Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Data Management:
DataServer for Microsoft SQL Server

Introduction

The OpenEdge® DataServer for Microsoft SQL Server allows you to develop and deploy Progress® 4GL or WebSpeed® applications that access a Microsoft SQL Server database. The Progress 4GL is the OpenEdge® Advanced Business Language (ABL) specifically designed to translate knowledge about business operations into software.

The DataServer for MS SQL Server supports Microsoft SQL Server Versions 7 and later. In this manual, any reference to the term MSS or data source refers specifically to the MS SQL Server database. The DataServer itself is fully ODBC-2.0 compliant. It also complies partially with the ODBC 3.0 standard by supporting extensions for running stored procedures.

This chapter will introduce you to the DataServer for MS SQL Server and discuss how OpenEdge and WebSpeed applications work with it to access data sources through the ODBC standard as outlined in the following sections:

DataServer components
DataServer utilities
DataServer demonstration databases
DataServer configurations
Software requirements
Guidelines for using the DataServer
Documentation resources

Subsequent chapters provide additional information about using the DataServer. If you are using the DataServer with WebSpeed and with applications written in Progress® SpeedScript®, all information regarding Progress 4GL applies to your application.

Note: Do not attempt to use the DataServer without first reading the programming guidelines in Chapter 2, " Initial Programming Considerations." Also, be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 5, "Configuring the DataServer," and Chapter 6, "Connecting the DataServer," for installing, configuring, and connecting to a data source.

The OpenEdge DataServer for MS SQL Server allows you to access your SQL Server data source with the Progress 4GL and develop applications within the OpenEdge® Studio. The OpenEdge Studio is a set of tools that helps you to maintain data sources and develop applications with graphical user interfaces. When you develop applications with the OpenEdge Studio, you can design a separation of your user interface, business logic, and data sources. OpenEdge Studio provides user interface independence, whether you need a character UI, a Graphical Windows UI, or a Web interface. When you incorporate a DataServer with OpenEdge Studio, you are enabling the use of your Progress 4GL business logic to access a foreign data source.

OpenEdge provides you the tools for the development, deployment, management, and integration of your application. The DataServer allows you to implement the OpenEdge features and Progress 4GL expansions in applications that run with the supported data sources.

Some of these tools and features are:

OpenEdge® Application Server — Use an application server to partition your application across multiple servers.
Progress Dynamics® — Use Progress Dynamics to design and develop a repository-based application.
Data Dictionary — Use the Data Dictionary to modify database schema; create indexes; and define database triggers, validation expressions, and help messages.
Data Administration — Use the Data Administration to manage database data and perform DataServer tasks.
Database triggers — Use a trigger to fire a block of Progress 4GL code whenever a specific data source event occurs; for example, when creating or deleting a record or assigning a value to a field.

Note that using the DataServer to access a MS SQL Server data source does not provide you with access to all Progress 4GL, WebSpeed, and database features. For details, see Chapter 2, " Initial Programming Considerations."

The OpenEdge DataServer for MS SQL Server is a fully featured DataServer with a wide range of deployment flexibility and scalability. Its features include the following:

It is available for use by multiple users.
It can be configured on remote servers.
The ODBC driver for the data source is bundled with the product.
Note: To install and use an ODBC driver successfully, your system must meet the driver system requirements for connecting to data sources. These system requirements are documented in the DataDirect Connect Reference available on the OpenEdge product CD in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You can view and print this book using Acrobat Reader, version 3.0 or higher, licensed from Adobe Systems. You can download the Acrobat Reader software from the Adobe Web site at no charge. The URL for the Acrobat Reader is: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.