Re: [Iodbc-macosx] Need advice on Mac ODBC driver?

[iODBC M. <io...@op...>]

Hi Nima,
>
> Thank you for your prompt reply, I have two more questions:
>
> Would you explain a bit more about "DSN less connections"? if my 
> clients have their own Dbs, still I can use this option?
>
Well basically a DSN-less connection is a connection you can make 
without first registering a DSN in odbc.ini (or even a driver in 
odbcinst.ini)

This is an option that can be used with the SQLDriverConnect call.

Normally you would make a connection with:

     DSN=testdsn;UID=test;PWD=testing

where the driver manager will lookup the name testdsn from the odbc.ini 
file and use the driver registered in that section. This driver then 
checks the  [testdsn] section for any other connection parameters it needs.

With an DSN-less connection you do not provide a DSN= but a DRIVER= 
string e.g.:

    DRIVER=/Application/TestApp/Driver.so;UID=test;...

In this case you need to provide ALL the options needed for the 
connection in this string as there is no odbc.ini or odbcinst.ini 
section it can use to read the rest of its connection parameters.

Since your customers may want to use your plugin within their own 
database/settings, the DSN-less connection might not be the best way for 
your needs.

>
> Also I installed a ODBCS driver and set a DataSource on my Mac with 
> ODBC Administrator.app. How can I test connectivity, see the databases 
> available? query on tables? Is any shareware or free 
> software available for these on Mac?
You can use the iodbctest program provided on the Mac from a Terminal 
screen e.g.:

    iodbctest "DSN=test;UID=tester;PWD=testpw"

Note the quotes (") around the connection string to prevent the shell 
from thinking you are starting another command.

The iodbctest program uses the SQLDriverConnect function to make the 
connection.

At the SQL> prompt you can enter a SQL statement like:

    SELECT * from table

There are also some meta commands to get a list of tables etc. Please read:

    man iodbctest

for a full description of what this program can do.



Best regards,

Patrick