Change the memory duration

The PER_ROUTINE memory duration is the default protection on a region of user memory. You can change the memory duration of user memory to another duration in either of the following ways:
  • Use mi_dalloc() instead of mi_alloc() to allocate memory.

    The mi_dalloc() function works in the same way as mi_alloc() but provides the option of specifying the memory duration of the memory to allocate. This function does not switch the current memory duration.

  • Call mi_switch_mem_duration() before you call mi_alloc().

    The mi_switch_mem_duration() function switches the current memory duration. All user-memory allocations by subsequent calls to mi_alloc() or mi_zalloc() have the new current memory duration.

You can use regular or advanced memory durations for user memory. For most memory allocations in a C UDR, use one of the regular memory-duration constants (PER_ROUTINE, PER_COMMAND, PER_STMT_EXEC, or PER_STMT_PREP).
Important: Use an advanced memory duration for user memory only if a regular memory duration cannot safely perform the task you need done. These advanced memory durations have long duration times and can increase the possibility of memory leakage.

Changing the current memory duration with mi_switch_mem_duration() has an effect on the memory durations of all DataBlade® API data type structures that DataBlade API data type structures with the current memory duration lists. It does not have an effect on the memory duration of DataBlade API data type structures allocated at the PER_COMMAND (DataBlade API data type structures with a PER_COMMAND memory duration) and PER_STMT_EXEC (DataBlade API data type structures with a PER_STMT_EXEC memory duration) durations or at the advanced memory durations (DataBlade API data type structures with a PER_SESSION memory duration).

The mi_switch_mem_duration() function returns the previous memory duration. You can use this return value to restore memory duration after performing some allocations at a different duration. The following code fragment temporarily changes the current memory duration from PER_ROUTINE (the default) to PER_COMMAND: 
/* Switch current memory duration to PER_COMMAND and save
 * old current memory duration in 'old_mem_dur'
 */
old_mem_dur = mi_switch_mem_duration(PER_COMMAND);

/* Perform allocations for a new current memory duration */
buffer = (char *)mi_alloc(BUFF_SIZE);
new_lvarch = mi_new_var(BUFF_SIZE-1);
save_set = mi_save_set_create(conn);

/* Restore old current memory duration */
(void)mi_switch_mem_duration(old_mem_dur);

In the preceding code fragment, the PER_COMMAND memory duration is in effect for the allocation of user memory that the call to mi_alloc() makes. Because the mi_new_var() function allocates a new varying-length structure in the current memory duration, this call to mi_new_var() allocates the varying-length structure with a PER_COMMAND duration. However, the mi_save_set_create() function does not allocate its save-set structure at the current memory duration. Therefore, the call to mi_save_set_create() still allocates its save-set structure with the PER_STMT_EXEC duration. The second call to mi_switch_mem_duration() restores the current memory duration to PER_ROUTINE.