimeDateFunctions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the string that can be used to escape wildcard characters.
	* This is the string that can be used to escape '_' or '%' in
	* the catalog search parameters that are a pattern (and therefore use one
	* of the wildcard characters).
	*
	* <P>The '_' character represents any single character;
	* the '%' character represents any sequence of zero or
	* more characters.
	*
	* @return the string used to escape wildcard characters
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getSearchStringEscape() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves all the "extra" characters that can be used in unquoted
	* identifier names (those beyond a-z, A-Z, 0-9 and _).
	*
	* @return the string containing the extra characters
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getExtraNameCharacters() throws SQLException;

	//--------------------------------------------------------------------
	// Functions describing which features are supported.

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports {@code ALTER TABLE}
	* with add column.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsAlterTableWithAddColumn() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports {@code ALTER TABLE}
	* with drop column.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsAlterTableWithDropColumn() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports column aliasing.
	*
	* <P>If so, the SQL AS clause can be used to provide names for
	* computed columns or to provide alias names for columns as
	* required.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsColumnAliasing() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports concatenations between
	* {@code NULL} and non-{@code NULL} values being
	* {@code NULL}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean nullPlusNonNullIsNull() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the JDBC scalar function
	* {@code CONVERT} for the conversion of one JDBC type to another.
	* The JDBC types are the generic SQL data types defined
	* in {@code java.sql.Types}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsConvert() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the JDBC scalar function
	* {@code CONVERT} for conversions between the JDBC types <i>fromType</i>
	* and <i>toType</i>. The JDBC types are the generic SQL data types defined
	* in {@code java.sql.Types}.
	*
	* @param fromType the type to convert from; one of the type codes from
	* the class {@code java.sql.Types}
	* @param toType the type to convert to; one of the type codes from
	* the class {@code java.sql.Types}
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see Types
	*/
	boolean supportsConvert(int fromType, int toType) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports table correlation names.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsTableCorrelationNames() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether, when table correlation names are supported, they
	* are restricted to being different from the names of the tables.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsDifferentTableCorrelationNames() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports expressions in
	* {@code ORDER BY} lists.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsExpressionsInOrderBy() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports using a column that is
	* not in the {@code SELECT} statement in an
	* {@code ORDER BY} clause.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsOrderByUnrelated() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports some form of
	* {@code GROUP BY} clause.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsGroupBy() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports using a column that is
	* not in the {@code SELECT} statement in a
	* {@code GROUP BY} clause.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsGroupByUnrelated() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports using columns not included in
	* the {@code SELECT} statement in a {@code GROUP BY} clause
	* provided that all of the columns in the {@code SELECT} statement
	* are included in the {@code GROUP BY} clause.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsGroupByBeyondSelect() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports specifying a
	* {@code LIKE} escape clause.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsLikeEscapeClause() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports getting multiple
	* {@code ResultSet} objects from a single call to the
	* method {@code execute}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsMultipleResultSets() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database allows having multiple
	* transactions open at once (on different connections).
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsMultipleTransactions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether columns in this database may be defined as non-nullable.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsNonNullableColumns() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the ODBC Minimum SQL grammar.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsMinimumSQLGrammar() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the ODBC Core SQL grammar.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsCoreSQLGrammar() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the ODBC Extended SQL grammar.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsExtendedSQLGrammar() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the ANSI92 entry level SQL
	* grammar.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsANSI92EntryLevelSQL() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the ANSI92 intermediate SQL grammar supported.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsANSI92IntermediateSQL() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the ANSI92 full SQL grammar supported.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsANSI92FullSQL() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the SQL Integrity
	* Enhancement Facility.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsIntegrityEnhancementFacility() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports some form of outer join.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsOuterJoins() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports full nested outer joins.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsFullOuterJoins() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database provides limited support for outer
	* joins. (This will be {@code true} if the method
	* {@code supportsFullOuterJoins} returns {@code true}).
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsLimitedOuterJoins() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the database vendor's preferred term for "schema".
	*
	* @return the vendor term for "schema"
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getSchemaTerm() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the database vendor's preferred term for "procedure".
	*
	* @return the vendor term for "procedure"
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getProcedureTerm() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the database vendor's preferred term for "catalog".
	*
	* @return the vendor term for "catalog"
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getCatalogTerm() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a catalog appears at the start of a fully qualified
	* table name. If not, the catalog appears at the end.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if the catalog name appears at the beginning
	* of a fully qualified table name; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean isCatalogAtStart() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the {@code String} that this database uses as the
	* separator between a catalog and table name.
	*
	* @return the separator string
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	String getCatalogSeparator() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a data manipulation statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSchemasInDataManipulation() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a procedure call statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSchemasInProcedureCalls() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a table definition statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSchemasInTableDefinitions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in an index definition statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSchemasInIndexDefinitions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a schema name can be used in a privilege definition statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSchemasInPrivilegeDefinitions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a data manipulation statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsCatalogsInDataManipulation() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a procedure call statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsCatalogsInProcedureCalls() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a table definition statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsCatalogsInTableDefinitions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in an index definition statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsCatalogsInIndexDefinitions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a catalog name can be used in a privilege definition statement.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsCatalogsInPrivilegeDefinitions() throws SQLException;


	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports positioned {@code DELETE}
	* statements.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsPositionedDelete() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports positioned {@code UPDATE}
	* statements.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsPositionedUpdate() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports {@code SELECT FOR UPDATE}
	* statements.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSelectForUpdate() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports stored procedure calls
	* that use the stored procedure escape syntax.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsStoredProcedures() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in comparison
	* expressions.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSubqueriesInComparisons() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in
	* {@code EXISTS} expressions.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSubqueriesInExists() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in
	* {@code IN} expressions.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSubqueriesInIns() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports subqueries in quantified
	* expressions.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsSubqueriesInQuantifieds() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports correlated subqueries.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsCorrelatedSubqueries() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports SQL {@code UNION}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsUnion() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports SQL {@code UNION ALL}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsUnionAll() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports keeping cursors open
	* across commits.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if cursors always remain open;
	* {@code false} if they might not remain open
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsOpenCursorsAcrossCommit() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports keeping cursors open
	* across rollbacks.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if cursors always remain open;
	* {@code false} if they might not remain open
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsOpenCursorsAcrossRollback() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports keeping statements open
	* across commits.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if statements always remain open;
	* {@code false} if they might not remain open
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsOpenStatementsAcrossCommit() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports keeping statements open
	* across rollbacks.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if statements always remain open;
	* {@code false} if they might not remain open
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsOpenStatementsAcrossRollback() throws SQLException;



	//----------------------------------------------------------------------
	// The following group of methods exposes various limitations
	// based on the target database with the current driver.
	// Unless otherwise specified, a result of zero means there is no
	// limit, or the limit is not known.

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of hex characters this database allows in an
	* inline binary literal.
	*
	* @return max the maximum length (in hex characters) for a binary literal;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxBinaryLiteralLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows
	* for a character literal.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a character literal;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit is
	* not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxCharLiteralLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows
	* for a column name.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a column name;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxColumnNameLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in a
	* {@code GROUP BY} clause.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxColumnsInGroupBy() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in an index.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxColumnsInIndex() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in an
	* {@code ORDER BY} clause.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxColumnsInOrderBy() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in a
	* {@code SELECT} list.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxColumnsInSelect() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of columns this database allows in a table.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of columns allowed;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxColumnsInTable() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of concurrent connections to this
	* database that are possible.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of active connections possible at one time;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxConnections() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
	* cursor name.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a cursor name;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxCursorNameLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of bytes this database allows for an
	* index, including all of the parts of the index.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of bytes allowed; this limit includes the
	* composite of all the constituent parts of the index;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxIndexLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
	* schema name.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a schema name;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxSchemaNameLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
	* procedure name.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a procedure name;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxProcedureNameLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters that this database allows in a
	* catalog name.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed in a catalog name;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxCatalogNameLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of bytes this database allows in
	* a single row.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of bytes allowed for a row; a result of
	* zero means that there is no limit or the limit is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxRowSize() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether the return value for the method
	* {@code getMaxRowSize} includes the SQL data types
	* {@code LONGVARCHAR} and {@code LONGVARBINARY}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean doesMaxRowSizeIncludeBlobs() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows in
	* an SQL statement.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed for an SQL statement;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxStatementLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of active statements to this database
	* that can be open at the same time.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of statements that can be open at one time;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxStatements() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows in
	* a table name.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a table name;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxTableNameLength() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of tables this database allows in a
	* {@code SELECT} statement.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of tables allowed in a {@code SELECT}
	* statement; a result of zero means that there is no limit or
	* the limit is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxTablesInSelect() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the maximum number of characters this database allows in
	* a user name.
	*
	* @return the maximum number of characters allowed for a user name;
	* a result of zero means that there is no limit or the limit
	* is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	int getMaxUserNameLength() throws SQLException;

	//----------------------------------------------------------------------

	/**
	* Retrieves this database's default transaction isolation level. The
	* possible values are defined in {@code java.sql.Connection}.
	*
	* @return the default isolation level
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see Connection
	*/
	int getDefaultTransactionIsolation() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports transactions. If not, invoking the
	* method {@code commit} is a noop, and the isolation level is
	* {@code TRANSACTION_NONE}.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if transactions are supported;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsTransactions() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the given transaction isolation level.
	*
	* @param level one of the transaction isolation levels defined in
	* {@code java.sql.Connection}
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see Connection
	*/
	boolean supportsTransactionIsolationLevel(int level)
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports both data definition and
	* data manipulation statements within a transaction.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsDataDefinitionAndDataManipulationTransactions()
	throws SQLException;
	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports only data manipulation
	* statements within a transaction.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean supportsDataManipulationTransactionsOnly()
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a data definition statement within a transaction forces
	* the transaction to commit.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean dataDefinitionCausesTransactionCommit()
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database ignores a data definition statement
	* within a transaction.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	boolean dataDefinitionIgnoredInTransactions()
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the stored procedures available in the given
	* catalog.
	* <P>
	* Only procedure descriptions matching the schema and
	* procedure name criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* {@code PROCEDURE_CAT}, {@code PROCEDURE_SCHEM},
	* {@code PROCEDURE_NAME} and {@code SPECIFIC_ NAME}.
	*
	* <P>Each procedure description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>PROCEDURE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} procedure catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PROCEDURE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} procedure schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PROCEDURE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} procedure name
	* <LI> reserved for future use
	* <LI> reserved for future use
	* <LI> reserved for future use
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the procedure
	* <LI><B>PROCEDURE_TYPE</B> short {@code =>} kind of procedure:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> procedureResultUnknown - Cannot determine if a return value
	* will be returned
	* <LI> procedureNoResult - Does not return a return value
	* <LI> procedureReturnsResult - Returns a return value
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>SPECIFIC_NAME</B> String {@code =>} The name which uniquely identifies this
	* procedure within its schema.
	* </OL>
	* <p>
	* A user may not have permissions to execute any of the procedures that are
	* returned by {@code getProcedures}
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param procedureNamePattern a procedure name pattern; must match the
	* procedure name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a procedure description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	*/
	ResultSet getProcedures(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String procedureNamePattern) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that it is not known whether the procedure returns
	* a result.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code PROCEDURE_TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getProcedures}.
	*/
	int procedureResultUnknown = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the procedure does not return a result.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code PROCEDURE_TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getProcedures}.
	*/
	int procedureNoResult = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the procedure returns a result.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code PROCEDURE_TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getProcedures}.
	*/
	int procedureReturnsResult = 2;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the given catalog's stored procedure parameter
	* and result columns.
	*
	* <P>Only descriptions matching the schema, procedure and
	* parameter name criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* PROCEDURE_CAT, PROCEDURE_SCHEM, PROCEDURE_NAME and SPECIFIC_NAME. Within this, the return value,
	* if any, is first. Next are the parameter descriptions in call
	* order. The column descriptions follow in column number order.
	*
	* <P>Each row in the {@code ResultSet} is a parameter description or
	* column description with the following fields:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>PROCEDURE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} procedure catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PROCEDURE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} procedure schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PROCEDURE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} procedure name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column/parameter name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_TYPE</B> Short {@code =>} kind of column/parameter:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> procedureColumnUnknown - nobody knows
	* <LI> procedureColumnIn - IN parameter
	* <LI> procedureColumnInOut - INOUT parameter
	* <LI> procedureColumnOut - OUT parameter
	* <LI> procedureColumnReturn - procedure return value
	* <LI> procedureColumnResult - result column in {@code ResultSet}
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} SQL type name, for a UDT type the
	* type name is fully qualified
	* <LI><B>PRECISION</B> int {@code =>} precision
	* <LI><B>LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} length in bytes of data
	* <LI><B>SCALE</B> short {@code =>} scale - null is returned for data types where
	* SCALE is not applicable.
	* <LI><B>RADIX</B> short {@code =>} radix
	* <LI><B>NULLABLE</B> short {@code =>} can it contain NULL.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> procedureNoNulls - does not allow NULL values
	* <LI> procedureNullable - allows NULL values
	* <LI> procedureNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} comment describing parameter/column
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_DEF</B> String {@code =>} default value for the column, which should be interpreted as a string when the value is enclosed in single quotes (may be {@code null})
	* <UL>
	* <LI> The string NULL (not enclosed in quotes) - if NULL was specified as the default value
	* <LI> TRUNCATE (not enclosed in quotes) - if the specified default value cannot be represented without truncation
	* <LI> NULL - if a default value was not specified
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} reserved for future use
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATETIME_SUB</B> int {@code =>} reserved for future use
	* <LI><B>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} the maximum length of binary and character based columns. For any other datatype the returned value is a
	* NULL
	* <LI><B>ORDINAL_POSITION</B> int {@code =>} the ordinal position, starting from 1, for the input and output parameters for a procedure. A value of 0
	*is returned if this row describes the procedure's return value. For result set columns, it is the
	*ordinal position of the column in the result set starting from 1. If there are
	*multiple result sets, the column ordinal positions are implementation
	* defined.
	* <LI><B>IS_NULLABLE</B> String {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine the nullability for a column.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> YES --- if the column can include NULLs
	* <LI> NO --- if the column cannot include NULLs
	* <LI> empty string --- if the nullability for the
	* column is unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>SPECIFIC_NAME</B> String {@code =>} the name which uniquely identifies this procedure within its schema.
	* </OL>
	*
	* <P><B>Note:</B> Some databases may not return the column
	* descriptions for a procedure.
	*
	* <p>The PRECISION column represents the specified column size for the given column.
	* For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters.
	* For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
	* maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype,
	* this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
	* column size is not applicable.
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param procedureNamePattern a procedure name pattern; must match the
	* procedure name as it is stored in the database
	* @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column name
	* as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row describes a stored procedure parameter or
	* column
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	*/
	ResultSet getProcedureColumns(String catalog,
	String schemaPattern,
	String procedureNamePattern,
	String columnNamePattern) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that type of the column is unknown.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureColumnUnknown = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the column stores IN parameters.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureColumnIn = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the column stores INOUT parameters.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureColumnInOut = 2;

	/**
	* Indicates that the column stores OUT parameters.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureColumnOut = 4;
	/**
	* Indicates that the column stores return values.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureColumnReturn = 5;

	/**
	* Indicates that the column stores results.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureColumnResult = 3;

	/**
	* Indicates that {@code NULL} values are not allowed.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureNoNulls = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that {@code NULL} values are allowed.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureNullable = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that whether {@code NULL} values are allowed
	* is unknown.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getProcedureColumns}.
	*/
	int procedureNullableUnknown = 2;


	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the tables available in the given catalog.
	* Only table descriptions matching the catalog, schema, table
	* name and type criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* {@code TABLE_TYPE}, {@code TABLE_CAT},
	* {@code TABLE_SCHEM} and {@code TABLE_NAME}.
	* <P>
	* Each table description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} table name
	* <LI><B>TABLE_TYPE</B> String {@code =>} table type. Typical types are "TABLE",
	* "VIEW", "SYSTEM TABLE", "GLOBAL TEMPORARY",
	* "LOCAL TEMPORARY", "ALIAS", "SYNONYM".
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the table (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} the types catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} the types schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} type name (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>SELF_REFERENCING_COL_NAME</B> String {@code =>} name of the designated
	* "identifier" column of a typed table (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>REF_GENERATION</B> String {@code =>} specifies how values in
	* SELF_REFERENCING_COL_NAME are created. Values are
	* "SYSTEM", "USER", "DERIVED". (may be {@code null})
	* </OL>
	*
	* <P><B>Note:</B> Some databases may not return information for
	* all tables.
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the
	* table name as it is stored in the database
	* @param types a list of table types, which must be from the list of table types
	* returned from {@link #getTableTypes},to include; {@code null} returns
	* all types
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a table description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	*/
	ResultSet getTables(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String tableNamePattern, String types[]) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the schema names available in this database. The results
	* are ordered by {@code TABLE_CATALOG} and
	* {@code TABLE_SCHEM}.
	*
	* <P>The schema columns are:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} schema name
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CATALOG</B> String {@code =>} catalog name (may be {@code null})
	* </OL>
	*
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row is a
	* schema description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*
	*/
	ResultSet getSchemas() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the catalog names available in this database. The results
	* are ordered by catalog name.
	*
	* <P>The catalog column is:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} catalog name
	* </OL>
	*
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row has a
	* single {@code String} column that is a catalog name
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	ResultSet getCatalogs() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the table types available in this database. The results
	* are ordered by table type.
	*
	* <P>The table type is:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_TYPE</B> String {@code =>} table type. Typical types are "TABLE",
	* "VIEW", "SYSTEM TABLE", "GLOBAL TEMPORARY",
	* "LOCAL TEMPORARY", "ALIAS", "SYNONYM".
	* </OL>
	*
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row has a
	* single {@code String} column that is a table type
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	ResultSet getTableTypes() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of table columns available in
	* the specified catalog.
	*
	* <P>Only column descriptions matching the catalog, schema, table
	* and column name criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* {@code TABLE_CAT},{@code TABLE_SCHEM},
	* {@code TABLE_NAME}, and {@code ORDINAL_POSITION}.
	*
	* <P>Each column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} table name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column name
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} Data source dependent type name,
	* for a UDT the type name is fully qualified
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_SIZE</B> int {@code =>} column size.
	* <LI><B>BUFFER_LENGTH</B> is not used.
	* <LI><B>DECIMAL_DIGITS</B> int {@code =>} the number of fractional digits. Null is returned for data types where
	* DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
	* <LI><B>NUM_PREC_RADIX</B> int {@code =>} Radix (typically either 10 or 2)
	* <LI><B>NULLABLE</B> int {@code =>} is NULL allowed.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> columnNoNulls - might not allow {@code NULL} values
	* <LI> columnNullable - definitely allows {@code NULL} values
	* <LI> columnNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} comment describing column (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_DEF</B> String {@code =>} default value for the column, which should be interpreted as a string when the value is enclosed in single quotes (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} unused
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATETIME_SUB</B> int {@code =>} unused
	* <LI><B>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} for char types the
	* maximum number of bytes in the column
	* <LI><B>ORDINAL_POSITION</B> int {@code =>} index of column in table
	* (starting at 1)
	* <LI><B>IS_NULLABLE</B> String {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine the nullability for a column.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> YES --- if the column can include NULLs
	* <LI> NO --- if the column cannot include NULLs
	* <LI> empty string --- if the nullability for the
	* column is unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>SCOPE_CATALOG</B> String {@code =>} catalog of table that is the scope
	* of a reference attribute ({@code null} if DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
	* <LI><B>SCOPE_SCHEMA</B> String {@code =>} schema of table that is the scope
	* of a reference attribute ({@code null} if the DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
	* <LI><B>SCOPE_TABLE</B> String {@code =>} table name that this the scope
	* of a reference attribute ({@code null} if the DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
	* <LI><B>SOURCE_DATA_TYPE</B> short {@code =>} source type of a distinct type or user-generated
	* Ref type, SQL type from java.sql.Types ({@code null} if DATA_TYPE
	* isn't DISTINCT or user-generated REF)
	* <LI><B>IS_AUTOINCREMENT</B> String {@code =>} Indicates whether this column is auto incremented
	* <UL>
	* <LI> YES --- if the column is auto incremented
	* <LI> NO --- if the column is not auto incremented
	* <LI> empty string --- if it cannot be determined whether the column is auto incremented
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>IS_GENERATEDCOLUMN</B> String {@code =>} Indicates whether this is a generated column
	* <UL>
	* <LI> YES --- if this a generated column
	* <LI> NO --- if this not a generated column
	* <LI> empty string --- if it cannot be determined whether this is a generated column
	* </UL>
	* </OL>
	*
	* <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column specifies the column size for the given column.
	* For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters.
	* For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
	* maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype,
	* this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
	* column size is not applicable.
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the
	* table name as it is stored in the database
	* @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column
	* name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	*/
	ResultSet getColumns(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String tableNamePattern, String columnNamePattern)
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that the column might not allow {@code NULL} values.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} returned by the method
	* {@code getColumns}.
	*/
	int columnNoNulls = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the column definitely allows {@code NULL} values.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} returned by the method
	* {@code getColumns}.
	*/
	int columnNullable = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the nullability of columns is unknown.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} returned by the method
	* {@code getColumns}.
	*/
	int columnNullableUnknown = 2;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the access rights for a table's columns.
	*
	* <P>Only privileges matching the column name criteria are
	* returned. They are ordered by COLUMN_NAME and PRIVILEGE.
	*
	* <P>Each privilege description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} table name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column name
	* <LI><B>GRANTOR</B> String {@code =>} grantor of access (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>GRANTEE</B> String {@code =>} grantee of access
	* <LI><B>PRIVILEGE</B> String {@code =>} name of access (SELECT,
	* INSERT, UPDATE, REFERENCES, ...)
	* <LI><B>IS_GRANTABLE</B> String {@code =>} "YES" if grantee is permitted
	* to grant to others; "NO" if not; {@code null} if unknown
	* </OL>
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name as it is
	* stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is
	* stored in the database
	* @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column
	* name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a column privilege description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	*/
	ResultSet getColumnPrivileges(String catalog, String schema,
	String table, String columnNamePattern) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the access rights for each table available
	* in a catalog. Note that a table privilege applies to one or
	* more columns in the table. It would be wrong to assume that
	* this privilege applies to all columns (this may be true for
	* some systems but is not true for all.)
	*
	* <P>Only privileges matching the schema and table name
	* criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* {@code TABLE_CAT},
	* {@code TABLE_SCHEM}, {@code TABLE_NAME},
	* and {@code PRIVILEGE}.
	*
	* <P>Each privilege description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} table name
	* <LI><B>GRANTOR</B> String {@code =>} grantor of access (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>GRANTEE</B> String {@code =>} grantee of access
	* <LI><B>PRIVILEGE</B> String {@code =>} name of access (SELECT,
	* INSERT, UPDATE, REFERENCES, ...)
	* <LI><B>IS_GRANTABLE</B> String {@code =>} "YES" if grantee is permitted
	* to grant to others; "NO" if not; {@code null} if unknown
	* </OL>
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the
	* table name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a table privilege description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	*/
	ResultSet getTablePrivileges(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String tableNamePattern) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of a table's optimal set of columns that
	* uniquely identifies a row. They are ordered by SCOPE.
	*
	* <P>Each column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>SCOPE</B> short {@code =>} actual scope of result
	* <UL>
	* <LI> bestRowTemporary - very temporary, while using row
	* <LI> bestRowTransaction - valid for remainder of current transaction
	* <LI> bestRowSession - valid for remainder of current session
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column name
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} SQL data type from java.sql.Types
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} Data source dependent type name,
	* for a UDT the type name is fully qualified
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_SIZE</B> int {@code =>} precision
	* <LI><B>BUFFER_LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} not used
	* <LI><B>DECIMAL_DIGITS</B> short {@code =>} scale - Null is returned for data types where
	* DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
	* <LI><B>PSEUDO_COLUMN</B> short {@code =>} is this a pseudo column
	* like an Oracle ROWID
	* <UL>
	* <LI> bestRowUnknown - may or may not be pseudo column
	* <LI> bestRowNotPseudo - is NOT a pseudo column
	* <LI> bestRowPseudo - is a pseudo column
	* </UL>
	* </OL>
	*
	* <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column represents the specified column size for the given column.
	* For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters.
	* For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
	* maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype,
	* this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
	* column size is not applicable.
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
	* in the database
	* @param scope the scope of interest; use same values as SCOPE
	* @param nullable include columns that are nullable.
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	ResultSet getBestRowIdentifier(String catalog, String schema,
	String table, int scope, boolean nullable) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that the scope of the best row identifier is
	* very temporary, lasting only while the
	* row is being used.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code SCOPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getBestRowIdentifier}.
	*/
	int bestRowTemporary = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the scope of the best row identifier is
	* the remainder of the current transaction.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code SCOPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getBestRowIdentifier}.
	*/
	int bestRowTransaction = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the scope of the best row identifier is
	* the remainder of the current session.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code SCOPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getBestRowIdentifier}.
	*/
	int bestRowSession = 2;

	/**
	* Indicates that the best row identifier may or may not be a pseudo column.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code PSEUDO_COLUMN}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getBestRowIdentifier}.
	*/
	int bestRowUnknown = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the best row identifier is NOT a pseudo column.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code PSEUDO_COLUMN}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getBestRowIdentifier}.
	*/
	int bestRowNotPseudo = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the best row identifier is a pseudo column.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code PSEUDO_COLUMN}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getBestRowIdentifier}.
	*/
	int bestRowPseudo = 2;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of a table's columns that are automatically
	* updated when any value in a row is updated. They are
	* unordered.
	*
	* <P>Each column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>SCOPE</B> short {@code =>} is not used
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column name
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} SQL data type from {@code java.sql.Types}
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} Data source-dependent type name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_SIZE</B> int {@code =>} precision
	* <LI><B>BUFFER_LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} length of column value in bytes
	* <LI><B>DECIMAL_DIGITS</B> short {@code =>} scale - Null is returned for data types where
	* DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
	* <LI><B>PSEUDO_COLUMN</B> short {@code =>} whether this is pseudo column
	* like an Oracle ROWID
	* <UL>
	* <LI> versionColumnUnknown - may or may not be pseudo column
	* <LI> versionColumnNotPseudo - is NOT a pseudo column
	* <LI> versionColumnPseudo - is a pseudo column
	* </UL>
	* </OL>
	*
	* <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column represents the specified column size for the given column.
	* For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters.
	* For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
	* maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype,
	* this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
	* column size is not applicable.
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
	* in the database
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row is a
	* column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	ResultSet getVersionColumns(String catalog, String schema,
	String table) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that this version column may or may not be a pseudo column.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code PSEUDO_COLUMN}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getVersionColumns}.
	*/
	int versionColumnUnknown = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that this version column is NOT a pseudo column.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code PSEUDO_COLUMN}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getVersionColumns}.
	*/
	int versionColumnNotPseudo = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that this version column is a pseudo column.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code PSEUDO_COLUMN}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getVersionColumns}.
	*/
	int versionColumnPseudo = 2;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the given table's primary key columns. They
	* are ordered by COLUMN_NAME.
	*
	* <P>Each primary key column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} table name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column name
	* <LI><B>KEY_SEQ</B> short {@code =>} sequence number within primary key( a value
	* of 1 represents the first column of the primary key, a value of 2 would
	* represent the second column within the primary key).
	* <LI><B>PK_NAME</B> String {@code =>} primary key name (may be {@code null})
	* </OL>
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
	* in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a primary key column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	ResultSet getPrimaryKeys(String catalog, String schema,
	String table) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the primary key columns that are
	* referenced by the given table's foreign key columns (the primary keys
	* imported by a table). They are ordered by PKTABLE_CAT,
	* PKTABLE_SCHEM, PKTABLE_NAME, and KEY_SEQ.
	*
	* <P>Each primary key column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} primary key table catalog
	* being imported (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} primary key table schema
	* being imported (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} primary key table name
	* being imported
	* <LI><B>PKCOLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} primary key column name
	* being imported
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table name
	* <LI><B>FKCOLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key column name
	* <LI><B>KEY_SEQ</B> short {@code =>} sequence number within a foreign key( a value
	* of 1 represents the first column of the foreign key, a value of 2 would
	* represent the second column within the foreign key).
	* <LI><B>UPDATE_RULE</B> short {@code =>} What happens to a
	* foreign key when the primary key is updated:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedNoAction - do not allow update of primary
	* key if it has been imported
	* <LI> importedKeyCascade - change imported key to agree
	* with primary key update
	* <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to {@code NULL}
	* if its primary key has been updated
	* <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default values
	* if its primary key has been updated
	* <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
	* (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>DELETE_RULE</B> short {@code =>} What happens to
	* the foreign key when primary is deleted.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedKeyNoAction - do not allow delete of primary
	* key if it has been imported
	* <LI> importedKeyCascade - delete rows that import a deleted key
	* <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to NULL if
	* its primary key has been deleted
	* <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
	* (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
	* <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default if
	* its primary key has been deleted
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>FK_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key name (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PK_NAME</B> String {@code =>} primary key name (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>DEFERRABILITY</B> short {@code =>} can the evaluation of foreign key
	* constraints be deferred until commit
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedKeyInitiallyDeferred - see SQL92 for definition
	* <LI> importedKeyInitiallyImmediate - see SQL92 for definition
	* <LI> importedKeyNotDeferrable - see SQL92 for definition
	* </UL>
	* </OL>
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
	* in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a primary key column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getExportedKeys
	*/
	ResultSet getImportedKeys(String catalog, String schema,
	String table) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* For the column {@code UPDATE_RULE},
	* indicates that
	* when the primary key is updated, the foreign key (imported key)
	* is changed to agree with it.
	* For the column {@code DELETE_RULE},
	* it indicates that
	* when the primary key is deleted, rows that imported that key
	* are deleted.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeyCascade = 0;

	/**
	* For the column {@code UPDATE_RULE}, indicates that
	* a primary key may not be updated if it has been imported by
	* another table as a foreign key.
	* For the column {@code DELETE_RULE}, indicates that
	* a primary key may not be deleted if it has been imported by
	* another table as a foreign key.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeyRestrict = 1;

	/**
	* For the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE}, indicates that
	* when the primary key is updated or deleted, the foreign key (imported key)
	* is changed to {@code NULL}.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeySetNull = 2;

	/**
	* For the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE}, indicates that
	* if the primary key has been imported, it cannot be updated or deleted.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeyNoAction = 3;

	/**
	* For the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE}, indicates that
	* if the primary key is updated or deleted, the foreign key (imported key)
	* is set to the default value.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the columns {@code UPDATE_RULE}
	* and {@code DELETE_RULE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeySetDefault = 4;

	/**
	* Indicates deferrability. See SQL-92 for a definition.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column {@code DEFERRABILITY}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeyInitiallyDeferred = 5;

	/**
	* Indicates deferrability. See SQL-92 for a definition.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column {@code DEFERRABILITY}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeyInitiallyImmediate = 6;

	/**
	* Indicates deferrability. See SQL-92 for a definition.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column {@code DEFERRABILITY}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} objects returned by the methods
	* {@code getImportedKeys}, {@code getExportedKeys},
	* and {@code getCrossReference}.
	*/
	int importedKeyNotDeferrable = 7;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the foreign key columns that reference the
	* given table's primary key columns (the foreign keys exported by a
	* table). They are ordered by FKTABLE_CAT, FKTABLE_SCHEM,
	* FKTABLE_NAME, and KEY_SEQ.
	*
	* <P>Each foreign key column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} primary key table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} primary key table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} primary key table name
	* <LI><B>PKCOLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} primary key column name
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* being exported (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table schema (may be {@code null})
	* being exported (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table name
	* being exported
	* <LI><B>FKCOLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key column name
	* being exported
	* <LI><B>KEY_SEQ</B> short {@code =>} sequence number within foreign key( a value
	* of 1 represents the first column of the foreign key, a value of 2 would
	* represent the second column within the foreign key).
	* <LI><B>UPDATE_RULE</B> short {@code =>} What happens to
	* foreign key when primary is updated:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedNoAction - do not allow update of primary
	* key if it has been imported
	* <LI> importedKeyCascade - change imported key to agree
	* with primary key update
	* <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to {@code NULL} if
	* its primary key has been updated
	* <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default values
	* if its primary key has been updated
	* <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
	* (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>DELETE_RULE</B> short {@code =>} What happens to
	* the foreign key when primary is deleted.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedKeyNoAction - do not allow delete of primary
	* key if it has been imported
	* <LI> importedKeyCascade - delete rows that import a deleted key
	* <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to {@code NULL} if
	* its primary key has been deleted
	* <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
	* (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
	* <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default if
	* its primary key has been deleted
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>FK_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key name (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PK_NAME</B> String {@code =>} primary key name (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>DEFERRABILITY</B> short {@code =>} can the evaluation of foreign key
	* constraints be deferred until commit
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedKeyInitiallyDeferred - see SQL92 for definition
	* <LI> importedKeyInitiallyImmediate - see SQL92 for definition
	* <LI> importedKeyNotDeferrable - see SQL92 for definition
	* </UL>
	* </OL>
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in this database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
	* in this database
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row is a
	* foreign key column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getImportedKeys
	*/
	ResultSet getExportedKeys(String catalog, String schema,
	String table) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the foreign key columns in the given foreign key
	* table that reference the primary key or the columns representing a unique constraint of the parent table (could be the same or a different table).
	* The number of columns returned from the parent table must match the number of
	* columns that make up the foreign key. They
	* are ordered by FKTABLE_CAT, FKTABLE_SCHEM, FKTABLE_NAME, and
	* KEY_SEQ.
	*
	* <P>Each foreign key column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} parent key table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} parent key table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PKTABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} parent key table name
	* <LI><B>PKCOLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} parent key column name
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* being exported (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table schema (may be {@code null})
	* being exported (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FKTABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key table name
	* being exported
	* <LI><B>FKCOLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key column name
	* being exported
	* <LI><B>KEY_SEQ</B> short {@code =>} sequence number within foreign key( a value
	* of 1 represents the first column of the foreign key, a value of 2 would
	* represent the second column within the foreign key).
	* <LI><B>UPDATE_RULE</B> short {@code =>} What happens to
	* foreign key when parent key is updated:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedNoAction - do not allow update of parent
	* key if it has been imported
	* <LI> importedKeyCascade - change imported key to agree
	* with parent key update
	* <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to {@code NULL} if
	* its parent key has been updated
	* <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default values
	* if its parent key has been updated
	* <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
	* (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>DELETE_RULE</B> short {@code =>} What happens to
	* the foreign key when parent key is deleted.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedKeyNoAction - do not allow delete of parent
	* key if it has been imported
	* <LI> importedKeyCascade - delete rows that import a deleted key
	* <LI> importedKeySetNull - change imported key to {@code NULL} if
	* its primary key has been deleted
	* <LI> importedKeyRestrict - same as importedKeyNoAction
	* (for ODBC 2.x compatibility)
	* <LI> importedKeySetDefault - change imported key to default if
	* its parent key has been deleted
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>FK_NAME</B> String {@code =>} foreign key name (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>PK_NAME</B> String {@code =>} parent key name (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>DEFERRABILITY</B> short {@code =>} can the evaluation of foreign key
	* constraints be deferred until commit
	* <UL>
	* <LI> importedKeyInitiallyDeferred - see SQL92 for definition
	* <LI> importedKeyInitiallyImmediate - see SQL92 for definition
	* <LI> importedKeyNotDeferrable - see SQL92 for definition
	* </UL>
	* </OL>
	*
	* @param parentCatalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a
	* catalog; {@code null} means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
	* @param parentSchema a schema name; must match the schema name as
	* it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means drop schema name from the selection criteria
	* @param parentTable the name of the table that exports the key; must match
	* the table name as it is stored in the database
	* @param foreignCatalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as
	* it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a
	* catalog; {@code null} means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
	* @param foreignSchema a schema name; must match the schema name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means drop schema name from the selection criteria
	* @param foreignTable the name of the table that imports the key; must match
	* the table name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a foreign key column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getImportedKeys
	*/
	ResultSet getCrossReference(
	String parentCatalog, String parentSchema, String parentTable,
	String foreignCatalog, String foreignSchema, String foreignTable
	) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of all the data types supported by
	* this database. They are ordered by DATA_TYPE and then by how
	* closely the data type maps to the corresponding JDBC SQL type.
	*
	* <P>If the database supports SQL distinct types, then getTypeInfo() will return
	* a single row with a TYPE_NAME of DISTINCT and a DATA_TYPE of Types.DISTINCT.
	* If the database supports SQL structured types, then getTypeInfo() will return
	* a single row with a TYPE_NAME of STRUCT and a DATA_TYPE of Types.STRUCT.
	*
	* <P>If SQL distinct or structured types are supported, then information on the
	* individual types may be obtained from the getUDTs() method.
	*
	*
	* <P>Each type description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} Type name
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} SQL data type from java.sql.Types
	* <LI><B>PRECISION</B> int {@code =>} maximum precision
	* <LI><B>LITERAL_PREFIX</B> String {@code =>} prefix used to quote a literal
	* (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>LITERAL_SUFFIX</B> String {@code =>} suffix used to quote a literal
	* (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>CREATE_PARAMS</B> String {@code =>} parameters used in creating
	* the type (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>NULLABLE</B> short {@code =>} can you use NULL for this type.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> typeNoNulls - does not allow NULL values
	* <LI> typeNullable - allows NULL values
	* <LI> typeNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>CASE_SENSITIVE</B> boolean{@code =>} is it case sensitive.
	* <LI><B>SEARCHABLE</B> short {@code =>} can you use "WHERE" based on this type:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> typePredNone - No support
	* <LI> typePredChar - Only supported with WHERE .. LIKE
	* <LI> typePredBasic - Supported except for WHERE .. LIKE
	* <LI> typeSearchable - Supported for all WHERE ..
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>UNSIGNED_ATTRIBUTE</B> boolean {@code =>} is it unsigned.
	* <LI><B>FIXED_PREC_SCALE</B> boolean {@code =>} can it be a money value.
	* <LI><B>AUTO_INCREMENT</B> boolean {@code =>} can it be used for an
	* auto-increment value.
	* <LI><B>LOCAL_TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} localized version of type name
	* (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>MINIMUM_SCALE</B> short {@code =>} minimum scale supported
	* <LI><B>MAXIMUM_SCALE</B> short {@code =>} maximum scale supported
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} unused
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATETIME_SUB</B> int {@code =>} unused
	* <LI><B>NUM_PREC_RADIX</B> int {@code =>} usually 2 or 10
	* </OL>
	*
	* <p>The PRECISION column represents the maximum column size that the server supports for the given datatype.
	* For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters.
	* For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
	* maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype,
	* this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
	* column size is not applicable.
	*
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row is an SQL
	* type description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	ResultSet getTypeInfo() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that a {@code NULL} value is NOT allowed for this
	* data type.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code NULLABLE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo}.
	*/
	int typeNoNulls = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that a {@code NULL} value is allowed for this
	* data type.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code NULLABLE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo}.
	*/
	int typeNullable = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that it is not known whether a {@code NULL} value
	* is allowed for this data type.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code NULLABLE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo}.
	*/
	int typeNullableUnknown = 2;

	/**
	* Indicates that {@code WHERE} search clauses are not supported
	* for this type.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code SEARCHABLE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo}.
	*/
	int typePredNone = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the data type
	* can be only be used in {@code WHERE} search clauses
	* that use {@code LIKE} predicates.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code SEARCHABLE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo}.
	*/
	int typePredChar = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the data type can be only be used in {@code WHERE}
	* search clauses
	* that do not use {@code LIKE} predicates.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code SEARCHABLE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo}.
	*/
	int typePredBasic = 2;

	/**
	* Indicates that all {@code WHERE} search clauses can be
	* based on this type.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code SEARCHABLE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getTypeInfo}.
	*/
	int typeSearchable = 3;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the given table's indices and statistics. They are
	* ordered by NON_UNIQUE, TYPE, INDEX_NAME, and ORDINAL_POSITION.
	*
	* <P>Each index column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} table name
	* <LI><B>NON_UNIQUE</B> boolean {@code =>} Can index values be non-unique.
	* false when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
	* <LI><B>INDEX_QUALIFIER</B> String {@code =>} index catalog (may be {@code null});
	* {@code null} when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
	* <LI><B>INDEX_NAME</B> String {@code =>} index name; {@code null} when TYPE is
	* tableIndexStatistic
	* <LI><B>TYPE</B> short {@code =>} index type:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> tableIndexStatistic - this identifies table statistics that are
	* returned in conjunction with a table's index descriptions
	* <LI> tableIndexClustered - this is a clustered index
	* <LI> tableIndexHashed - this is a hashed index
	* <LI> tableIndexOther - this is some other style of index
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>ORDINAL_POSITION</B> short {@code =>} column sequence number
	* within index; zero when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column name; {@code null} when TYPE is
	* tableIndexStatistic
	* <LI><B>ASC_OR_DESC</B> String {@code =>} column sort sequence, "A" {@code =>} ascending,
	* "D" {@code =>} descending, may be {@code null} if sort sequence is not supported;
	* {@code null} when TYPE is tableIndexStatistic
	* <LI><B>CARDINALITY</B> long {@code =>} When TYPE is tableIndexStatistic, then
	* this is the number of rows in the table; otherwise, it is the
	* number of unique values in the index.
	* <LI><B>PAGES</B> long {@code =>} When TYPE is tableIndexStatistic then
	* this is the number of pages used for the table, otherwise it
	* is the number of pages used for the current index.
	* <LI><B>FILTER_CONDITION</B> String {@code =>} Filter condition, if any.
	* (may be {@code null})
	* </OL>
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in this database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schema a schema name; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in this database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param table a table name; must match the table name as it is stored
	* in this database
	* @param unique when true, return only indices for unique values;
	* when false, return indices regardless of whether unique or not
	* @param approximate when true, result is allowed to reflect approximate
	* or out of data values; when false, results are requested to be
	* accurate
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is an index column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*/
	ResultSet getIndexInfo(String catalog, String schema, String table,
	boolean unique, boolean approximate)
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that this column contains table statistics that
	* are returned in conjunction with a table's index descriptions.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getIndexInfo}.
	*/
	short tableIndexStatistic = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that this table index is a clustered index.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getIndexInfo}.
	*/
	short tableIndexClustered = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that this table index is a hashed index.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getIndexInfo}.
	*/
	short tableIndexHashed = 2;

	/**
	* Indicates that this table index is not a clustered
	* index, a hashed index, or table statistics;
	* it is something other than these.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getIndexInfo}.
	*/
	short tableIndexOther = 3;

	//--------------------------JDBC 2.0-----------------------------

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the given result set type.
	*
	* @param type defined in {@code java.sql.ResultSet}
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see Connection
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean supportsResultSetType(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the given concurrency type
	* in combination with the given result set type.
	*
	* @param type defined in {@code java.sql.ResultSet}
	* @param concurrency type defined in {@code java.sql.ResultSet}
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see Connection
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean supportsResultSetConcurrency(int type, int concurrency)
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	*
	* Retrieves whether for the given type of {@code ResultSet} object,
	* the result set's own updates are visible.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if updates are visible for the given result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean ownUpdatesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a result set's own deletes are visible.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if deletes are visible for the given result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean ownDeletesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a result set's own inserts are visible.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if inserts are visible for the given result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean ownInsertsAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether updates made by others are visible.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if updates made by others
	* are visible for the given result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean othersUpdatesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether deletes made by others are visible.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if deletes made by others
	* are visible for the given result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean othersDeletesAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether inserts made by others are visible.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if inserts made by others
	* are visible for the given result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean othersInsertsAreVisible(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether or not a visible row update can be detected by
	* calling the method {@code ResultSet.rowUpdated}.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if changes are detected by the result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean updatesAreDetected(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether or not a visible row delete can be detected by
	* calling the method {@code ResultSet.rowDeleted}. If the method
	* {@code deletesAreDetected} returns {@code false}, it means that
	* deleted rows are removed from the result set.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if deletes are detected by the given result set type;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean deletesAreDetected(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether or not a visible row insert can be detected
	* by calling the method {@code ResultSet.rowInserted}.
	*
	* @param type the {@code ResultSet} type; one of
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY},
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE}, or
	* {@code ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE}
	* @return {@code true} if changes are detected by the specified result
	* set type; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean insertsAreDetected(int type) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports batch updates.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if this database supports batch updates;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	boolean supportsBatchUpdates() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the user-defined types (UDTs) defined
	* in a particular schema. Schema-specific UDTs may have type
	* {@code JAVA_OBJECT}, {@code STRUCT},
	* or {@code DISTINCT}.
	*
	* <P>Only types matching the catalog, schema, type name and type
	* criteria are returned. They are ordered by {@code DATA_TYPE},
	* {@code TYPE_CAT}, {@code TYPE_SCHEM} and
	* {@code TYPE_NAME}. The type name parameter may be a fully-qualified
	* name. In this case, the catalog and schemaPattern parameters are
	* ignored.
	*
	* <P>Each type description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TYPE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} the type's catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} type's schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} type name
	* <LI><B>CLASS_NAME</B> String {@code =>} Java class name
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} type value defined in java.sql.Types.
	* One of JAVA_OBJECT, STRUCT, or DISTINCT
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the type
	* <LI><B>BASE_TYPE</B> short {@code =>} type code of the source type of a
	* DISTINCT type or the type that implements the user-generated
	* reference type of the SELF_REFERENCING_COLUMN of a structured
	* type as defined in java.sql.Types ({@code null} if DATA_TYPE is not
	* DISTINCT or not STRUCT with REFERENCE_GENERATION = USER_DEFINED)
	* </OL>
	*
	* <P><B>Note:</B> If the driver does not support UDTs, an empty
	* result set is returned.
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema pattern name; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param typeNamePattern a type name pattern; must match the type name
	* as it is stored in the database; may be a fully qualified name
	* @param types a list of user-defined types (JAVA_OBJECT,
	* STRUCT, or DISTINCT) to include; {@code null} returns all types
	* @return {@code ResultSet} object in which each row describes a UDT
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	ResultSet getUDTs(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String typeNamePattern, int[] types)
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the connection that produced this metadata object.
	*
	* @return the connection that produced this metadata object
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.2
	*/
	Connection getConnection() throws SQLException;

	// ------------------- JDBC 3.0 -------------------------

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports savepoints.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if savepoints are supported;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	boolean supportsSavepoints() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports named parameters to callable
	* statements.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if named parameters are supported;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	boolean supportsNamedParameters() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether it is possible to have multiple {@code ResultSet} objects
	* returned from a {@code CallableStatement} object
	* simultaneously.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if a {@code CallableStatement} object
	* can return multiple {@code ResultSet} objects
	* simultaneously; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	boolean supportsMultipleOpenResults() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether auto-generated keys can be retrieved after
	* a statement has been executed
	*
	* @return {@code true} if auto-generated keys can be retrieved
	* after a statement has executed; {@code false} otherwise
	* <p>If {@code true} is returned, the JDBC driver must support the
	* returning of auto-generated keys for at least SQL INSERT statements
	*
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	boolean supportsGetGeneratedKeys() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the user-defined type (UDT) hierarchies defined in a
	* particular schema in this database. Only the immediate super type/
	* sub type relationship is modeled.
	* <P>
	* Only supertype information for UDTs matching the catalog,
	* schema, and type name is returned. The type name parameter
	* may be a fully-qualified name. When the UDT name supplied is a
	* fully-qualified name, the catalog and schemaPattern parameters are
	* ignored.
	* <P>
	* If a UDT does not have a direct super type, it is not listed here.
	* A row of the {@code ResultSet} object returned by this method
	* describes the designated UDT and a direct supertype. A row has the following
	* columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TYPE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} the UDT's catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} UDT's schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} type name of the UDT
	* <LI><B>SUPERTYPE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} the direct super type's catalog
	* (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>SUPERTYPE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} the direct super type's schema
	* (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>SUPERTYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} the direct super type's name
	* </OL>
	*
	* <P><B>Note:</B> If the driver does not support type hierarchies, an
	* empty result set is returned.
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; "" retrieves those
	* without a schema
	* @param typeNamePattern a UDT name pattern; may be a fully-qualified
	* name
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which a row gives information
	* about the designated UDT
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	ResultSet getSuperTypes(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String typeNamePattern) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the table hierarchies defined in a particular
	* schema in this database.
	*
	* <P>Only supertable information for tables matching the catalog, schema
	* and table name are returned. The table name parameter may be a fully-
	* qualified name, in which case, the catalog and schemaPattern parameters
	* are ignored. If a table does not have a super table, it is not listed here.
	* Supertables have to be defined in the same catalog and schema as the
	* sub tables. Therefore, the type description does not need to include
	* this information for the supertable.
	*
	* <P>Each type description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} the type's catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} type's schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} type name
	* <LI><B>SUPERTABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} the direct super type's name
	* </OL>
	*
	* <P><B>Note:</B> If the driver does not support type hierarchies, an
	* empty result set is returned.
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means drop catalog name from the selection criteria
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; "" retrieves those
	* without a schema
	* @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; may be a fully-qualified
	* name
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row is a type description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	ResultSet getSuperTables(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String tableNamePattern) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates that {@code NULL} values might not be allowed.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE} in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getAttributes}.
	*/
	short attributeNoNulls = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that {@code NULL} values are definitely allowed.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getAttributes}.
	*/
	short attributeNullable = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that whether {@code NULL} values are allowed is not
	* known.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getAttributes}.
	*/
	short attributeNullableUnknown = 2;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the given attribute of the given type
	* for a user-defined type (UDT) that is available in the given schema
	* and catalog.
	* <P>
	* Descriptions are returned only for attributes of UDTs matching the
	* catalog, schema, type, and attribute name criteria. They are ordered by
	* {@code TYPE_CAT}, {@code TYPE_SCHEM},
	* {@code TYPE_NAME} and {@code ORDINAL_POSITION}. This description
	* does not contain inherited attributes.
	* <P>
	* The {@code ResultSet} object that is returned has the following
	* columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TYPE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} type catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} type schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} type name
	* <LI><B>ATTR_NAME</B> String {@code =>} attribute name
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} attribute type SQL type from java.sql.Types
	* <LI><B>ATTR_TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} Data source dependent type name.
	* For a UDT, the type name is fully qualified. For a REF, the type name is
	* fully qualified and represents the target type of the reference type.
	* <LI><B>ATTR_SIZE</B> int {@code =>} column size. For char or date
	* types this is the maximum number of characters; for numeric or
	* decimal types this is precision.
	* <LI><B>DECIMAL_DIGITS</B> int {@code =>} the number of fractional digits. Null is returned for data types where
	* DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
	* <LI><B>NUM_PREC_RADIX</B> int {@code =>} Radix (typically either 10 or 2)
	* <LI><B>NULLABLE</B> int {@code =>} whether NULL is allowed
	* <UL>
	* <LI> attributeNoNulls - might not allow NULL values
	* <LI> attributeNullable - definitely allows NULL values
	* <LI> attributeNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} comment describing column (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>ATTR_DEF</B> String {@code =>} default value (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} unused
	* <LI><B>SQL_DATETIME_SUB</B> int {@code =>} unused
	* <LI><B>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} for char types the
	* maximum number of bytes in the column
	* <LI><B>ORDINAL_POSITION</B> int {@code =>} index of the attribute in the UDT
	* (starting at 1)
	* <LI><B>IS_NULLABLE</B> String {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine
	* the nullability for a attribute.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> YES --- if the attribute can include NULLs
	* <LI> NO --- if the attribute cannot include NULLs
	* <LI> empty string --- if the nullability for the
	* attribute is unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>SCOPE_CATALOG</B> String {@code =>} catalog of table that is the
	* scope of a reference attribute ({@code null} if DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
	* <LI><B>SCOPE_SCHEMA</B> String {@code =>} schema of table that is the
	* scope of a reference attribute ({@code null} if DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
	* <LI><B>SCOPE_TABLE</B> String {@code =>} table name that is the scope of a
	* reference attribute ({@code null} if the DATA_TYPE isn't REF)
	* <LI><B>SOURCE_DATA_TYPE</B> short {@code =>} source type of a distinct type or user-generated
	* Ref type,SQL type from java.sql.Types ({@code null} if DATA_TYPE
	* isn't DISTINCT or user-generated REF)
	* </OL>
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param typeNamePattern a type name pattern; must match the
	* type name as it is stored in the database
	* @param attributeNamePattern an attribute name pattern; must match the attribute
	* name as it is declared in the database
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row is an
	* attribute description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	ResultSet getAttributes(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String typeNamePattern, String attributeNamePattern)
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports the given result set holdability.
	*
	* @param holdability one of the following constants:
	* {@code ResultSet.HOLD_CURSORS_OVER_COMMIT} or
	* {@code ResultSet.CLOSE_CURSORS_AT_COMMIT}
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see Connection
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	boolean supportsResultSetHoldability(int holdability) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves this database's default holdability for {@code ResultSet}
	* objects.
	*
	* @return the default holdability; either
	* {@code ResultSet.HOLD_CURSORS_OVER_COMMIT} or
	* {@code ResultSet.CLOSE_CURSORS_AT_COMMIT}
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int getResultSetHoldability() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the major version number of the underlying database.
	*
	* @return the underlying database's major version
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int getDatabaseMajorVersion() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the minor version number of the underlying database.
	*
	* @return underlying database's minor version
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int getDatabaseMinorVersion() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the major JDBC version number for this
	* driver.
	*
	* @return JDBC version major number
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int getJDBCMajorVersion() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the minor JDBC version number for this
	* driver.
	*
	* @return JDBC version minor number
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int getJDBCMinorVersion() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* A possible return value for the method
	* {@code DatabaseMetaData.getSQLStateType} which is used to indicate
	* whether the value returned by the method
	* {@code SQLException.getSQLState} is an
	* X/Open (now know as Open Group) SQL CLI SQLSTATE value.
	*
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int sqlStateXOpen = 1;

	/**
	* A possible return value for the method
	* {@code DatabaseMetaData.getSQLStateType} which is used to indicate
	* whether the value returned by the method
	* {@code SQLException.getSQLState} is an SQLSTATE value.
	*
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int sqlStateSQL = 2;

	/**
	* A possible return value for the method
	* {@code DatabaseMetaData.getSQLStateType} which is used to indicate
	* whether the value returned by the method
	* {@code SQLException.getSQLState} is an SQL99 SQLSTATE value.
	* <P>
	* <b>Note:</b>This constant remains only for compatibility reasons. Developers
	* should use the constant {@code sqlStateSQL} instead.
	*
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int sqlStateSQL99 = sqlStateSQL;

	/**
	* Indicates whether the SQLSTATE returned by {@code SQLException.getSQLState}
	* is X/Open (now known as Open Group) SQL CLI or SQL:2003.
	* @return the type of SQLSTATE; one of:
	* sqlStateXOpen or
	* sqlStateSQL
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	int getSQLStateType() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Indicates whether updates made to a LOB are made on a copy or directly
	* to the LOB.
	* @return {@code true} if updates are made to a copy of the LOB;
	* {@code false} if updates are made directly to the LOB
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	boolean locatorsUpdateCopy() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports statement pooling.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.4
	*/
	boolean supportsStatementPooling() throws SQLException;

	//------------------------- JDBC 4.0 -----------------------------------

	/**
	* Indicates whether this data source supports the SQL {@code ROWID} type,
	* and the lifetime for which a {@link RowId} object remains valid.
	*
	* @return the status indicating the lifetime of a {@code RowId}
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	RowIdLifetime getRowIdLifetime() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves the schema names available in this database. The results
	* are ordered by {@code TABLE_CATALOG} and
	* {@code TABLE_SCHEM}.
	*
	* <P>The schema columns are:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} schema name
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CATALOG</B> String {@code =>} catalog name (may be {@code null})
	* </OL>
	*
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it is stored
	* in the database;"" retrieves those without a catalog; null means catalog
	* name should not be used to narrow down the search.
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name; must match the schema name as it is
	* stored in the database; null means
	* schema name should not be used to narrow down the search.
	* @return a {@code ResultSet} object in which each row is a
	* schema description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	ResultSet getSchemas(String catalog, String schemaPattern) throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports invoking user-defined or vendor functions
	* using the stored procedure escape syntax.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	boolean supportsStoredFunctionsUsingCallSyntax() throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a {@code SQLException} while autoCommit is {@code true} indicates
	* that all open ResultSets are closed, even ones that are holdable. When a {@code SQLException} occurs while
	* autocommit is {@code true}, it is vendor specific whether the JDBC driver responds with a commit operation, a
	* rollback operation, or by doing neither a commit nor a rollback. A potential result of this difference
	* is in whether or not holdable ResultSets are closed.
	*
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	boolean autoCommitFailureClosesAllResultSets() throws SQLException;
	/**
	* Retrieves a list of the client info properties
	* that the driver supports. The result set contains the following columns
	*
	* <ol>
	* <li><b>NAME</b> String{@code =>} The name of the client info property<br>
	* <li><b>MAX_LEN</b> int{@code =>} The maximum length of the value for the property<br>
	* <li><b>DEFAULT_VALUE</b> String{@code =>} The default value of the property<br>
	* <li><b>DESCRIPTION</b> String{@code =>} A description of the property. This will typically
	* contain information as to where this property is
	* stored in the database.
	* </ol>
	* <p>
	* The {@code ResultSet} is sorted by the NAME column
	*
	* @return A {@code ResultSet} object; each row is a supported client info
	* property
	*
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	*
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	ResultSet getClientInfoProperties()
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the system and user functions available
	* in the given catalog.
	* <P>
	* Only system and user function descriptions matching the schema and
	* function name criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* {@code FUNCTION_CAT}, {@code FUNCTION_SCHEM},
	* {@code FUNCTION_NAME} and
	* {@code SPECIFIC_ NAME}.
	*
	* <P>Each function description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>FUNCTION_CAT</B> String {@code =>} function catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FUNCTION_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} function schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FUNCTION_NAME</B> String {@code =>} function name. This is the name
	* used to invoke the function
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} explanatory comment on the function
	* <LI><B>FUNCTION_TYPE</B> short {@code =>} kind of function:
	* <UL>
	* <LI>functionResultUnknown - Cannot determine if a return value
	* or table will be returned
	* <LI> functionNoTable- Does not return a table
	* <LI> functionReturnsTable - Returns a table
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>SPECIFIC_NAME</B> String {@code =>} the name which uniquely identifies
	* this function within its schema. This is a user specified, or DBMS
	* generated, name that may be different then the {@code FUNCTION_NAME}
	* for example with overload functions
	* </OL>
	* <p>
	* A user may not have permission to execute any of the functions that are
	* returned by {@code getFunctions}
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param functionNamePattern a function name pattern; must match the
	* function name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a function description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	ResultSet getFunctions(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String functionNamePattern) throws SQLException;
	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the given catalog's system or user
	* function parameters and return type.
	*
	* <P>Only descriptions matching the schema, function and
	* parameter name criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* {@code FUNCTION_CAT}, {@code FUNCTION_SCHEM},
	* {@code FUNCTION_NAME} and
	* {@code SPECIFIC_ NAME}. Within this, the return value,
	* if any, is first. Next are the parameter descriptions in call
	* order. The column descriptions follow in column number order.
	*
	* <P>Each row in the {@code ResultSet}
	* is a parameter description, column description or
	* return type description with the following fields:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>FUNCTION_CAT</B> String {@code =>} function catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FUNCTION_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} function schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>FUNCTION_NAME</B> String {@code =>} function name. This is the name
	* used to invoke the function
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column/parameter name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_TYPE</B> Short {@code =>} kind of column/parameter:
	* <UL>
	* <LI> functionColumnUnknown - nobody knows
	* <LI> functionColumnIn - IN parameter
	* <LI> functionColumnInOut - INOUT parameter
	* <LI> functionColumnOut - OUT parameter
	* <LI> functionColumnReturn - function return value
	* <LI> functionColumnResult - Indicates that the parameter or column
	* is a column in the {@code ResultSet}
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types
	* <LI><B>TYPE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} SQL type name, for a UDT type the
	* type name is fully qualified
	* <LI><B>PRECISION</B> int {@code =>} precision
	* <LI><B>LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} length in bytes of data
	* <LI><B>SCALE</B> short {@code =>} scale - null is returned for data types where
	* SCALE is not applicable.
	* <LI><B>RADIX</B> short {@code =>} radix
	* <LI><B>NULLABLE</B> short {@code =>} can it contain NULL.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> functionNoNulls - does not allow NULL values
	* <LI> functionNullable - allows NULL values
	* <LI> functionNullableUnknown - nullability unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} comment describing column/parameter
	* <LI><B>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} the maximum length of binary
	* and character based parameters or columns. For any other datatype the returned value
	* is a NULL
	* <LI><B>ORDINAL_POSITION</B> int {@code =>} the ordinal position, starting
	* from 1, for the input and output parameters. A value of 0
	* is returned if this row describes the function's return value.
	* For result set columns, it is the
	* ordinal position of the column in the result set starting from 1.
	* <LI><B>IS_NULLABLE</B> String {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine
	* the nullability for a parameter or column.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> YES --- if the parameter or column can include NULLs
	* <LI> NO --- if the parameter or column cannot include NULLs
	* <LI> empty string --- if the nullability for the
	* parameter or column is unknown
	* </UL>
	* <LI><B>SPECIFIC_NAME</B> String {@code =>} the name which uniquely identifies
	* this function within its schema. This is a user specified, or DBMS
	* generated, name that may be different then the {@code FUNCTION_NAME}
	* for example with overload functions
	* </OL>
	*
	* <p>The PRECISION column represents the specified column size for the given
	* parameter or column.
	* For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters.
	* For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
	* maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype,
	* this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
	* column size is not applicable.
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param functionNamePattern a procedure name pattern; must match the
	* function name as it is stored in the database
	* @param columnNamePattern a parameter name pattern; must match the
	* parameter or column name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row describes a
	* user function parameter, column or return type
	*
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see #getSearchStringEscape
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	ResultSet getFunctionColumns(String catalog,
	String schemaPattern,
	String functionNamePattern,
	String columnNamePattern) throws SQLException;


	/**
	* Indicates that type of the parameter or column is unknown.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	*/
	int functionColumnUnknown = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the parameter or column is an IN parameter.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionColumnIn = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the parameter or column is an INOUT parameter.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionColumnInOut = 2;

	/**
	* Indicates that the parameter or column is an OUT parameter.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionColumnOut = 3;
	/**
	* Indicates that the parameter or column is a return value.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionReturn = 4;

	/**
	* Indicates that the parameter or column is a column in a result set.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code COLUMN_TYPE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet}
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionColumnResult = 5;


	/**
	* Indicates that {@code NULL} values are not allowed.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionNoNulls = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that {@code NULL} values are allowed.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionNullable = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that whether {@code NULL} values are allowed
	* is unknown.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for the column
	* {@code NULLABLE}
	* in the {@code ResultSet} object
	* returned by the method {@code getFunctionColumns}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionNullableUnknown = 2;

	/**
	* Indicates that it is not known whether the function returns
	* a result or a table.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code FUNCTION_TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getFunctions}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionResultUnknown = 0;

	/**
	* Indicates that the function does not return a table.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code FUNCTION_TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getFunctions}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionNoTable = 1;

	/**
	* Indicates that the function returns a table.
	* <P>
	* A possible value for column {@code FUNCTION_TYPE} in the
	* {@code ResultSet} object returned by the method
	* {@code getFunctions}.
	* @since 1.6
	*/
	int functionReturnsTable = 2;

	//--------------------------JDBC 4.1 -----------------------------

	/**
	* Retrieves a description of the pseudo or hidden columns available
	* in a given table within the specified catalog and schema.
	* Pseudo or hidden columns may not always be stored within
	* a table and are not visible in a ResultSet unless they are
	* specified in the query's outermost SELECT list. Pseudo or hidden
	* columns may not necessarily be able to be modified. If there are
	* no pseudo or hidden columns, an empty ResultSet is returned.
	*
	* <P>Only column descriptions matching the catalog, schema, table
	* and column name criteria are returned. They are ordered by
	* {@code TABLE_CAT},{@code TABLE_SCHEM}, {@code TABLE_NAME}
	* and {@code COLUMN_NAME}.
	*
	* <P>Each column description has the following columns:
	* <OL>
	* <LI><B>TABLE_CAT</B> String {@code =>} table catalog (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_SCHEM</B> String {@code =>} table schema (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>TABLE_NAME</B> String {@code =>} table name
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_NAME</B> String {@code =>} column name
	* <LI><B>DATA_TYPE</B> int {@code =>} SQL type from java.sql.Types
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_SIZE</B> int {@code =>} column size.
	* <LI><B>DECIMAL_DIGITS</B> int {@code =>} the number of fractional digits. Null is returned for data types where
	* DECIMAL_DIGITS is not applicable.
	* <LI><B>NUM_PREC_RADIX</B> int {@code =>} Radix (typically either 10 or 2)
	* <LI><B>COLUMN_USAGE</B> String {@code =>} The allowed usage for the column. The
	* value returned will correspond to the enum name returned by {@link PseudoColumnUsage#name PseudoColumnUsage.name()}
	* <LI><B>REMARKS</B> String {@code =>} comment describing column (may be {@code null})
	* <LI><B>CHAR_OCTET_LENGTH</B> int {@code =>} for char types the
	* maximum number of bytes in the column
	* <LI><B>IS_NULLABLE</B> String {@code =>} ISO rules are used to determine the nullability for a column.
	* <UL>
	* <LI> YES --- if the column can include NULLs
	* <LI> NO --- if the column cannot include NULLs
	* <LI> empty string --- if the nullability for the column is unknown
	* </UL>
	* </OL>
	*
	* <p>The COLUMN_SIZE column specifies the column size for the given column.
	* For numeric data, this is the maximum precision. For character data, this is the length in characters.
	* For datetime datatypes, this is the length in characters of the String representation (assuming the
	* maximum allowed precision of the fractional seconds component). For binary data, this is the length in bytes. For the ROWID datatype,
	* this is the length in bytes. Null is returned for data types where the
	* column size is not applicable.
	*
	* @param catalog a catalog name; must match the catalog name as it
	* is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a catalog;
	* {@code null} means that the catalog name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param schemaPattern a schema name pattern; must match the schema name
	* as it is stored in the database; "" retrieves those without a schema;
	* {@code null} means that the schema name should not be used to narrow
	* the search
	* @param tableNamePattern a table name pattern; must match the
	* table name as it is stored in the database
	* @param columnNamePattern a column name pattern; must match the column
	* name as it is stored in the database
	* @return {@code ResultSet} - each row is a column description
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @see PseudoColumnUsage
	* @since 1.7
	*/
	ResultSet getPseudoColumns(String catalog, String schemaPattern,
	String tableNamePattern, String columnNamePattern)
	throws SQLException;

	/**
	* Retrieves whether a generated key will always be returned if the column
	* name(s) or index(es) specified for the auto generated key column(s)
	* are valid and the statement succeeds. The key that is returned may or
	* may not be based on the column(s) for the auto generated key.
	* Consult your JDBC driver documentation for additional details.
	* @return {@code true} if so; {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.7
	*/
	boolean generatedKeyAlwaysReturned() throws SQLException;

	//--------------------------JDBC 4.2 -----------------------------

	/**
	*
	* Retrieves the maximum number of bytes this database allows for
	* the logical size for a {@code LOB}.
	*<p>
	* The default implementation will return {@code 0}
	*
	* @return the maximum number of bytes allowed; a result of zero
	* means that there is no limit or the limit is not known
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.8
	*/
	default long getMaxLogicalLobSize() throws SQLException {
	return 0;
	}

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports REF CURSOR.
	*<p>
	* The default implementation will return {@code false}
	*
	* @return {@code true} if this database supports REF CURSOR;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 1.8
	*/
	default boolean supportsRefCursors() throws SQLException{
	return false;
	}

	// JDBC 4.3

	/**
	* Retrieves whether this database supports sharding.
	* @implSpec
	* The default implementation will return {@code false}
	*
	* @return {@code true} if this database supports sharding;
	* {@code false} otherwise
	* @throws SQLException if a database access error occurs
	* @since 9
	*/
	default boolean supportsSharding() throws SQLException {
	return false;
	}
	}

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