Seeking tutorial: introduction to ODBC with Delphi

Question

I have a lot of embedded C/C++/Ada experience and an outdated smattering of Delphi plus some database stuff.

Now I have to implement an app in Delphi which can manipulate MySql, Oracle, maybe MS Access. In short, I need ODBC.

I need to programmatically created a database, define its structure and populate its contents, then later query its existence and programmatically search.

I would prefer not to use 3rd party components, unless there is a compelling reason to do so (performance ought not to be an issue for the app, it won't have much data or be run often, at least not in v1.0) .

Can anyone point me at a tutorial which can get me up to speed? Thanks

Answer 1

I found this after a quick Google search. Maybe this will help: Delphi Database Connections

Answer 2

i think your best option is use the ADO components (dbGo) with an Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC.

Delphi 7

Delphi 2007

check theses links for more info about ADO.

• Working with ADO components
• Using ADO in a Delphi application

Answer 3

Apart from using dbGo for ADO (which supports ODBC), you should also check out dbExpress which has drivers for MySQL, Oracle (but not access).

These as well as BDE and the native TClientDataSet are discussed with an example (migrated from one data access technology to another) in my Delphi for Win32 VCL Database Development courseware manual, available at Lulu.com (*currently down for maintenance, but check out http://stores.lulu.com/drbob42 when they're back up) or from my own webshop as PDF including support and free upgrades.

You can also check out some free articles at http://www.drbob42.com/examines and one on TClientDataSet and dbExpress at http://conferences.embarcadero.com/article/32262

Answer 4

The process requires a couple of steps: [1] Providing the ODBC link to the MySQL database via a Data Source Name (DSN) and [2] accessing this DSN within your Delphi code. The first (at least under Windows 7) can be accomplished using a Microsoft provided utility called "ODBC Data Source Administrator". Step 2 is performed as others have described: Drop an ADOConnection object onto your form, add an ADOTable object and a DataSource object, and (finally) DBGrid and DBNavigator controls.