Jim,

J> I think that the domain of the SQL language should be the database, no
J> more, no less. Things that aren't visible in the database shouldn't be
J> manipulated through SQL. You can declare UDFs and external files in
J> sort-of SQL, but you can't create either. This principle extends to
J> backup files. A backup file isn't visible to the database, it isn't
J> described in the metadata, so the language to create it should be part
J> of the database access language.

What about multi-database SQL queries? What about "create user" when
using the scheme based on a central user database (as opposed to
a user table embedded in the current database)? BTW, you *can* create
an external file through a create table statement.

Ciao
--
Nando Dessena
http://www.flamerobin.org