Stored Procedure

netFORUM contains many database stored procedures (SPs). These procedures are used for many purposes, including:

  • Reports - any SPs that start with rpt_ are used by reports.
  • Toolkit and Admin work done from within the netFORUM application or directly in SQL. See Table (add) for several examples.
  • SPs that gather user data used in the application. This is often done for speed and organization purposes when trying to query complicated data sets. Product searches, for example, are done through SPs.
  • SPs that manipulate user data in the application. These are less common.

SP Naming Convention

Generally, much like the way netFORUM Tables are named, SP names are prefaced with the two-character module prefix (for example, ac for accounting or ev for events).

SP Documentation and Use

Important! Please read carefully. netFORUM stored procedures should not be executed unless you understand what you are doing and you understand the purpose and usage of the SP.

Aside from a handful of SPs that are used and documented for Toolkit work, documentation of these SPs is done to provide background but not to aid or encourage anyone in using these SPs.

The vast majority of netFORUM database SPs are not documented as they were not designed to be used directly by netFORUM users or client staff. The SPs are either called from within the application, or they are used by trained staff in development or implementation.

That being said, any SPs will be documented in this site where possible to provide further background.

Not counting the handful of Toolkit-oriented SPs, no netFORUM SPs were designed to be run independently in SQL and Avectra does not advise doing this unless you understand what you are doing.

Modifying SPs

Baseline SPs should not be modified because:

  1. Unpredictable and possibly harmful results could occur.
  2. The upgrade tool will overwrite the SP alterations.

Unlike AvectraFORUM, the predecessor software of netFORUM, the netFORUM SPs are not designed to be customized. This is largely because SPs play a much smaller overall role in the architecture of netFORUM.