DBD::ODBC 1.30_4 development release

Another dev release of DBD::ODBC is winging its way to CPAN now. Remember, if you use DBD::ODBC on Windows or on UNIX in Unicode mode you should test this release carefully as it contains changes in behaviour. The complete change log is below but the highlights are:

* added support for StrictlyTyped and DiscardString on bind_col method
* added odbc_describe_parameters attribute to disable calling SQLDescribeParam
* CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR for char bound columns in Unicode-mode
* CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR no longer quietly rolling back transactions on disconnect
* a lot more - read on:

Please report any issues you find to me as I moving towards a full release and don't want the usual rush of problems just after the full release.
  
=head2 Changes in DBD::ODBC 1.30_4 May 18, 2011

   [BUG FIXES]

   * Fix issue described in
     http://www.nntp.perl.org/group/perl.dbi.dev/2011/05/msg6567.html.
     If you prepare a statement, disconnect and then try and execute the
     statement you get an error but it does not tell what is wrong.

   [ENHANCEMENTS]

   * Added support for StrictlyTyped and DiscardString to the bind_col
     method.

   [OTHER]

   * Minor changes to META.yml for mailing list, dynamic_config,
     homepage and keywords.

   * The pod was missing = before the heads on a couple of sections in
     "Private DBD::ODBC Functions"

   * TreatAsLob was incorrectly documented as BindAsLob.

=head2 Changes in DBD::ODBC 1.30_3 May 17, 2011

   [BUG FIXES]

   * Made the new odbc_describe_parameters work and added test case.

=head2 Changes in DBD::ODBC 1.30_2 May 16, 2011

   [ENHANCEMENTS]

   * Added the new odbc_describe_parameters attribute.

=head2 Changes in DBD::ODBC 1.30_1 May 12, 2011

   [BUG FIXES]

   * Fixed some compiler warnings shown with -Wall including some
     printf formats that had extra/missing arguments.

   * Fixed t/70execute_array.t which was missing an "order by" in the
     check_data sub which could cause failures for drivers not
     returning the rows in the order they were inserted.

   * Minor fix to Makefile.PL to avoid issuing variable used in void
     context.

   [CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR]

   * DBD::ODBC used to quietly rollback any transactions when
     disconnect was called and AutoCommit was off. This can mask a
     problem and leads to different behavior when disconnect is called
     vs not calling disconnect (where you get a warning). This release
     issues a warning if you call disconnect and a transaction is in
     progress then it is rolled back.

   * DBD::ODBC used to bind char/varchar/longvarchar columns as SQL_CHAR
     meaning that in the unicode build of DBD::ODBC the bound column
     data would be returned 8bit in whatever character-set (codepage) the
     data was in, in the database. This was inconvenient and arguably a
     mistake. Columns like nchar/nvarchar etc were bound as SQL_WCHAR and
     returned as Unicode. This release changes the behaviour in a unicode
     build of DBD::ODBC to bind all char columns as SQL_WCHAR. This may
     inconvenience a few people who expected 8bit chars back, knew the
     char set and decoded them (sorry). See odbc_old_unicode to return
     to old behaviour.

   [ENHANCEMENTS]

   * added -w option to Makefile.PL to add "-Wall" to CCFLAGS and
     -fno-strict-aliasing so I can find warnings.

   * Cope with broken ODBC drivers that describe a parameter as SQL
     type 0.

   [OTHER]

   * Add "disconnect and transactions" to pod describing what DBD::ODBC
     does if you call disconnect with an outstanding transaction.

   * Reorganised FAQ for bound parameter issues and added a lot on
     bound parameter problems.

   * Added new FAQ entry for Firebird

   * Removed some unused variables and added some missing function
     prototypes

Martin
-- 
Martin J. Evans
Easysoft Limited
http://www.easysoft.com