Using the Connectivity Kit to Connect to a dBASE Database

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6
• Microsoft FoxPro Connectivity Kit, versions 2.5, 2.6

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use the FoxPro Connectivity Kit and ODBC to access data that resides in a dBASE database.

NOTE: dBASE is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

MORE INFORMATION

This article assumes that you have the dBASE ODBC driver that is available as a part of the Microsoft ODBC Desktop Database Driver Kit (DDDK). This driver is also included with some Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Word for Windows and Microsoft Excel for Windows.

To connect to a dBASE data source, you must install the dBASE ODBC Driver and set up a dBASE data source through the ODBC dBASE Setup dialog box in the Windows Control Panel. Since this is a level 1 ODBC driver, the data source is a directory name or the current directory, as indicated in the Setup dialog box.

The dBASE ODBC Setup dialog box also contains an Index dialog box that allows you to associate indexes with a particular .DBF file. A dBASE .MDX file should automatically be used if present.

The following is a code sample that "connects" to a dBASE data source:

   *-- Connect to a dBASE Data Source
   PRIVATE lcSource, lcUser, lcPwd, hDBHdle, lnDBRes

   *-- Init memvars
   STORE 0 TO hDBHdle, lnDBRes
   lcSource = "dBASE"      && dBASE Data Source Name from ODBC dialog box
   lcUser = ""          && Not needed for single tier drivers
   lcPwd = ""          && Not needed for dBASE

   *-- Load Library if not already
   IF !"FPSQL" $ SET('library')
        SET LIBRARY TO FPSQL.FLL
   ENDIF
   WAIT WINDOW "Attempting connection ..." NOWAIT
   hDBHdle = dbConnect(lcSource, lcUser, lcPwd, "")
   IF hDBHdle > 0
      WAIT WINDOW ;
    "Connected to dBASE -  Handle:"+STR(hDBHdle,1,0) TIMEOUT 2
   ELSE
      WAIT WINDOW ;
    "Unable to connect to dBASE .."
   ENDIF

   lnDbRes = DBExec(hDBHdle, "USE f:\smpldata\dbase")
   *(change drive, directory and database name to suit)

REFERENCES

Microsoft ODBC Desktop Database Driver Kit dBASE Driver online Help file