Files required to build an ODBC application

Identify the IBM® i Access for Windows files required to build an ODBC application.

Choose from the following topics for information on files and other concepts used in building an ODBC application.

Note: The Programmer's Toolkit provides ODBC documentation, and links to sample programs and related information. To access this information, open the Programmer's Toolkit and select Database > ODBC.

Choose an interface to access the ODBC driver
There are different programming interfaces that can be used with the IBM i Access ODBC Driver. Each interface has its strengths and weaknesses.
ODBC C/C++ application header files
Identify C/C++ header files and libraries used in a ODBC C/C++ application. These files are supplied by Microsoft and are not shipped as part of IBM i Access for Windows
ODBC APIs: General concepts
The following general concepts apply to IBM i Access ODBC APIs.
Parameter markers
Parameter markers act as place holders for values that are supplied by the program when you instruct the data source to run the SQL statement using IBM i Access ODBC.
SQLFetch and SQLGetData
SQLGetData provides an alternative to SQLBindCol to retrieve data from the columns of a retrieved row when using these commands with IBM i Access for Windows functions. It can only be called after calling fetch APIs and when the array size is 1.
Code directly to ODBC APIs
Many PC applications make ODBC calls that allow the user to seamlessly access data on different platforms. Before you begin developing your own IBM i Access application with ODBC APIs, you should understand how an ODBC application connects to and exchanges information with a database server.
Retrieve results
When using IBM i Access for Windows functions, in order to work with the rows in a result set, call one of the ODBC APIs which retrieves data. These APIs are the SQLFetch , SQLExtendedFetch, and SQLFetchScroll APIs. These APIs can be used to retrieve one or more rows of the result set.
Access a database server with an ODBC application
An IBM i Access ODBC application needs to follow a basic set of steps in order to access a database.
Establish ODBC connections
Use these handle types to establish an IBM i Access ODBC connection.
Execute ODBC functions
Use these handle types to execute IBM i Access ODBC functions.
Execute prepared statements
If a SQL IBM i Access ODBC statement is used more than once, it is best to have the statement prepared and then executed.
ODBC API return codes
Every IBM i Access ODBC API function returns a value of type SQLRETURN (a short integer). There are seven possible return codes, and associated with each is a manifest constant.
End ODBC functions
The last procedure that must be completed before ending an IBM i Access ODBC application is to free the resources and memory allocated by the application. This must be done so that they are available when the application is run the next time.

Parent topic: IBM i Access ODBC