Re: Interfacing Visual C++ application and Informix thru ODBC

sxg7929@ucs.usl.edu (Gottumukkala Srikant) writes: >I am posting this for my friend who does >not have acess to Internet. >Question: Does Visual C++ or Visual Basic support ODBC >to be connected to INFORMIX database system. >He needs to write an application in Visual C++ or Visual >Basic which should communicate with Informix through >ODBC. This is because Informix supports ODBC. >What are the utilites available for such work. >Frankly speaking i donot know what ODBC is. >Please post to the net or email to sxg7929@ucs.usl.edu. >Thanks a lot >Srikant Gottumukkala >University of Southwestern Lousiana. Yes, you can connect to an INFORMIX database using Visual BASIC ( and I believe with the new version of VC++ also). The connection can be made with ODBC (Open Data Base Connectivity) drivers. ODBC is a 'standard' interfaces for databases. There are several different platforms for running INFORMIX - you don't say what need. But, as an example, I have connected a PC running Visual Basic to UNFORMIX running on a UNIX computer with the following chain of products: 1) UNIX host with TCP/IP (network capability) running INFORMIX SE 2) INET product from INFORMIX which serves as a remote 'agent' to execute the PC queries. 3) PC/TCP from FTP software - this is an implementation of the TCP/IP for the PC that allows it to talk to the UNIX computer. 4) INET/PC which is the product from INFORMIX that resides on the CLIENT (PC) side - this accepts SQL queries and submits them via the network to the INET program running on the UNIX host. 5) Q+E Database library, which is a DB-related library for VB. It includes ODBC drivers that connect to INET/PC. It also includes some useful VB controls for database work. As you can see, this is a rather long chain of products - I did have some difficulty getting connected, mainly because the product support from the vendors gets real shaky where their product connects to the next on in the chain. However, I did get it connected in the end. Drawbacks are that between INET/PC and TCP/IP, they consume quite a bit of conventional memory. The situation will be somewhat simpler if the INFORMIX database runs on the PC itself.