def format_value( value, attribute )
case attribute.external_type
when 'char' then type = STRING_TYPE
when 'int' then type = NUMBER_TYPE
when 'float' then type = NUMBER_TYPE
when 'long' then type = NUMBER_TYPE
when 'money' then type = NUMBER_TYPE
when 'date' then type = DATE_TYPE
when 'time' then type = DATE_TYPE
when 'object' then type = DATA_TYPE
when 'datetime' then type = DATE_TYPE
when 'longlong' then type = NUMBER_TYPE
end
case type
when STRING_TYPE then sql_for_string value
when DATE_TYPE then sql_for_date value
when NUMBER_TYPE then sql_for_number value
when DATA_TYPE then sql_for_data value
else
raise "unsupported type: '#{attribute.external_type}'"
end
end