What is a database profile?
A database profile is a named set of parameters stored in your system registry that defines a connection to a particular database in the InfoMaker development environment. You must create a database profile for each data connection.
What you can do
Using database profiles is the easiest way to manage data connections in the InfoMaker development environment. For example, you can:
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Select a database profile to connect to or switch between databases
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Edit a database profile to customize a connection
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Delete a database profile if you no longer need to access that data
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Import and export database profiles to quickly share connection parameters
For more information
For instructions on using database profiles, see Managing Database Connections
You work with two dialog boxes when you create a database profile in InfoMaker: the Database Profiles dialog box and the interface-specific Database Profile Setup dialog box.
Using the Database painter to create database profiles
The Database painter is an optional InfoMaker painter. If the Database painter is installed, you can also create database profiles from the Database painter's Objects view. However, opening the Database painter to define profiles and/or connect to a database uses more system resources than using the Database Profiles dialog box.
Database Profiles dialog box
The Database Profiles dialog box uses an easy-to-navigate tree control format to display your installed database interfaces and defined database profiles. You can create, edit, and delete database profiles from this dialog box.
When you run the InfoMaker Setup program, it updates the Vendors list in the PowerBuilder section in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry key with the interfaces you install. The Database Profiles dialog box displays the same interfaces that appear in the Vendors list.
Where the Vendors list is stored
The Sybase\PowerBuilder\18.0\Vendors key in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE is used for InfoMaker as well as PowerBuilder.
For detailed instructions on using the Database Profiles dialog box to connect to a database and manage your profiles, see Managing Database Connections
Database Profile Setup dialog box
Each database interface has its own Database Profile Setup dialog box where you can set interface-specific connection parameters. For example, if you install the O90 interface and then select it and click New in the Database Profiles dialog box, the Database Profile Setup - Oracle 9i dialog box displays, containing settings for those connection options that apply to this interface.
Preview tab unavailable in InfoMaker
PowerScript connection syntax does not apply to InfoMaker. Therefore, the Database Profile Setup dialog box in InfoMaker does not include a Preview tab for copying PowerScript connection syntax into a script.
The Database Profile Setup dialog box groups similar connection parameters on the same tab page and lets you easily set their values by using check boxes, drop-down lists, and text boxes. Basic (required) connection parameters are on the Connection tab page, and additional connection options (DBParm parameters and SQLCA properties) are on the other tab pages.
Supplying sufficient information in the Database Profile Setup dialog box
For some database interfaces, you might not need to supply values for all boxes in the Database Profile Setup dialog box. If you supply the profile name and click OK, InfoMaker displays a series of dialog boxes to prompt you for additional information when you connect to the database.
This information can include:
User ID or login ID
Password or login password
Database name
Server name
For some databases, supplying only the profile name does not give InfoMaker enough information to prompt you for additional connection values. For these interfaces, you must supply values for all applicable boxes in the Database Profile Setup dialog box.
For information about the values you should supply for your connection, click Help in the Database Profile Setup dialog box for your interface.
To create a new database profile for a database interface, you must complete the Database Profile Setup dialog box for the interface you are using to access the database.
When using InfoMaker
The Database Profile Setup dialog box in InfoMaker does not include the Preview tab.
To create a database profile for a database interface:
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Click the Database Profile button in the PowerBar.
The Database Profiles dialog box displays, listing your installed database interfaces. To see a list of database profiles defined for a particular interface, click the plus sign to the left of the interface name or double-click the interface name to expand the list.
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Highlight an interface name and click New.
The Database Profile Setup dialog box for the selected interface displays. For example, if you select the SYC interface, the Database Profile Setup - Adaptive Server Enterprise dialog box displays.
Client software and interface must be installed
To display the Database Profile Setup dialog box for your interface, the required client software and native database interface must be properly installed and configured. For specific instructions for your database interface, see the chapter on using the interface.
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On the Connection tab page, type the profile name and supply values for any other basic parameters your interface requires to connect.
For information about the basic connection parameters for your interface and the values you should supply, click Help.
About the DBMS identifier
You do not need to specify the DBMS identifier in a database profile. When you create a new profile for any installed database interface, InfoMaker generates the correct DBMS connection syntax for you.
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(Optional) On the other tab pages, supply values for any additional connection options (DBParm parameters and SQLCA properties) to take advantage of DBMS-specific features that your interface supports.
For information about the additional connection parameters for your interface and the values you should supply, click Help.
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Click OK to save your changes and close the Database Profile Setup dialog box. (To save your changes on a particular tab page without closing the dialog box, click Apply.)
The Database Profiles dialog box displays, with the new profile name highlighted under the appropriate interface. The database profile values are saved in the system registry.
