Connecting via ODBC

1
Connecting via ODBC

• Peter Troon
• Brian Samson

2
Overview

• ODBC and Middleware
• Our schools helpdesk database
• The client, which is used to access the SQL
  server
• How to connect to the SQL server
• Conclusion
• Questions

3
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.

4
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

5
ODBC Scheme
Client
Server
6
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

7
Support Magic

• Comprehensive Help Desk Functionality
• Powerful Web User Interface
• Advanced Knowledge Management
• Customization
• Multiple Group Support
• User-friendly Database Administration
• End-user Self-service

8
Microsoft SQL Server
9
Connect to the database
10
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.

11
Questions

• What kind of Middleware is ODBC?
• What kind of Helpdesk application is used by the
  school?
• What happens if a thread gets corrupt?

12
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/