-
How long has ODBC been available?
The Minisoft ODBC driver has been available since 1997. You can download a demo version (with a
30-day expiration) of the full product by
clicking
here (if you need instructions on downloading, installation, or running ODBC,
click here). Or, you can email odbcsales@minisoft.com or call
1-800-682-0200.
-
Since Minisoft ODBC works directly on Image databases, is there a way to do this type of mapping?
*This capability is available through our Schema Editor.
(*The old HP driver used Image/SQL which allows columns to be
redefined, so that a concatenated key value can be split into
its component parts for SQL access. Additionally, integer
columns can be mapped to decimal types, allowing the number of
implied decimal places to be specified.) Image SQL is not needed
with ODBC.
Does Minisoft ODBC add any user security -- that is, application level, database level, table
level, or column level security?
Image security is enforced. Much of this capability is available through our Schema Editor. Let us
emphasize here that we will respond to any security issues based on customer/prospect feedback.
Return to top
What about third-party indexing?
We support TPI (Third-Party Indexing,Omnidex & Superdex) and B-Tree Indicies (5.5pp4), as well
as KSAM and MPE flat files. The program also accesses multiple Image and TurboImage databases. A
major advantage of our driver is that we do not require the use of Allbase or Image/SQL, which we
feel creates unnecessary overhead when accessing HP 3000 data.
Return to top
Is the Minisoft ODBC driver ODBC 3.0 compliant?
Yes! The Minisoft ODBC driver is ODBC 3.0 compliant. This means it also supports Remote Data Objects.
Return to top
-
Specifically, how does the Minisoft ODBC driver work?
MSJOB runs the program MSSERVER.MM.MINISOFT. This application starts a copy of SERVER.MM.MINISOFT for
each licensed Minisoft product. These copies of SERVER each listen on the TCP port assigned for the
product they are serving. As clients make connections to the TCP port number, SERVER starts a copy of
the @SRVR program that is specific to each product -- for ODBC, ODBCSRVR.MM.MINISOFT is used; file
transfer uses NFTSRVR.MM.MINISOFT.
One of the first actions of the ODBCSRVR application is to receive the login information supplied
by the client. The ODBCSRVR uses the AIFCHANGELOGON intrinsic to programmatically change the
security of ODBCSRVR to the given user. This allows each copy of ODBCSRVR to run as if it were
logged on as a separate user from a security standpoint. If the user does not have permission to
access a file, he will not be allowed access, while a different user can access it if his username
and password permit.
Image and MPE files are opened as directed by the information in the DSN on the client.
Return to top
Is there a 16-bit version of Minisoft ODBC?
The Minisoft driver is 32-bit only. There is no 16-bit version. By the same token, Minisoft
ODBC will not run 16-bit applications. Since the ODBC driver is
a 32-bit application, you can run ODBC on any Windows operating
system from Win98SE and beyond including Vista. Minisoft
ODBC works only over LAN connections.
Win95 and Win98 are no longer supported.
Return to top
-
Which products has Minisoft ODBC been tested with?
The Minisoft driver has been tested with--and works with!--MS Access, Brio, Cold Fusion,
Crystal Reports, Delphi, Esperant, MS Excel, Impromptu, Lotus Approach, MS Word, and
Visual Basic.
Return to top
-
What versions of MPE/iX does Minisoft ODBC work with?
MPE/iX 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5., 7.0.
Return to top
-
How fast is it?
The performance and speed of the ODBC driver is outstanding! In part this is because the new
driver is based on our proven MiddleMan client/server technology. Many HP users don't realize
that Minisoft has been marketing Image and KSAM file access for several years under the product
name MiddleMan. Several hundred HP 3000 sites are using this technology today to get to Image data
via Visual Basic, Delphi, or PowerBuilder over WinSock-compliant TCPIP stacks! And since Minisoft
ODBC uses the same MiddleMan technology, it performs very well indeed.
Return to top
-
Can the Minisoft ODBC driver handle access to multiple Image databases? Can the Minisoft driver
access KSAM, flat files, and Image databases at the same time?
Yes, and yes! You can have more than one Image database per datasource. On the Databases tab of
the datasource configuration, just click the Add Database button for each database you wish to
access. A datasource can reference multiple Image databases and multiple schemas (schemas are files
built with our Schema Editor that describe an Image database or multiple KSAM and MPE files.
You would build a schema for an Image database if you wanted to create new items that are parts or
combinations of Image items. The Schema Editor is also useful in specifying scaling and data
conversions. Schema files are added to the datasource on the Schemas tab of the datasource
configuration.)
If an Image database is added on the Databases tab, its description is obtained dynamically
with calls to DBINFO. If an Image database is described in a schema file and the schema file is
added on the Schemas tab, then the database's description is obtained from the schema file
(as built with our Schema Editor). This allows you to easily include databases in a datasource
with one easy step, and also gives you the ability to expand the data descriptions if
necessary.
This method of configuring the datasource is simple, yet flexible -- and changing a datasource
configuration is fast and easy, as opposed to changing a DBE. Also you may choose to have many
datasources that include various subsets and supersets of each other. Since the components of
a datasource can be added and removed individually, you can easily create different
datasources to enhance performance and security.
Return to top
-
How do I find out what version of ODBC I have installed on my HPe3000?
Log on :hello mgr.minisoft,mm
:setvar mstrace 7
:odbcsrvr
Return to top
-
What PC operating systems are supported?
Supported: Win98SE and beyond including Windows
NT\2000\XP\2003 and Vista.
No longer supported: Win95, Win98
Return to top
-
What standard is ODBC built to?
ANSI SQL-92 <
http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip127-2.htm>
Return to top
