ODBC

Version 0.54 (19-Aug-2003)


Disclaimer:
-----------
This software is supplied as is. No responsibility will be taken by the
author for any loss of data through the use or misuse of this application


What is ODBC?
-------------
ODBC stands for Open DataBase Connectivity. Open Database Connectivity is a
widely accepted application programming interface (API) for database access. 
It is based on the Call-Level Interface (CLI) specifications from X/Open and 
ISO/IEC for database APIs and uses Structured Query Language (SQL) as its
database access language.

What is SQL?
------------
SQL is an acronym for Structured Query Language. It is a database query
language that was adopted as an industry standard in 1986.

iODBC
----
iODBC is a port of the iODBC driver manager. This library basically manages
drivers for different databases (local or remote) on behalf of applications
to allow transparent connectivity to different databases.

This port has been implemented in a number of discreet sections:

 - A stubs library to link to the client application 
 - A server application to manage the drivers using iODBC 
 - A module to enable to communication between the client and server
   components

Note that due to the way this port has been carried out there are a few
restrictions about how ODBC compliant applications have to be written:
 
 - Client applications must be WIMP based 
 - The main WIMP poll loop may require modifications

Documentation on how to write ODBC compliant applications is beyond the
scope of this document. The MSDN site should have links leading to ODBC
documentation and examples.
