ODBC Overview

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Revision as of 01:04, 29 May 2009

Overview The Comet ODBC Client Gateway provides the power for Comet applications to access databases that are compatible with the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) standard. For example, Internet Basic programs can read and write data in the following types of databases:

• Microsoft Access • SQL Server • DBASE • Microsoft FoxPro • Microsoft Excel • Paradox • Oracle • other ODBC data sources

ODBC is implemented as an application programming interface (API). To interact with an ODBC-compatible database, your program only need to include ODBC function calls and statements in Structured Query Language (SQL). The ODBC Manager determines how to contend with the type of database you are targeting.

ODBC accomplishes this by inserting a middle layer, called a database driver, between an application and the DBMS. The purpose of this layer is to translate the application's data queries into commands that the DBMS understands. For this to work, both the application and the DBMS must be ODBC-compliant  that is, the application must be capable of issuing ODBC commands and the DBMS must be capable of responding to them.

The Comet ODBC Client Gateway includes such a driver. This driver program is activated when an Internet Basic program opens an ODBC gateway (a type 5 gateway in the system configuration). From that point on, the CONTROL statement sends commands to the ODBC driver. READ and WRITE statements are used to retrieve and send data to the ODBC database itself. Signature has provided this documentation and sample Internet Basic programs that demonstrate how to use the ODBC driver with an Access database and an Excel spreadsheet.

The ODBC Client Gateway is an add-on to Comet2000/Comet2002.