RDB$PARAMETER_MECHANISM usage

[Dimitry Sibiryakov]

Hello All,

the Language Reference describes
RDB$PROCEDURE_PARAMETES.RDB$PARAMETER_MECHANISM field as

> Flag: indicates how this parameter is passed:
>
> 0 - by value 1 - by reference 2 - by descriptor 3 - by BLOB descriptor

But in constants.h it is described as

> // procedure parameter mechanism
>
> enum prm_mech_t {
> prm_mech_normal = 0,
> prm_mech_type_of = 1
> };

Which description is true?


--
WBR, SD.

[Mark Rotteveel]

On 01/03/2026 17:02, 'Dimitry Sibiryakov' via firebird-devel wrote:
>   the Language Reference describes
> RDB$PROCEDURE_PARAMETES.RDB$PARAMETER_MECHANISM field as
>
>> Flag: indicates how this parameter is passed:
>>
>> 0 - by value 1 - by reference 2 - by descriptor 3 - by BLOB descriptor

I guess this was copied from RDB$FUNCTION_ARGUMENTS.RDB$MECHANISM when
the Russian Firebird 2.5 Language Reference was written, and then it
also ended up in the English version.

>   But in constants.h it is described as
>
>> // procedure parameter mechanism
>>
>> enum prm_mech_t {
>>     prm_mech_normal = 0,
>>     prm_mech_type_of = 1
>> };
>
>   Which description is true?

I guess the Language Reference is wrong here.

Mark
--
Mark Rotteveel

[Denis Simonov]

понедельник, 2 марта 2026 г. в 10:33:50 UTC+3, Mark Rotteveel:

On 01/03/2026 17:02, 'Dimitry Sibiryakov' via firebird-devel wrote:
>   the Language Reference describes
> RDB$PROCEDURE_PARAMETES.RDB$PARAMETER_MECHANISM field as
>
>> Flag: indicates how this parameter is passed:
>>
>> 0 - by value 1 - by reference 2 - by descriptor 3 - by BLOB descriptor


I guess this was copied from RDB$FUNCTION_ARGUMENTS.RDB$MECHANISM when
the Russian Firebird 2.5 Language Reference was written, and then it
also ended up in the English version.

I confirm.

 

>   But in constants.h it is described as
>
>> // procedure parameter mechanism
>>
>> enum prm_mech_t {
>>     prm_mech_normal = 0,
>>     prm_mech_type_of = 1
>> };
>
>   Which description is true?

I guess the Language Reference is wrong here.

There is an error in the Language Reference.

 

Mark
--
Mark Rotteveel

[Dimitry Sibiryakov]

Denis Simonov wrote 02.03.2026 9:55:
> There is an error in the Language Reference.

In this case this error is in RDB$FUNCTION_ARGUMENTS.RDB$ARGUMENT_MECHANISM
as well.

--
WBR, SD.

[Mark Rotteveel]

Again, seems like that was also copied from
RDB$FUNCTION_ARGUMENTS.RDB$MECHANISM.

I've created
https://github.com/FirebirdSQL/firebird-documentation/issues/236 to
address this.

Mark
--
Mark Rotteveel

[Dimitry Sibiryakov]

'Mark Rotteveel' via firebird-devel wrote 02.03.2026 10:09:
> I've created https://github.com/FirebirdSQL/firebird-documentation/issues/236 to
> address this.

Thanks.

--
WBR, SD.