Approximate numeric data type clarification [CR 452284]

Replace the section “Approximate numeric data types” in Appendix A, “Compatibility with Other Databases” with the following section.

Adaptive Server Enterprise differs from Adaptive Server Anywhere and Sybase IQ in how the FLOAT(precision) data type is interpreted: that is, when to create a 4-byte data type and when to create an 8-byte data type. When a precision is not specified, the Adaptive Server Anywhere and Sybase IQ option FLOAT_AS_DOUBLE makes the FLOAT keyword behave like the Adaptive Server Enterprise FLOAT keyword.

For Adaptive Server Enterprise, the precision specified in FLOAT(precision) means decimal precision. For Adaptive Server Anywhere and Sybase IQ, precision is an integer expression that specifies the number of bits used in the mantissa of the floating point number.

For more information on the Sybase IQ FLOAT data type, see “Numeric data types” in Chapter 4, “SQL Data Types” of the Sybase IQ Reference Manual. For more information on the Sybase IQ FLOAT_AS_DOUBLE option, see “FLOAT_AS_DOUBLE option [TSQL]” in Chapter 2, “Database Options” of the Sybase IQ Reference Manual.