ODBC DATA CONNECTIVITY RESOURCES

The Progress DataDirect ODBC Resource Center serves as the clearing house for the most current, developer-oriented ODBC data connectivity information available in the industry.

This site contains in-depth technical articles on improving ODBC performance, using our ODBC drivers in development platforms including PERL and PHP, as well as extensive information on topics such as Unicode, connection failover, 64-bit architecture and Oracle Heterogeneous Services.

ODBC FAQs 

 

What is ODBC?

The Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface by Microsoft allows applications to access data in database management systems (DBMS) using SQL as a standard for accessing the data. ODBC permits maximum interoperability, which means a single application can access different DBMS. Application end users can then add ODBC database drivers to link the application to their choice of DBMS.

The ODBC interface defines:

  • A library of ODBC function calls of two types:
    • Core functions that are based on the X/Open and SQL Access Group
    • Call Level Interface specification
    • Extended functions that support additional functionality, including scrollable cursors
  • SQL syntax based on the X/Open and SQL Access Group SQL CAE specification (1992)
  • A standard set of error codes
  • A standard way to connect and logon to a DBMS
  • A standard representation for data types

The ODBC solution for accessing data led to ODBC database drivers, which are dynamic-link libraries on Windows and shared objects on Linux/UNIX. These drivers allow an application to gain access to one or more data sources. ODBC provides a standard interface to allow application developers and vendors of database drivers to exchange data between applications and data sources.

 

How Does ODBC Work?

The ODBC architecture has four components:

  • Application, which processes and calls ODBC functions to submit SQL statements and retrieve results
  • Driver Manager, which loads drivers for the application
  • Driver, which processes ODBC function calls, submits SQL requests to a specific data source, and returns results to the application
  • Data source, which consists of the data to access and its associated operating system, DBMS, and network platform (if any) used to access the DBMS

The following figure shows the relationship among the four components:

Read about Windows ODBC Drivers

 

Why Do Application Developers Need ODBC?

Using ODBC, an application developer can develop, compile, and ship an application without targeting a specific DBMS. In this scenario, the application developer does not need to use embedded SQL; thereby eliminating the need to recompile the application for each new environment.

 

What's the Difference Between DataDirect Technologies Implementation of this Technology and Other Alternatives?

You have two choices when deciding how to implement data access:

  • Custom code to the database's native interface, such as Oracle's OCI (Oracle Call Interface)
  • Use third-party ODBC drivers such as DataDirect Technologies wire protocol ODBC drivers

Custom coding data access to the native proprietary interface of each database results in non-portable code. This approach requires you to re-program your application every time you change databases or even database versions; making it difficult to maintain the application and reducing cost-effectiveness. When compared to the use of wire protocol ODBC drivers, custom coding offers no performance advantage. See Ken North's report, which benchmarks the performance of SQL queries using wire protocol ODBC and Oracle's OCI.

DataDirect Technologies ODBC drivers provide the following advantages over other ODBC drivers:

  • DataDirect Technologies offers a Wire Protocol ODBC driver for every major database - Oracle, DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase and Informix - on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and Linux/UNIX platforms. Wire Protocol technology eliminates the need for client libraries, simplifying development and eliminating configuration and support issues.
  • Microsoft selected DataDirect Technologies to be the exclusive licensee of their ODBC Driver Manager to port ODBC to non-Windows platforms. Therefore, DataDirect Technologies has a UNIX ODBC Driver Manager that has equivalent functionality of the Microsoft Windows ODBC Driver Manager.
  • All major database vendors, including Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Sybase and Progress, embed DataDirect Technologies ODBC drivers as part of their strategic product offerings.
  • DataDirect Technologies offers award-winning 24x7 technical support to ensure rapid response to customer concerns (see the SupportLink website for more information.)

 

Which Version of the Specification Does DataDirect Technologies Support?

DataDirect Technologies supports version 3.52 of the Microsoft ODBC specification.

 

ODBC Performance

Take a look at Increasing Driver Performance for an explanation of which driver options you should set in the DataDirect Connect Series ODBC drivers to achieve maximum performance.

 

ODBC Diagnostics

ODBC tracing allows you to trace calls to ODBC drivers and create a log of the traces. The Windows ODBC Driver Manager by Microsoft has tracing capabilities, which you enable on the Tracing tab of the ODBC Administrator. You can also specify the name and location of the tracing log on this tab.

On Linux/UNIX, depending on the implementation of the ODBC Driver Manager, ODBC tracing may be available. The UNIX ODBC Driver Manager has tracing capabilities, and this support is enabled through the system information file. The [ODBC] section in the system information file must include the keywords Trace and TraceFile. For example:

Trace=1
TraceFile=odbctrace.out

 

Important Features of DataDirect Technologies ODBC Drivers

General

  1. Wire protocol architecture eliminates the need for client libraries, simplifying development and eliminating configuration and support issues.
  2. Consistently supports the latest, most complete implementation of the ODBC specification and the latest operating systems and database versions and features
  3. DataDirect Technologies is committed to quality assured by rigorous product testing and uses the largest in-house ODBC test suite in the industry.
  4. Strategic technology relationships with the top database vendors make DataDirect Technologies unique in the industry.
  5. DataDirect Technologies has played a strong leadership role in the ODBC standard from the beginning with leadership roles in early ODBC expert panels (ANSI, ISO SQL CLI X/Open SQL Access Group Open Group SQL CLI).
  6. DataDirect Connect64 is the industry's only complete suite of 64-bit wire protocol drivers for all major databases. DataDirect Connect64 enables customers to take full advantage of the processing power of 64-bit applications by providing high performance, highly scalable data connectivity.

Oracle Wire Protocol ODBC Driver

  1. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver connects to Oracle servers without the need for any Oracle networking software. The driver is optimized to communicate directly and efficiently with Oracle servers using the Oracle server wire protocol.
  2. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver fully supports all Oracle systems including Oracle 8.1.5 and higher from a single wire protocol ODBC driver.
  3. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver optimizes forward-only cursors to pre-fetch multiple records in compact formats that are not available using OCI. These optimizations reduce network traffic and improve performance when retrieving data from the database. Testing with industry and customer benchmarks shows that the DataDirect Technologies driver is the fastest Oracle driver in the marketplace when retrieving results from SELECT statements.
  4. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver is highly optimized for applications that use LOB data. How much time an ODBC driver spends sending and retrieving packets over the network determines how fast the driver can be. LOB data is inherently very taxing on the network in that large amounts of data must be transferred between the driver and the Oracle server. The DataDirect Technologies driver uses special compression techniques unavailable to OCI applications when transferring LOB data to and from the Oracle server.
  5. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver is highly optimized for applications that use PL/SQL stored procedures. For these types of applications, the DataDirect Technologies driver has performance advantages from 75% to 100% faster than competitive drivers in benchmarks run inside the DataDirect Technologies development labs.

Informix Wire Protocol ODBC Driver

  1. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Informix Wire Protocol driver connects to Informix servers without the need for any Informix networking software. The driver is optimized to communicate directly and efficiently with Informix servers using the Informix server wire protocol.
  2. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Informix Wire Protocol driver supports a robust set of the ODBC 3.5 API features, including keyset scrollable cursors, bulk operations, and use of Informix types such as CLOB and BLOB as ODBC-based data types.
  3. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Informix Wire Protocol driver optimizes forward-only cursors to pre-fetch multiple records in compact formats that are not available using Informix CLI. These optimizations reduce network traffic and improve performance when retrieving data from the database. Testing with industry benchmarks and customer benchmarks shows that the DataDirect driver is the fastest Informix driver in the marketplace when retrieving results from SELECT statements.
  4. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Informix Wire Protocol driver is highly optimized for applications that use LOB data. How much time an ODBC driver spends sending and retrieving packets over the network determines how fast the driver can be. LOB data is inherently very taxing on the network in that large amounts of data must be transferred between the driver and the Informix server. The DataDirect Technologies driver uses special compression techniques unavailable to CLI applications when transferring LOB data to and from the Informix server.

Sybase Wire Protocol ODBC Driver

  1. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Sybase Wire Protocol driver was built from a version of the TDS specification that was provided to DataDirect from Sybase. With every new release of the Sybase engine, DataDirect is involved in the development of the TDS enhancements.
  2. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Sybase Wire Protocol driver fully supports Sybase 11.x and higher.
  3. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Sybase Wire Protocol driver is available on many different platforms including Windows, Linux, and most all mainstream UNIX systems.
  4. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Sybase Wire Protocol driver was the first ODBC 3.0-compliant Sybase driver in the marketplace. It not only supports the minimum API required by the specification, but also implements the entire API.

SQL Server Wire Protocol ODBC Driver

  1. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC SQL Server Wire Protocol driver was built through an agreement with Microsoft to port their ODBC Windows source code for both ODBC core components and the SQL Server driver to non-Microsoft Windows platforms. It is built using a version of the TDS specification that Microsoft provided to DataDirect.
  2. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC SQL Server Wire Protocol driver fully supports SQL Server 7, SQL Server 2000, and SQL Server 2005.
  3. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC SQL Server Wire Protocol driver was the first ODBC 3.0-compliant SQL Server driver on non-Windows platforms in the marketplace. It not only supports the minimum API required by the specification, but also implements the entire API.

DB2 Wire Protocol ODBC Driver

  1. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC DB2 Wire Protocol driver does not require any DB2 client libraries. The DataDirect driver connects directly to the DB2 server and does not require any host-side installations.
  2. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC DB2 Wire Protocol driver connects to all varieties of DB2 on any of these platforms: Windows, UNIX, Linux, z/OS, and iSeries.
  3. The DataDirect Connect for ODBC DB2 Wire Protocol driver fully supports:

    • DB2 UDB v7.1, v7.2, v8.1, v8.2, v9.1
    • DB2 UDB v7x, v8.1 for z/OS
    • DB2 UDB V5R1, V5R2, V5R3, V5R4 for iSeries.

The complete 32-bit DataDirect Connect for ODBC support matrix is available here.
The complete 64-bit DataDirect Connect for ODBC support matrix is available here.

 

Where Can I Obtain ODBC Drivers?

ODBC drivers are available for many databases with differing levels of functionality. A list of vendors and sources can be found at Ken North's site.

 

For More Information

For information about the ODBC interface, see http://msdn.microsoft.com.

 

References Used in this Document

Microsoft® ODBC Programmer's Reference and SDK Guide, Microsoft Press.

 

ODBC Definitions

Application

An application, as it relates to the ODBC standard, performs tasks such as: requesting a connection to a data source; sending SQL requests to a data source; processing errors; and terminating the connection to a data source. It may also perform functions outside the scope of the ODBC interface.

Conformance

There are two types of conformance levels for ODBC drivers--ODBC API and ODBC SQL grammar (see SQL Grammar). Knowing the conformance levels helps you determine the range of functionality available through the driver, even if a particular database does not support all of the functionality of a particular level.

For ODBC API conformance, most quality ODBC drivers support Core, Level 1, and a defined set of Level 2 functions, depending on the database being accessed.

Connection String

A string passed in code that specifies connection information directly to the Driver Manager and driver.

Data Source

A data source includes both the source of data itself, such as relational database, a flat-file database, or even a text file, and the connection information necessary for accessing the data. Connection information may include such things as server location, database name, logon ID, and other driver options. Data source information is usually stored in a DSN (see Data Source Name).

Driver

An ODBC driver communicates with the application through the Driver Manager and performs tasks such as: establishing a connection to a data source; submitting requests to the data source; translating data to and from other formats; returning results to the application; and formatting errors into a standard code and returning them to the application.

Driver Manager

The main purpose of the Driver Manager is to load drivers for the application. The Driver Manager also processes ODBC initialization calls and maps data sources to a specific driver.

DSN (Data Source Name)

A DSN stores the data source information (see Data Source) necessary for the Driver Manager to connect to the database. This can be configured either through the ODBC Administrator or in a DSN file. On Windows, the information is called a system or user DSN and is stored in the Registry. Data source information can also be stored in text configuration files, as is the case on UNIX.

DTC (Distributed Transaction Coordinator)

In Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and the Windows Server 2003 family, the DTC is a system service that is part of COM+ services. COM+ components that use DTC can enlist ODBC connections in distributed transactions. This makes it possible to scale transactions from one to many computers without adding special code.

Isolation Level

An isolation level represents a particular locking strategy employed in the database system to improve data consistency. The higher the isolation level number, the more complex the locking strategy behind it. The isolation level provided by the database determines how a transaction handles data consistency.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines four isolation levels:

  • Read uncommitted (0)
  • Read committed (1)
  • Repeatable read (2)
  • Serializable (3)

Locking Level

Locking is a database operation that restricts a user from accessing a table or record. Locking is used in situations where more than one user might try to use the same table or the same time. By locking the table or record, only one user at a time can affect the data.

MTS

Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) is a component-based transaction processing system for developing, deploying, and managing high-performance, scalable, and robust enterprise, Internet, and intranet server applications. MTS was the precursor to COM+, the current version of this processing system (see DTC).

ODBC Administrator

On Windows, the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator manages database drivers and configures system and user DSNs. On computers running the Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP operating systems, this application is located in the Windows Control Panel under Administrative Tools. Its icon is named "Data Sources (ODBC)."

In UNIX environments, there is no ODBC Administrator. To configure a data source, you must create or edit the system information file, a plain text file that contains file DSNs.

SQL Grammar

ODBC defines a core grammar that roughly corresponds to the X/Open and SQL Access Group SQL CAE specification (1992). ODBC also defines a minimum grammar, to meet a basic level of ODBC conformance, and an extended grammar, to provide for common DBMS extensions to SQL. The following list summarizes the grammar included in each conformance level:

Minimum SQL Grammar:

  • Data Definition Language (DDL): CREATE TABLE and DROP TABLE.
  • Data Manipulation Language (DML): simple SELECT, INSERT,
  • UPDATE SEARCHED, and DELETE SEARCHED.
  • Expressions: simple (such as A > B + C).
  • Data types: CHAR, VARCHAR, or LONG VARCHAR.

Core SQL Grammar:

  • Minimum SQL grammar and data types.
  • DDL: ALTER TABLE, CREATE INDEX, DROP INDEX, CREATE VIEW, DROP VIEW, GRANT, and REVOKE.
  • DML: full SELECT.
  • Expressions: subquery, set functions such as SUM and MIN.
  • Data types: DECIMAL, NUMERIC, SMALLINT, INTEGER, REAL, FLOAT, DOUBLE PRECISION.

Extended SQL Grammar:

  • Minimum and Core SQL grammar and data types.
  • DML: outer joins, positioned UPDATE, positioned DELETE, SELECT FOR UPDATE, and unions.
  • Expressions: scalar functions such as SUBSTRING and ABS, date, time, and timestamp literals.
  • Data types: BIT, TINYINT, BIGINT, BINARY, VARBINARY, LONG VARBINARY, DATE, TIME, TIMESTAMP
  • Batch SQL statements.
  • Procedure calls.

Unicode

Unicode, developed by the Unicode Consortium, is a standard that attempts to provide unique coding for all international language characters. The current number of supported characters is over 95,000.

Click here for more on Unicode and ODBC from DataDirect.

ODBC Tutorials

Select One of these Popular ODBC Topics: 

 Important Announcements

Support for 2007 Daylight Saving Time (DST) Change
This document explains the support provided by Connect for ODBC for the Daylight Saving Time (DST) change implemented by the United States government in 2007.

 Optimizing Performance

Increasing Driver Performance
This article discusses how to tune the DataDirect DB2, Informix, Informix Wire Protocol, Oracle, Oracle Wire Protocol, and Sybase Wire Protocol drivers for increased performance.

Designing Performance-Optimized ODBC Applications
This article contains general guidelines that have been compiled by examining the ODBC implementations of numerous shipping ODBC applications, offering information about using catalog functions appropriately, retrieving only required data, selecting functions that optimize performance, and managing connections and updates.

Using Indexes
There are a number of ways in which you can improve the performance of database activity using indexes. This article provides general guidelines that apply to most databases.

ODBC Driver Thread Protection Schemes
The ODBC 3.0 specification does not provide a method to find out how a driver will service threaded requests although this information is quite useful to an application. All DataDirect drivers provide this information to the user via the SQLGetInfo information type 1028. This article provides a code sample using SQLGetInfo to determine whether the session is fully thread enabled or is restricted at the connection level.

 Achieving Optimal Security

Enterprise Security Features in DataDirect Connect — Secure Architecture, Kerberos, and SSL
Learn more about the security features in the DataDirect Connect product line and read the independent security report by The Internet Security Advisors Group (ISAG), an international information security firm specializing in security assessment. The report also provides important information if you’re looking to implement Single Sign-on (SSO) or data encryption.

 Unicode

Understanding Unicode and ODBC Data Access
This article provides a brief background on Unicode, its development, and how it is accommodated by Unicode and non-Unicode DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers.

 Open Source Considerations

Why Open Source Database Drivers Are Not Viable
This article explains the risks associated with the use of an open source database driver. These risks are not limited to potential technical difficulties, since the problems could severely affect the day-to-day workings of the business. The risks are associated with inferior product quality, non-existent technical support, and the complete assumption of legal liability.

 Database Interoperability

Achieving Database Interoperability through SQL Leveling Across Data Access APIs
Open data access standards, such as ODBC, JDBC and ADO.NET have given developers a means of achieving application portability between databases. However, there are still instances where the SQL standard is not portable between databases. DataDirect Technologies delivers this interoperability between databases and across APIs through SQL Leveling.

 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting

DataDirect ODBC Drivers – Diagnosis and Troubleshooting
This article discusses the diagnostic tools that are available to configure and troubleshoot your ODBC environment and provides a troubleshooting section that discusses some common types of issues that you may experience when using ODBC applications.

 ODBC "How To" Guides

Accessing Oracle 11g from SAS on Linux Using DataDirect ODBC Drivers
This article explains how quick and easy it is to connect to an Oracle 11g server from SAS running on a Linux client using the DataDirect Connect for ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver.

Using DataDirect ODBC Drivers with PERL
Because PERL is easily portable across operating systems, several initiatives have been undertaken to develop modules that enable developers to use the ODBC interface, thus enhancing PERL's portability across corporate databases. DataDirect Connect for ODBC allows PERL applications not only to be completely portable, but also highly scalable. This article provides information for using DataDirect Connect for ODBC with PERL, including configuration instructions and a sample PERL application.

Using PHP with DataDirect ODBC Drivers
PHP is a robust scripting language useful for everything from small projects to enterprise application development. By using DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers, you can easily write portable PHP code for all major operating systems and platforms. This article explains how to use DataDirect Connect for ODBC with PHP to maximize a PHP deployment on either UNIX/Linux or Windows.

Using DataDirect Connect for ODBC with Oracle RAC
A cluster architecture, such as Oracle RAC, provides applications with many advantages such as connection failover and load balancing. DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers provide full support for these important features to help make your business more flexible and agile in today's computing environment, where scalability and data availability is critical.

Using DataDirect Connect for ODBC with Oracle Heterogeneous Services
DataDirect Connect for ODBC provides the most reliable and highest performing data access for users of Oracle Heterogeneous Services. Connect for ODBC does not require the installation and configuration of database client libraries. This dramatically improves performance and scalability and simplifies configuration of Oracle Generic Connectivity, while providing access to a larger number of various data sources. This article explains how to use DataDirect Connect for ODBC with Oracle Heterogeneous Services.

Using DataDirect Connect for ODBC with the Oracle Database Gateway for ODBC
Heterogeneous Services and Database Gateway for ODBC allow Oracle customers to access and integrate non-Oracle data sources, providing flexibility in a multi-database environment. DataDirect ODBC drivers deliver the most scalable and best performing connectivity for Oracle Database Gateway for ODBC.

Understanding and Using Packages on DB2 UDB
The concept of "packages" in the DB2 Universal Database (UDB) system is often not well understood. This article provides both general information about what packages are and how they are created and bound, as well as specific information about both the DataDirect Connect for ODBC (32-bit) and DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC (64-bit) drivers.

 64-Bit Technology

Why Choose 64-Bit Technology as Your Server Platform?:
Can your existing system meet current and predicted needs? This article can help you decide if you need to upgrade to 64-bit technology. Server-based applications, such as high-performance databases, business intelligence, and forecasting, will operate with vastly more efficiency by upgrading to 64-bit applications on 64-bit machines.

 Failover Support

Failover Support in DataDirect Connect for ODBC Drivers:
Connection failover and connection retry are two useful features that are available in certain DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers. Connection failover allows an application to connect to an alternate, or backup, database server if the primary database server is unavailable, ensuring that the data on which your critical ODBC applications depend is always available. Connection retry can be an important strategy for system recovery after a power failure.

Connecting to a Backup Tnsnames File (Tnsnames File Failover):
The DataDirect Connect for ODBC Oracle Wire Protocol driver allows you to use information from an Oracle tnsnames.ora file to connect to your database. Using an Oracle tnsnames.ora file to centralize connection information in your Oracle environment simplifies maintenance when changes occur. If, however, the tnsnames.ora file is unavailable because, for example, of a hardware failure or traffic overload, then it is useful to be able to open a backup version of the tnsnames.ora file (tnsnames file failover).

ODBC Tip – Connection Failover:
You can customize certain DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers for connection failover by configuring a list of alternate database servers that are tried if the primary server is not able to accept connections. This article provides an example of a connection string to configure the Oracle Wire Protocol driver to use connection failover.

 XML Support

Persisting Result Sets as XML Data Files:
DataDirect Connect ODBC drivers include the ability to persist result sets as XML data files for these leading databases: Oracle, Informix, DB2, and Sybase. This allows you to quickly publish information to the Web and allow customers to interact with the data you publish.

Mapping XML Documents to Tables Using the DataDirect Connect for ODBC XML Driver:
Many XML documents have a complex structure that cannot be mapped to a single table. To accommodate these documents, the DataDirect Connect for ODBC XML driver uses a mode in which the document is mapped to one or more tables. In this mode, the driver uses a table-guessing algorithm to find the tables, columns, and rows in the document.

ODBC Whitepapers

Data Connectivity whitepapers are not always separated out by specific product line. Below is a list of the most recent Data Connectivity whitepapers. To view all Data Connectivity whitepapers, please visit our Resource Library.

Database Middleware: Struggling with Performance?
Read this white paper to learn how to influence performance and how to optimize efficiency for data requests and responses.

A Research Note from Nucleus Research: ISVs Save with DataDirect Drivers
DataDirect’s investment in innovation in data connectivity enables ISVs
to reduce the cost, risk, and complexity of delivering and supporting applications for customers and enables them to focus their efforts where they can be most effective.

Service-Oriented Data Access: Building Interoperable, Robust & Reusable Data Services
In this white paper, Jason Bloomberg explains the role of data in a SOA, the data issues you face when attempting to layer a service-oriented approach on top of existing data sources, how to solve data integration challenges and address potential data access pitfalls, and how to architect a data services layer to reap the full benefits of SOA.

Data Access Middleware Security Simplifies Business Process Applications
Ira Winkler, founder of ISAG and well-known security expert, wrote the report, which documents his assessment and establishes the need for security features as an integral part of database drivers and providers. The report also provides important information if you’re looking to implement Single Sign-on (SSO) or data encryption.

Vendor Selection Criteria - An Application Architect's Guide
This guide details the various database connectivity options that are available and provides information about the factors that influence the selection of the option that is best for your critical system.

Nucleus Research: ROI Evaluation Report of Data Connectivity Products
This report provides case studies and detailed examples of the economic and technical benefits from addressing data connectivity requirements at design time.

Database Connectivity for Critical Business Systems: An Application Architect's Guide
This paper discusses the technical benefits you should look for in database connectivity components, and the financial and business implications of your database connectivity choice.

What You Don't Know About Data Connectivity CAN Hurt You
This paper provides an overview of data connectivity, details its effect on application quality, and explores various alternative solutions.

 

ODBC Webinars

Data Connectivity webinars are not always separated out by specific product line. Below is a list of the most recent Data Connectivity Webinars. 

Move Mountains without Sacrificing Performance
Bulk Load for Oracle,SQL Server, DB2 and Sybase
October 21, 2009
If your business has mountains of data that need to move into and out of Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, or Sybase, you may be stuck with an under performing approach and don't even know it. In this webinar, we will: Describe and illustrate the performance bottlenecks, technical pitfalls, and functional limitations of standard approaches; and demonstrate the best approach for moving large amounts of data as fast as possible.

Progress DataDirect Technology Briefing: Considerations for Maximum Performance
As you consider data access from different programming frameworks and languages, you need to consider many performance factors. learn how you can avoid some of the common pitfalls before you start your next project. Join us for an overview of data access in different environments and learn how you can avoid some of the common pitfalls before you start your next project.

High Availability Isn't Good Enough: Enhancing Application Architecture for Oracle, SQL Server, DB2 and Sybase for ISVs
May 28, 2009
In this webinar, we will explore the challenges of designing applications and complex systems for high availability. We will also show how to increase the uptime of your environment by having smarter data access components while lowering your IT costs.

Architectural Considerations for Building High Performance Database Applications
August 26, 2009
Join Rob Steward, VP of R&D, as he discusses the data architecture considerations for various technology scenarios such as Web–based apps, server-based apps, SOA, event–based applications and more.

Real-Time Data Virtualization: The New Era of Data Consumption 
June 30, 2009
Next generation webinar that will introduce you to an Information-as-a-Service or Data Services strategy that virtualizes data access, integration, and consumption from multiple, fragmented data sources in real-time on behalf of multiple data consumers throughout the organization.

Building Data-Rich Service-Oriented Business Applications in a Heterogeneous Environment
January 24, 2008
Learn how to break the ties of traditional business intelligence and business activity monitoring solutions by exposing real-time, flexible access to heterogeneous data sources - providing far more value to the business than the static, summary data that older tools typically provide.

Designing your Data Architecture for Performance
August 1, 2007
This presentation introduces best practices for measuring and benchmarking the performance and scalability of your application's database access code. It discuss how you can create an environment that accurately simulates your production system, and how you can design tests that accurately measure performance and scalability.

Develop, Deploy and Execute SSIS packages for non-SQL Server Databases
July 12, 2007
To help you learn more about the specific technical features and benefits of Connect64 for SSIS, DataDirect is offering this free webinar which will include a demonstration of the product in use as well as a technical Q&A session.

Nucleus Research Webcast Replay: Achieving ROI through Data Connectivity
August 10, 2006
View a replay of the webcast by Nucleus Research, an ROI-focused technology research and advisory firm. Nucleus Research conducted in-depth interviews with DataDirect customers in leading organizations to gather ROI data on the costs and benefits associated with data connectivity technology.

ODBC Podcasts

Data Connectivity podcasts are not separated out by specific product line. Below is a list of the most recent Data Connectivity podcasts. To view all Data Connectivity podcasts, please visit our Resource Library.

Designing your Data Architecture for Performance
In this podcast, we discuss the considerations that should be included in your overall data architecture and relate that to different technology scenarios – client/server apps, server-based apps and SOA.

Additional ODBC Resources

ODBC Code Samples
The ODBC Code Samples include code for creating an ODBC connection string, inserting and selecting Unicode data and many more ODBC code examples.

Developer Forums
This is a collaborative community where visitors share their experience with each other to get the most out of using DataDirect Connect for ODBC. If you need further assistance with this product, please visit our Support page, where you'll find an extensive knowledgebase, FAQs and much more.

More ODBC Useful Links

Wire Protocol ODBC vs. Native Programming

Ken North's Site
http://www.kncomputing.com

MSDN - Data Access Technologies
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa286490.aspx

MSDN - Microsoft ODBC reference
This programmer's reference sub-site on MSDN covers a vast range of topics, from an introduction/overview to function call syntax.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms714177(VS.85).aspx

Unicode Consortium
http://www.unicode.org

X/Open (Original 1995 X/Open specification)
http://www.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/009654899/toc.pdf