Performance considerations of common end-user tools

Several tools can help tune your IBM® i Access ODBC driver environment.

Having an ODBC driver that is optimally tuned is only part of the performance equation. The other part is the tools that are used; whether they are used simply to query the data, or to build complex programs.

Some of the more common tools include:

  • Crystal Services Crystal Reports Professional
  • Cognos® Impromptu
  • Gupta SQL Windows
  • IBM Visualizer for Windows
  • Lotus® Approach®
  • Lotus Notes®
  • Notes® Pump
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Internet Information Server
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Powersoft PowerBuilder
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

There are many more tools available than are on this list, and every tool in the marketplace has its own strengths, weaknesses, and performance characteristics. But most have one thing in common: support for ODBC database servers. However, because ODBC serves as a common denominator for various database management systems, and because there are subtle differences from one ODBC driver to the next, many tool providers write to the more common ODBC and SQL interfaces. By doing this, they avoid taking advantage of a unique characteristic of a particular database server. This may ease programming efforts, but it often degrades overall performance.

Parent topic: IBM i Access for Windows ODBC performance