Preparing to use the database with DirectConnect
Before you define the interface and connect to a database through
the DirectConnect interface, follow these steps to prepare the database
for use:
-
Install and configure the SAP middleware data access products,
network, and client software. -
Install the DirectConnect interface.
-
Verify that you can connect to your middleware product and your
database outside PowerBuilder. -
Create the extended attribute system tables outside
PowerBuilder.
Step 1: Install and configure the SAP
middleware product
You must install and configure the SAP middleware data access
product, network, and client software.
To install and configure the SAP middleware data access product,
network, and client software:
-
Make sure the appropriate database software is installed and
running on its server.You must obtain the database server software from your database
vendor.For installation instructions, see your database vendor’s
documentation. -
Make sure the appropriate DirectConnect access service software
is installed and running on the DirectConnect server specified in your
database profileor
Make sure the appropriate Open ServerConnect software is
installed and running on the mainframe specified in your database
profile. -
Make sure the required network software (such as TCP/IP) is
installed and running on your computer and is properly configured so
you that can connect to the DirectConnect server or mainframe at your
site.You must install the network communication driver that supports
the network protocol and operating system platform you are
using.For installation and configuration instructions, see your
network or database administrator. -
Install the required Open Client CT-Library (CT-Lib) software on
each client computer on which PowerBuilder is installed.You must obtain the Open Client software from SAP. Make sure the
version of Open Client you install supports both of the
following:The operating system running on the client computer
The version of PowerBuilder that you are running
Open Client required
To use the DirectConnect interface, you must install Open
Client.For information about Open Client, see your Open Client
documentation. -
Make sure the Open Client software is properly configured so you
can connect to the middleware data access product at your site.Installing the Open Client software places the
SQL.INI configuration file in the SQL Server directory on your
computer. SQL.INI provides information that SQL Server uses to find
and connect to the middleware product at your site. You can enter and
modify information in SQL.INI with the configuration utility or editor
that comes with the Open Client software.For information about editing the SQL.INI file, see Editing the SQL.INI file.
For more information about setting up SQL.INI or any other required
configuration file, see your SQL Server documentation. -
If required by your operating system, make sure the directory
containing the Open Client software is in your system path. -
Make sure only one copy of each of the following files is
installed on your client computer:-
DirectConnect interface DLL
-
Network communication DLL (such as NLWNSCK.DLL for Windows
Sockets-compliant TCP/IP) -
Open Client DLLs (such as LIBCT.DLL and LIBCS.DLL)
-
Step 2: Install the
interface
If you install PowerBuilder using the PowerBuilder Installer (an online setup program), the Direct Connect Interface
(DIR) is automatically installed.
If you install PowerBuilder using the downloaded installation package (an offline setup program), select Native Database Interfaces | Direct Connect Interface
(DIR) from the list of components.
Step 3: Verify the
connection
Make sure you can connect to your middleware product and your
database and log in to the database you want to access from outside
PowerBuilder.
Some possible ways to verify the connection are by running the
following tools:
-
Accessing the database server
Tools such as the Open Client/Open Server Configuration utility
(or any Ping utility) check whether you can reach the database server
from your computer. -
Accessing the database
Tools such as ISQL or SQL Advantage (interactive SQL utilities)
check whether you can log in to the database and perform database
operations. It is a good idea to specify the same connection
parameters you plan to use in your PowerBuilder database profile to
access the database.
Step 4: Create the extended attribute system
tables
PowerBuilder uses a collection of five system tables to store
extended attribute information. When using the DirectConnect interface,
you must create the extended attribute system tables outside
PowerBuilder to control the access rights and location of these
tables.
Run the DB2SYSPB.SQL script outside PowerBuilder using the SQL tool
of your choice.
For instructions, see Creating the extended attribute system
tables in DB2 databases.
Editing the SQL.INI
file
Make sure the SQL.INI file provides an entry about either the access
service being used and the DirectConnect server on which it resides or the
Open ServerConnect program being used and the mainframe on which it
resides.
For the server object name, you need to provide the exact access
service name as it is defined in the access service library configuration
file on the DirectConnect server. You must also specify the network
communication DLL being used, the TCP/IP address or alias used for the
DirectConnect server on which the access service resides, and the port on
which the DirectConnect server listens for requests:
|
1 2 |
[access_service_name] query=network_dll,server_alias,server_port_no |
PowerBuilder users must also specify the access service name in the
SQLCA.ServerName property of the Transaction object.