Download Connecting

Connecting via ODBC
Peter Troon
Brian Samson
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Overview
– ODBC and Middleware
– Our school’s helpdesk database
– The client, which is used to access the
SQL server
– How to connect to the SQL server
– Conclusion
– Questions
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Assignment 7.5
The assignment:
Establish an ODBC connection, which
can be used for requests between a
client application and the DBMS used at
our institute.
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ODBC General
Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
ODBC is an open, vendor-neutral and powerful interface that
allows applications to seamlessly access over 50 different
database systems through a common set of functions. With this
powerful technology, developers need not learn multiple
programming interfaces since they can use the universal set of
interfaces provided by ODBC.
Standards supported in Microsoft ODBC: ANSI SQL, ISO 9075,
X/Open SQL CLI
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ODBC Scheme
Client
Program calls an ODBC
function.
Program
ODBC Manager
determines what to do.
ODBC Manager
ODBC Driver prepares
the request and passes
it on to the DBMS.
ODBC Driver
The DBMS processes
the request.
DBMS
Server
Database
File
Server
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The HVA database
– Database with data of users
– Helpdesk application
– Microsoft SQL Server running on a
Windows NT computer
– The client is running on a Windows 95
machine
– The client makes a connection to the
SQL server using ODBC
– Used Client is Support Magic by Magic
Solutions
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Support Magic
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Comprehensive Help Desk Functionality
Powerful Web User Interface
Advanced Knowledge Management
Customization
Multiple Group Support
User-friendly Database Administration
End-user Self-service
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Microsoft SQL Server
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Connect to the database
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Conclusion
– Connection is made by using “Support
Magic Helpdesk”
– The client establishes an ODBC
connection
– In principle it would be possible to use
another application, which also supports
ODBC or even write your own client to
access the SQL server.
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Questions
– What kind of Middleware is ODBC?
– What kind of Helpdesk application
is used by the school?
– What happens if a thread gets
corrupt?
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Resources
– Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 Second Edition Solomon, Rankins,
et al., ISBN 0-672-30956-4
– http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/VBrant/
– http://www.microsoft.com/data/odbc/prodinfo.htm
– http://www.magichelpdesk.com/
– Our homepage:
http://www.troon.org/middleware/
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