In today’s fast-paced business climate,
it is highly desirable for a company’s various computer programs to
have the ability to interact and exchange data. To make the most
informed decisions, it is also important that business data be analyzed
in a format that reflects real world scenarios, i.e., relationally.
Microsoft Corporation’s "Open
Database Connectivity" (ODBC) is the de facto industry standard for
data exchange or open systems functionality. SYSPRO has invested heavily
in ODBC technology to enable SYSPRO customers to use any ODBC-compliant
software (such as Microsoft Excel or Access) to access SYSPRO data. ODBC
provides a transparent link between SYSPRO data and many Windows-based
applications, including Microsoft Word, Crystal Reports, Forest and
Trees, WordPerfect and Visual Basic.
SYSPRO’s ODBC drivers provide a
seamless pipeline between Windows applications and the SYSPRO database.
The drivers tell each application where to find requested data in SYSPRO
files. SYSPRO’s ODBC drivers are 100% compliant with
Microsoft’s ODBC standard and are based on Structured Query Language
(SQL). This feature enables the SYSPRO database to be viewed as a
relational database. SQL statements can be used to query the SYSPRO
data. Depending upon the Windows application in use, the SQL queries can
be stored for subsequent reuse. This facilitates the setup of a number
of standard queries pertinent to a company’s particular business.
ODBC is available as a multi-user
Client/Server package. ODBC is also available as a standalone Windows
product where the programs and data files reside on the same
Windows-based workstation, or on a hard drive that is mapped as if it
were a local drive.
In a multiple-tier, Client/Server
environment, certain ODBC programs reside on a Windows-based workstation
while others, including the .UDD file, reside on a UNIX (AIX, HPUX, Sun
Solaris or SCO), NetWare or Windows NT-based server. The workstation and
the server are connected using TCP/IP.
The ODBC product is comprised of ODBC
drivers. The ODBC U/SQL Manager maintains the ODBC dictionary and the
ODBC Gateway License allows multi-user access through a client on the
Microsoft Windows NT server.
