What are ODBC conformance levels?
PowerBuilder can access many data sources for which
ODBC-compliant drivers exist. However, ODBC drivers manufactured by
different vendors might vary widely in the functions they
provide.
To ensure a standard level of compliance with the ODBC
interface, and to provide a means by which application vendors can
determine whether a specific driver provides the functions they need,
ODBC defines conformance levels for drivers in two areas:
-
API
Deals with supported ODBC function calls
-
SQL grammar
Deals with supported SQL statements and SQL datatypes
API conformance levels
ODBC defines three API conformance levels, in order of
increasing functionality:
-
Core
A set of core API functions that corresponds to the
functions in the ISO Call Level Interface (CLI) and X/Open CLI
specification -
Level 1
Includes all Core API functions and several extended
functions usually available in an OLTP relational DBMS -
Level 2
Includes all Core and Level 1 API functions and additional
extended functions
To ensure the proper ODBC driver API conformance
level:
-
Appeon recommends that the ODBC drivers you use with
PowerBuilder meet Level 1 or higher API conformance requirements.
However, PowerBuilder might also work with drivers that meet Core
level API conformance requirements.
SQL conformance levels
ODBC defines three SQL grammar conformance levels, in order of
increasing functionality:
-
Minimum
A set of SQL statements and datatypes that meets a basic
level of ODBC conformance -
Core
Includes all Minimum SQL grammar and additional statements
and datatypes that roughly correspond to the X/Open and SAG CAE
specification (1992) -
Extended
Includes all Minimum and Core SQL grammar and an extended
set of statements and datatypes that support common DBMS
extensions to SQL
To ensure the proper ODBC driver SQL conformance
level:
-
Appeon recommends that the ODBC drivers you use with
PowerBuilder meet Core or higher SQL conformance requirements.
However, PowerBuilder might also work with drivers that meet
Minimum level SQL conformance requirements.