Jim,

> There would be, over time, three implementations of the interface.
> One, inside the engine, would be used in modules to replace the
> existing pre-processed modules (*met*, dfw, ini, etc). Once
> complete, the engine could be build without preprocessor.

Another hmmmm...: wouldn't this go circular?

A SQL request inside the metadata code would call the SQL compiler,
which would call the metadata code, which would.. etc.

This is currently solved in BLR by using field and relation id's,
which are part of the ODS for system data: no need to call the
metadata code when compiling such BLR. Standard DSQL does not support
use of id's.

How do you propose to solve this or am I totally missing the point?

Paul