10 Informix 4GL Interview Questions and Answers – CLIMB

Informix 4GL is a fourth-generation programming language developed by Informix, designed to simplify the development of business applications. Known for its robust database management capabilities, Informix 4GL allows developers to create complex applications with less code compared to third-generation languages. Its integration with Informix databases makes it a powerful tool for handling large-scale data operations efficiently.

This article provides a curated selection of interview questions tailored to Informix 4GL. By reviewing these questions and their detailed answers, you will gain a deeper understanding of the language’s core concepts and practical applications, enhancing your readiness for technical interviews.

Informix 4GL Interview Questions and Answers

1. Write a loop that iterates from 1 to 10 and prints each number.

To write a loop in Informix 4GL that iterates from 1 to 10 and prints each number, use the FOR loop construct. Here is a simple example:

4gl
MAIN
DEFINE i INTEGER

4gl
DATABASE mydatabase

MAIN
DEFINE cust_id LIKE customer.customer_id
DEFINE cust_name LIKE customer.customer_name
DEFINE order_total DECIMAL(10,2)

DECLARE c1 CURSOR FOR
SELECT c.customer_id, c.customer_name, SUM(o.order_amount) as total
FROM customer c
JOIN orders o ON c.customer_id = o.customer_id
WHERE o.order_date > ‘2023-01-01’
GROUP BY c.customer_id, c.customer_name
HAVING SUM(o.order_amount) > 1000

OPEN c1

FOREACH c1 INTO cust_id, cust_name, order_total
DISPLAY cust_id, cust_name, order_total
END FOREACH

CLOSE c1
END MAIN

This program connects to a database and defines a cursor for a complex SQL query, joining tables and filtering results.

4. What are some best practices for optimizing the performance of an Informix 4GL application?

Optimizing the performance of an Informix 4GL application involves several best practices:


  
Database Optimization: Ensure your database is well-indexed and regularly update statistics for better query optimization.
  
Efficient Coding Practices: Write efficient SQL queries, avoid using SELECT *, and prefer joins over subqueries.
  
Transaction Management: Keep transactions short and use COMMIT and ROLLBACK appropriately.
  
Memory Management: Optimize memory usage by configuring buffer sizes and cache settings.
  
Load Balancing: Distribute the workload evenly across the system.
  
Monitoring and Profiling: Regularly monitor application performance using profiling tools.
  
Code Review and Refactoring: Periodically review and refactor your code to adhere to best practices.


5. Define a custom function that calculates the factorial of a number and demonstrate its usage.

In Informix 4GL, define a custom function to calculate the factorial of a number using a recursive approach. Below is an example:

4gl
FUNCTION factorial(n)
    DEFINE n INTEGER
    DEFINE result INTEGER

    IF n = 0 THEN
        RETURN 1
    ELSE
        LET result = n * factorial(n - 1)
        RETURN result
    END IF
END FUNCTION

MAIN
    DEFINE num INTEGER
    DEFINE fact INTEGER

    LET num = 5
    LET fact = factorial(num)
    DISPLAY "Factorial of ", num, " is ", fact
END MAIN
</pre>
<h4>6. Explain how to manage transactions in Informix 4GL and provide a code example.</h4>
<p>In Informix 4GL, transactions ensure data integrity and consistency. Manage transactions using BEGIN WORK, COMMIT WORK, and ROLLBACK WORK.</p>
<ul>
<li><b>BEGIN WORK:</b> Marks the beginning of a transaction.</li>
<li><b>COMMIT WORK:</b> Saves all changes made during the transaction.</li>
<li><b>ROLLBACK WORK:</b> Undoes all changes if an error occurs.</li>
</ul>
<p>Example:</p>
<p><code class="EnlighterJSRAW" data-enlighter-language="generic"></code><code class="EnlighterJSRAW" data-enlighter-language="generic">4gl
MAIN
    DEFINE cust_id INTEGER
    DEFINE cust_name CHAR(50)

    DATABASE mydatabase

    BEGIN WORK

    LET cust_id = 101
    LET cust_name = 'John Doe'

    INSERT INTO customers (customer_id, customer_name) VALUES (cust_id, cust_name)

    IF STATUS = 0 THEN
        COMMIT WORK
        DISPLAY "Transaction committed successfully."
    ELSE
        ROLLBACK WORK
        DISPLAY "Transaction rolled back due to an error."
    END IF

END MAIN
<pre>{{EJS16}}</pre>

This trigger updates the </code>last_modified<code class="EnlighterJSRAW" data-enlighter-language="function"> column with the current timestamp whenever an employee record is updated.

<h4>8. Discuss techniques for performance tuning SQL queries in Informix 4GL.</h4>

Performance tuning SQL queries in Informix 4GL involves several techniques:

<ul>
  <li><b>Indexing:</b> Ensure proper indexing on columns used in WHERE clauses, JOIN conditions, and ORDER BY clauses.</li>
  <li><b>Query Optimization:</b> Rewrite queries to minimize processed rows and use temporary tables for complex operations.</li>
  <li><b>Statistics Collection:</b> Regularly update table and index statistics for better query optimization.</li>
  <li><b>Efficient SQL Constructs:</b> Use EXISTS instead of IN for subqueries and specify only required columns.</li>
  <li><b>Transaction Management:</b> Keep transactions short and commit changes frequently.</li>
  <li><b>Monitoring and Profiling:</b> Use Informix tools to monitor query performance and identify bottlenecks.</li>
</ul>

<h4>9. How do you create and use user-defined functions in Informix 4GL?</h4>

User-defined functions in Informix 4GL encapsulate reusable code blocks, making programs more modular. Define functions using the </code><code class="EnlighterJSRAW" data-enlighter-language="generic"> keyword, followed by the function name, parameters, and body.

Example:

</code><code class="EnlighterJSRAW" data-enlighter-language="generic"></code>4gl<br>
FUNCTION add_numbers(a, b)<br>
    DEFINE a, b, result INTEGER<br>
    LET result = a + b<br>
    RETURN result<br>
END FUNCTION</p>
<p>MAIN<br>
    DEFINE sum INTEGER<br>
    LET sum = add_numbers(5, 10)<br>
    DISPLAY sum<br>
END MAIN</p>
<pre class="EnlighterJSRAW" data-enlighter-language="generic">

The add_numbers function takes two integers, adds them, and returns the result.

<h4>10. Describe your approach to implementing error logging in an Informix 4GL application.</h4>

Error logging in Informix 4GL involves capturing and recording errors during application execution. Use the  and  ERROR statements to handle errors.

Example:

4gl
MAIN
    DEFINE log_file FILE
    LET log_file = "error_log.txt"

    WHENEVER ERROR CONTINUE
    CALL log_error()

    DATABASE mydb
    SELECT * FROM non_existent_table
END MAIN

FUNCTION log_error()
    DEFINE err_msg CHAR(255)
    DEFINE err_num SMALLINT

    LET err_num = SQLCA.SQLCODE
    LET err_msg = SQLCA.SQLERRM

    OPEN log_file FOR APPEND
    PRINT log_file "Error Number: ", err_num, " Error Message: ", err_msg
    CLOSE log_file
END FUNCTION

The log_error function captures the error number and message, writing them to a log file.