About database connections
This section gives an overview of when database connections
occur in PowerBuilder. It also explains why you should use database
profiles to manage your database connections.
When database connections occur
Connections in PowerBuilder
PowerBuilder connects to your database when you:
- Open a painter that accesses the database
- Compile or save a PowerBuilder script containing embedded SQL statements (such as a CONNECT statement)
- Execute an application that accesses the database
- Invoke a DataWindow control function that accesses
the database while executing an application
How PowerBuilder determines which database to access
PowerBuilder connects to the database you used last when
you open a painter that accesses the database. PowerBuilder determines
which database you used last by reading a setting in the registry.
What’s in this book
This book describes how to connect to your database when you
are working in the PowerBuilder development environment.
For instructions on connecting to a database
in a PowerBuilder application, see Application Techniques
.
Using database profiles
What is a database profile?
A database profile is a named set of
parameters stored in the registry that defines a connection to a
particular database in the PowerBuilder development environment.
Why use database profiles?
Creating and using database profiles is the easiest way to
manage your database connections in PowerBuilder because you can:
- Select a database
profile to establish or change database connections. You can easily
connect to another database anytime during a PowerBuilder session.
This is particularly useful if you often switch between different database
connections. - Edit a database profile to modify or supply additional
connection parameters. - Delete a database profile if you no longer need
to access that data. - Import and export profiles.
Because database profiles are created when you define your
data and are stored in the registry, they have the following benefits:
- They are always available
to you. - Connection parameters supplied in a database profile
are saved until you edit or delete the database profile.