Added support for new vector storage format BINARY available in Oracle

Database 23.5.

Author: anthony-tuininga

doc/src/api_manual/fetch_info.rst

@@ -124,12 +124,18 @@ FetchInfo Attributes
 .. attribute:: FetchInfo.vector_format
 
     This read-only attribute returns the storage format used by VECTOR
-    columns. The value of this attribute can be
-    :data:`oracledb.VECTOR_FORMAT_INT8`,
-    :data:`oracledb.VECTOR_FORMAT_FLOAT32`, or
-    :data:`oracledb.VECTOR_FORMAT_FLOAT64` which represents 8-bit signed
-    integer, 32-bit floating-point number, and 64-bit floating point number
-    respectively. If the column is not a VECTOR column or allows for any type
-    of storage, the value returned is ``None``.
+    columns. The value of this attribute can be:
+
+    - :data:`oracledb.VECTOR_FORMAT_BINARY` which represents 8-bit unsigned
+      integers
+    - :data:`oracledb.VECTOR_FORMAT_INT8` which represents 8-bit signed
+      integers
+    - :data:`oracledb.VECTOR_FORMAT_FLOAT32` which represents 32-bit
+      floating-point numbers
+    - :data:`oracledb.VECTOR_FORMAT_FLOAT64` which represents 64-bit
+      floating-point numbers
+
+    If the column is not a VECTOR column or allows for any type of storage,
+    the value returned is ``None``.
 
     .. versionadded:: 2.2.0

doc/src/api_manual/module.rst

@@ -3546,6 +3546,16 @@ possible values for the :attr:`FetchInfo.vector_format` attribute.
     The integer constants for the vector format constants were replaced with
     the enumeration ``VectorFormat``.
 
+.. data:: VECTOR_FORMAT_BINARY
+
+    This constant is used to represent the storage format of VECTOR columns
+    using 8-bit unsigned integers.
+
+    This enumerated value can also be identified by
+    ``oracledb.VectorFormat.BINARY``.
+
+    .. versionadded:: 2.3.0
+
 .. data:: VECTOR_FORMAT_FLOAT32
 
     This constant is used to represent the storage format of VECTOR columns

doc/src/release_notes.rst

@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ Thick Mode Changes
 Common Changes
 ++++++++++++++
 
+#)  Added support for Oracle Database 23ai
+    :ref:`BINARY vector format <binaryformat>`.
 #)  Replaced integer constants for
     :ref:`connection authorization modes <connection-authorization-modes>`,
     :ref:`connection pool get modes <connpoolmodes>`,