The Database Object allows you to connect to a database and retrieve data from it. This object is normally obtained by calling one of the methods defined for the environment variable:

• get_default_database(), which enables you to connect to the default database defined for a VMD file. If you use this function from within Iguana, the connection is inside a transaction envelope: any database actions performed by your Python scripts can be safely rolled back.
• get_database(), which enables you to connect to any database that is supported by Chameleon. Note that this connection is not inside a transaction envelope: actions performed by your Python scripts cannot be rolled back.

	Before you use the Database Object, you must enable database support for Python scripts. To do this, select Options from the Chameleon toolbar, click the DB tab, and complete the fields displayed. For more information on the DB tab, see the description of the DB tab.

The following sections describe:

• The methods defined for the Database Object and how to use them;
• How to call a stored procedure.