Preparing to use the OLE DB interface

Before you define the interface and connect to a data provider through the OLE DB:

  1. Install and configure the database server, network, and client software.

  2. Install the OLE DB interface and the OLE DB data provider that accesses your data source.

  3. Install Microsoft's Data Access Components software on your machine.

  4. If required, define the OLE DB data source.

Step 1: Install and configure the data server

You must install and configure the database server and install the network software and client software.

To install and configure the database server, network, and client software:

  1. Make sure the appropriate database software is installed and running on its server.

    You must obtain the database server software from your database vendor. For installation instructions, see your database vendor's documentation.

  2. Make sure the required network software (such as TCP/IP) is installed and running on your computer and is properly configured so that you can connect to the data server at your site. You must install the network communication driver that supports the network protocol and operating system platform you are using.

    For installation and configuration instructions, see your network or data source administrator.

  3. If required, install the appropriate client software on each client computer on which InfoMaker is installed.

    Client software requirements

    To determine client software requirements, see your database vendor's documentation. To access supported remote Informix databases through the Informix data provider, you need Informix Connect for Windows platforms, version 2.x, or the Informix Client Software Development Kit for Windows platforms, version 2.x.

Step 2: Install the OLE DB interface and data provider

In the InfoMaker Setup program, select the Custom install and select the OLE DB provider that accesses your database. You can install one or more of the OLE DB data providers shipped with InfoMaker, or you can install data providers from another vendor later.

Step 3: Install the Microsoft Data Access Components software

The InfoMaker OLE DB interface requires the functionality of the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) version 2.6 software.

To check the version of MDAC on your computer, download and run the MDAC Component Checker utility from the Microsoft Data Access Downloads page.

If MDAC version 2.6 is not installed, you can install it by running the file mdac_typ.exe found in the Support directory.

OLE DB data providers installed with MDAC

When you run the mdac_typ file, several Microsoft OLE DB data providers are automatically installed, including the providers for SQL Server ( SQLOLEDB) and ODBC (MSDASQL).

Step 4: Define the OLE DB data source

Once the OLE DB data provider is installed, you might have to define the OLE DB data source the data provider will access. How you define the data source depends on the OLE DB data provider you are using and the vendor who provided it.

To define a data source for one of the OLE DB data providers shipped with InfoMaker, use the DataDirect OLE DB Administrator. This utility is named PBadmin and can be found in SAP\Shared\DataDirect.

If you are connecting to an ODBC data provider (such as Microsoft's OLE DB Provider for ODBC), you must define the ODBC data source as you would if you were using a direct ODBC connection. To define an ODBC data source, use Microsoft's ODBC Data Source Administrator. This utility can be accessed through the Control Panel in Windows or through the Database painter.