Getting Started

Microsoft SQL Server is a powerful structured query language (SQL) database server. With local area network (LAN) software, SQL Server allows clients running the Windows NT, Windows, Windows 95, or MS-DOS operating-systems to access its services. Developers can write applications for SQL Server by programming with DB-Library for C, the C-language version of the communication library for SQL Server or with DB-Library for Visual Basic, the Visual Basic version of the communication library for SQL Server. For more information about DB-Library for Visual Basic, see Microsoft SQL Server Programming DB-Library for Visual Basic.

DB-Library for C is an application programming interface (API) that consists of C functions and macros that allow an application to interact with SQL Server. Included are functions that send Transact-SQL statements to SQL Server and functions that process the results of those statements. Other functions handle errors and convert data.

DB-Library for C offers a rich set of functions for:

• Opening connections.
• Formatting queries.
• Sending query batches to the server and retrieving the resulting data.
• Using scrollable cursors.
• Bulk-copying data from files or program variables to and from the server.
• Controlling two-phase commit operations between several participating SQL Servers.
• Executing stored procedures or remote stored procedures.

These functions allow the application developer extremely fine-grained control of data flow back and forth between the client and the server. DB-Library supports multiple environments. C programmers can choose from among:

• A multithreaded dynamic-link library (DLL) for the Windows NT operating system
• Medium and large model static-link libraries for MS-DOS for both Microsoft and Borland® compilers
• A DLL for the Windows operating system