About native database interfaces
The native database interfaces provide native connections
to many databases and DBMSs. This section describes how the native
database interfaces access these databases.
The native database interfaces are not provided with the Desktop
and Professional editions of PowerBuilder. You can upgrade to PowerBuilder Enterprise
to use the native database interfaces.
For a complete list of the supported native
database interfaces, see “Supported Database Interfaces” in
online Help.
What is a native database interface?
A native database interface is a direct connection to your
data in PowerBuilder.
Each native database interface uses its own interface DLL
to communicate with a specified database through a vendor-specific
database API. For example, the Adaptive Server interface uses a
DLL named PBSYC100.DLL to access the database,
whereas the Oracle 10g database interface accesses
the database through PBO10100.DLL.
In contrast, a standard database interface uses a standard
API to communicate with the database. For example, PowerBuilder can
use a single-interface DLL (PBODB100.DLL)
to communicate with the ODBC Driver Manager and corresponding driver
to access any ODBC data source.
Components of a database interface connection
When you use a native database interface to access a database,
your connection goes through several layers before reaching the
data. Each layer is a separate component of the connection and each
component might come from a different vendor.
For diagrams showing the specific components
of your connection, see “Basic software components” in
the section in this chapter for your native database interface.
Using a native database interface
You perform several basic steps to use a native database interface
to access a database.
About preparing to use the database
The
first step in connecting to a database through a native database
interface is to prepare to use the database. Preparing the database
ensures that you will be able to access and use your data in PowerBuilder.
You must prepare the database outside PowerBuilder before you
start the product, then define the database interface and connect
to it. The requirements differ for each database–but in
general, preparing a database involves four basic steps.
To prepare to use your database with PowerBuilder:
-
Make sure the required database server
software is properly installed and configured at your site. -
If network software is required, make sure it
is properly installed and configured at your site and on the client
computer so that you can connect to the database server. -
Make sure the required database client software
is properly installed and configured on the client computer. (Typically,
the client computer is the one running PowerBuilder.)You must obtain the client software from your database vendor
and make sure that the version you install supports all of
the following:- The operating
system running on the client computer - The version of the database that you want to access
- The version of PowerBuilder that you are running
- The operating
-
Verify that you can connect to the server and
database you want to access outside PowerBuilder.
For specific instructions to use with your
database, see “Preparing to use the database” in the section in
this chapter for your native database interface.
About installing native database interfaces
After you prepare to use the database, you must install the
native database interface that accesses the database. See the instructions
for each interface for more information.
About defining native database interfaces
Once you are ready to access the database, you start PowerBuilder and
define the database interface. To define a database interface, you
must create a database profile by completing the Database Profile
Setup dialog box for that interface.
For general instructions, see “About creating database
profiles”. For instructions
about defining database interface parameters unique to a particular database,
see “Preparing to use the database” in the section in this chapter
for your database interface.