Introduction (Database Toolbox User's Guide)

Database Toolbox User's Guide

What Is the Database Toolbox?

The Database Toolbox is one of an extensive collection of toolboxes for use with MATLAB^®. The Database Toolbox enables you to move data (both importing and exporting) between MATLAB and popular relational databases.

With the Database Toolbox, you can bring data from an existing database into MATLAB, use any of MATLAB's computational and analytic tools, and store the results back in the database or in another database. You import the data into MATLAB by reading data files and then save the MATLAB data in files.

For example, a financial analyst working on a mutual fund could import a company's financial data into MATLAB, run selected analyses, and store the results for future tracking. The analyst could then export the saved results to a database.

The Database Toolbox connects MATLAB to a database using MATLAB commands. Data is retrieved from the database as a string, parsed into the correct data types, and stored in a MATLAB cell array. At that point, you use MATLAB's extensive set of tools to work with the data. You can include Database Toolbox commands in MATLAB M-files. To export the data from MATLAB to a database you use MATLAB commands.

Features of the Database Toolbox

The Database Toolbox has the following features:

Data types are automatically preserved in MATLAB - No data massaging or manipulation is required. The data is stored in MATLAB cell arrays, which support mixed data types.
Different databases can be used in a single session - Import data from one database, perform calculations, and export the modified or unmodified data to another database. Multiple databases can be open during a session.
Dynamic importing of data from within MATLAB - Modify your SQL queries in MATLAB statements to retrieve the data you need.
Single environment for faster data analysis - Access both database data and MATLAB functions at the MATLAB command prompt.
Database connections remain open until explicitly closed - Once the connection to a database has been established, it remains open during the entire MATLAB session until you explicitly close it. This improves database access and reduces the number of commands necessary to import/export data.
Multiple cursors supported for a single database connection - Once a connection has been established with a database, the connection can support the use of multiple cursors. You can execute several queries on the same connection.
Retrieval of large data sets or partial data sets - You can retrieve large data sets from a database in a single fetch or in discrete amounts using multiple fetches.

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