Preparing to use the OLE DB interface

Before you define the interface and connect to a data provider through OLE DB:

  1. Install and configure the database server, network, and client software.

  2. Install the OLE DB interface and the OLE DB data provider that accesses your data source.

  3. Install Microsoft's Data Access Components software on your machine.

  4. If required, define the OLE DB data source.

Step 1: Install and configure the data server

You must install and configure the database server and install the network software and client software.

To install and configure the database server, network, and client software:

  1. 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.

  2. Make sure the required network software (such as TCP/IP) is installed and running on your computer and is properly configured so that you can connect to the data server 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 data source administrator.

  3. If required, install the appropriate client software on each client computer on which PowerBuilder is installed.

Client software requirements

To determine client software requirements, see your database vendor's documentation.

Step 2: Install the OLE DB interface and data provider

If you install PowerBuilder using the PowerBuilder Installer (an online setup program), the OLE DB provider is automatically installed. If you install PowerBuilder using the downloaded installation package (an offline setup program), select OLE DB Driver from the list of components. You can install the OLE DB data providers shipped with PowerBuilder, or you can install data providers from another vendor later.

Step 3: Install the Microsoft Data Access Components software

The PowerBuilder OLE DB interface requires the functionality of the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) version 2.8 or higher software.

To check the version of MDAC on your computer, you can download and run the MDAC Component Checker utility from the MDAC Downloads page at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/aa937730.aspx.

OLE DB data providers installed with MDAC

Several Microsoft OLE DB data providers are automatically installed with MDAC, including the providers for SQL Server (SQLOLEDB) and ODBC (MSDASQL).

Step 4: Define the OLE DB data source

Once the OLE DB data provider is installed, you might have to define the OLE DB data source the data provider will access. How you define the data source depends on the OLE DB data provider you are using and the vendor who provided it.

If you are connecting to an ODBC data provider (such as Microsoft's OLE DB Provider for ODBC), you must define the ODBC data source as you would if you were using a direct ODBC connection. To define an ODBC data source, use Microsoft's ODBC Data Source Administrator. You can access this utility from the Control Panel in Windows or from the Database painter or Database Profile Setup dialog box in PowerBuilder.