Data directory for InnoDB partitions

[Matt M]

Hi everybody,

I would like to confirm whether InnoDB engine allows specyfing partition PHYSICAL LOCATIONS when defining a partition schema, or not. Something like this:

CREATE TABLE 'table' ....

ENGINE = InnoDB
PARTITION BY RANGE ( something ) (
PARTITION p0 VALUES LESS THAN (100)
DATA DIRECTORY = '/home/data/P0'
PARTITION p1 VALUES LESS THAN (200)
DATA DIRECTORY = '/home/data/P1'
....
);

I've tried to execute this statement and it WORKS (no error raised and table is created), but there are no data in the specified locations (/home/data/P0,1). An statement like that works fine with MyISAM (data is placed in those locations).

Taking into account what I've read until now, it seems that InnoDB ignores DATA DIRECTORY/INDEX DIRECTORY clauses and _only_ creates a "logical" partition schema, but I want to be sure.

1) Am I correct?
2) If so, is there any way with InnoDB to split data into several physical files, organised by some column value? Or will InnoDB store all data in InnoDB files in any case?
3) Although InnoDB does not create separate files in the file system, will the MySQL server use partition pruning with this engine?

Thank you very much in advance,

Matt