[NTLUG:Discuss] OT - ODBC question

[Merlin]

Quoting Fred James <fredjame at concentric.net>:

> Unfortunately I don't have a lot of detail - just looking to get up to speed
> a bit.  We have an upcoming project to do some "ODBC" work between our Oracle
> 8.0.4 database (IRIX 6.4) and the database of our shipping vendor (UPS -
> other details unknown as yet).  They (UPS) said "they want to use oracle
> supplied drivers as opposed to MS generic ones as they have had trouble with
> them in the past. "  I am new to ODBC and am just trying to find out what
> they are talking about, and maybe be a little prepared.

ODBC stands for Open Database Connectivity, and is a programming API to 
standardize access to databases.  Microsoft has actually replaced this with 
OLEDB now, but they do have an OLEDB for ODBC provider, which allows you to 
connect to ODBC datasources.  This particular distinction really only applies 
if you are working with SQL Server 7/2k.

What UPS is referring to is simple.  When you install MDAC (Microsoft Data 
Access Components) on a machine, it comes with some Microsoft written ODBC 
drivers to connect to a variety of different databases, including Oracle.

If you have a license to the Oracle client, and install it on a machine, then 
you will also have Oracle ODBC drivers installed.  Obviously, these drivers are 
written by Oracle.

In some cases, vendor provided ODBC drivers will perform better than "generic" 
Microsoft drivers, because they can be "tuned", to an extent, for the target 
database.  And since noone (theoretically) knows the target database better 
than the vendor, their drivers tend to be tuned better.  I say "in some cases" 
because I have had problems in the past with using vendor-provided ODBC 
drivers, and the more generic Microsoft drivers work better.

It really depends on the application that is going to be using the driver.

I'm not sure if this is the general sort of information you were looking for, 
but I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have.  If you'd like, 
we can take this off-list.


-- 
Merlin
"Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards,
for they are subtle and quick to anger."