Introduction to ODBC for Business Rules

What is ODBC? ODBC – Installing the Drivers ODBC – Data Sources (BR.INI) BR Sample Application BR Context Manager

◦ BR Sample – Common◦ BR Sample – Employee◦ BR Sample – File Record Selection◦ BR Sample – Field Definition◦ BR Sample – Field Definition◦ BR Sample – Dates

Creating Your Own APP

ODBC◦ (O)pen (D)ata(B)ase (C)onnectivity◦ Simply put, your data available in Windows Apps◦ Drivers – provided by ADS & Microsoft◦ Context Manager – provided by ADS

Applications use ODBC to present DATA◦ MS-Access◦ MS-Excel◦ Crystal Report◦ ** Many more!!

http://www.ads.net/brules/filebase/br-updates/odbc_4_01.zip

ADS Drivers easily available on the web.◦ Download Drivers◦ Extract to an Install Directory.◦ Copy BRSERIAL.DAT to disk1 (Each user needs to do this!)◦ EDIT BR.INIT (If desired)◦ EDIT WBCONFIG>SYS (If desired)

Installing ODBC◦ Copy the “DISK1” and “Cabs” to install Folder◦ Run SETUP.EXE from the new “Install” Folder◦ Select Driver & Sample (Or Just Driver for End Users)

Configuration File◦ C:\WINDOWS\BR.INI

[BR] – Points to BRSERIAL.DAT folder [ODBC]

DRIVE – Defines the “Drive Statement” Dictionary Path - Location of Context Database - Base Dir for Data

BR.INI is used to define ODBC settings

Control Panel – Administrative Tools◦ Data Sources (ODBC)◦ System DSN

Common Data Area - BR Sample Data Application Payroll - BR Sample Data Application

C:\Program Files\ADS\Business Rules! BRSERIAL.DAT

◦ (If you forgot to change the install folder) BRNATIVE417K.EXE

◦ ODBC does not come or need BR MENU.WBO

◦ Menu to run Sample Application. For our purposes, the sample data is all we

care about.

RUN CONTEXT/TOOLS

Application Section.◦ Defines BR Applications◦ Multiple Applications may be Defined◦ Each application may have many tables◦ F1 – Add/Create◦ F3 – Change Existing◦ F4 – Delete ◦ F5 – Inquire/Details about ◦ F6 – List◦ F10 - Execute

From Context Manager◦ Select Payroll

F5 - Shows Program & Data Details PRD - Data Folder

C:\Program Files\ADS\BR ODBC Driver\PRD

◦ Remember BR.INI DataPath= C:\Program Files\ADS\BR ODBC Driver

◦ Enter (Or F10) on Common DEDUCT - Sample table, lists various deductions EMPLOYEE - Sample table, lists employees

Employee◦ Application File Code◦ Contains Details

Name - Employee Master File Path - PRD MASTER - EMPLOYEE Key1 - EMPLOYEE.KEY

Up to 10 index files may be listed Select indexes based on “Most Common Searches”

◦ Press “F10” or Enter to select

Once you select Employee◦ A list of record types appear

Only 1 Record Type required. Many record types may be defined.

◦ F5 – Inquire Application Name - Payroll File Name - Employee Record Name - Employee Description - Employee Record Field Name Prefix - For BR Use Only Field Name Suffix - For BR Use Only (Required)

Once you have selected the Employee Record◦ A List of Fields appear.◦ List the fields you wish to make available.

Required Fields ◦ FIELD NAME - Field Name for Windows◦ DESCRIPTION - Description (Not Visible)◦ FORM - C, PD, BH (Any Valid BR Type)◦ LENGTH - Length of Field (In File)◦ DEC - # of Decimal Digits.◦ START - Starting Position◦ STOP - Ending Position◦ DATE FORMAT - Defines Dates

When Naming Date Fields:◦ Include the Word “DATE” in the Name

BIRTH_DATE DATE_HIRED

DATE FORMAT◦ DAYS - Use the Days Format (Default)◦ NODATE - Not a date (But name has

date)◦ CCYYMMDD - Use In any order to define

dates

Using Context Manager◦ Define an Application

Create Tables Create Records

Define Fields

Import your own field layouts to Context◦ NAME=CONTEXT/TOOLD,KFNAME=CONTEXT.KEY/TOOLD◦ NAME=CONTEXT/TOOLD,KFNAME=CONTEXT.KY2/TOOLD