Databases: Overview

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Visual C++ provides several ways to work with databases. You can directly call database API functions from the DAO or ODBC Software Development Kits (SDKs). Or you can choose to use the Microsoft Foundation Class Library (MFC), and let the MFC DAO classes and MFC ODBC classes simplify working with either database API.

For information on programming directly with the DAO or ODBC API functions, see the DAO SDK or ODBC SDK.

In general, use the MFC DAO classes when you want to work with Microsoft Jet (.MDB) databases. (You can also use DAO to work with external databases, such as ODBC data sources.) Use the MFC ODBC classes when you are not using Jet and want to work with the ODBC API for complete data-source independence. For more detailed information, see the article Database Topics (General).

Tip   Besides writing stand-alone database applications, you can often use a database effectively in other kinds of programs as a convenient storage and retrieval medium.

What do you want to know more about?

• Data Access Objects (DAO)
  
  
• Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
  
  
• Which kind of database support to use
  
  
• Writing a program that uses DAO
  
  
• Writing a program that uses ODBC
  
  
• Writing a program that uses data-bound controls

Tip   Visual C++ includes the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Use this resource to find additional articles on database topics written by product support engineers.