How to find the information you need
What’s in this book
When you work with PowerBuilder, database connections can
occur in the development environment or in an application script.
This book describes how to connect to your database in
the PowerBuilder development environment.
For information about connecting to a database
in a PowerBuilder application script, see Application
Techniques
.
Basic connection procedure
Table 1-1 gives
an overview of the connection procedure and indicates where you
can find detailed information about each step.
| Step | Action | Details | See |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Optional) Get an introduction to database connections in PowerBuilder. |
If necessary, learn more about how PowerBuilder connects to a database in the development environment. |
Chapter 1 (this chapter) |
| 2 | Prepare to use the data source or database before connecting to it for the first time in PowerBuilder. |
Outside PowerBuilder, install the required network, database server, and database client software and verify that you can connect to the database. |
For ODBC data sources: Chapter 2, “Using the ODBC Interface”
For JDBC data sources: Chapter 3, “Using the JDBC Interface” For OLE DB data sources: Chapter 4, “Using the OLE DB interface” For native database interfaces: Chapter 5, “Using Native Database Interfaces” |
| 3 | Install the ODBC driver, OLE DB data provider, or native database interface. |
Install the ODBC data source driver (if supported on your platform), OLE DB data provider, or native database interface required to access your data. |
For a list of what is supported on your platform: “Supported Database Interfaces” in online Help |
| 4 | Define the data source (ODBC connections and some OLE DB drivers). |
Create the required configuration for a data source accessed through ODBC. |
For ODBC data sources: Chapter 2, “Using the ODBC Interface” |
| 5 | Define the database interface. | Create the database profile. | For ODBC data sources: Chapter 2, “Using the ODBC Interface”
For JDBC data sources: Chapter 3, “Using the JDBC Interface” For OLE DB data sources: Chapter 4, “Using the OLE DB interface” For native database interfaces: Chapter 5, “Using Native Database Interfaces” For PowerBuilder components: Chapter 9, “Making Database Connections |
| 6 | Define the EAServer connection. | Create an EAServer profile. | Chapter 9, “Making Database Connections in PowerBuilder Components” |
| 7 | Connect to the data source or database. | Access the data in PowerBuilder. | Chapter 6, “Managing Database Connections” |
| 8 | (Optional) Set additional connection parameters. |
If necessary, set DBParm parameters and database preferences to fine-tune your database connection and take advantage of DBMS-specific features that your interface supports. |
For procedures: Chapter 7, “Setting Additional Connection Parameters”
For DBParm descriptions: For database preference descriptions: |
| 9 | (Optional) Troubleshoot the data connection. | If necessary, use the trace tools to troubleshoot problems with your connection. |
Chapter 8, “Troubleshooting Your Connection” |