>>> I would like to use the data dictionary information in my database,
>>> particularly the Description information, for columns to be displayed to
>>> users when they ask for further help on determining the purpose of a
>>> particular field on a form.
>>>
>>> How can I get access to this information from my client application?
>> Check out the RDB$DESCRIPTION field in the RDB$RELATION_FIELDS system table.
>
> By the way, is there any syntax to fill the description field from within an
> alter table add <column>-like statement?
> Or any other "built-in" syntax to modify/read the various description fields?
> I haven't seen applications that use, for example,
> RDB$DATABASE.RDB$DESCRIPTION yet.
> It seems like those are "dead" or "legacy" fields.

Firebird 2.0 will have a COMMENT statement for setting the description.


--
Best Regards,
Thomas Steinmaurer
LogManager Series - Logging/Auditing Suites supporting
InterBase, Firebird, Advantage Database, MS SQL Server and
NexusDB V2
Upscene Productions
http://www.upscene.com