new to Pervasive, know nothing

barbola · Jan 13, 2009

Hi. I'd like a brief intro to obtaining data via ODBC from a Pervasive database. The production software we purchased is on Pervasive. The reports are difficult to get, and time is a serious concern right now to learn the reporting tools of this system.

I'm familiar with SQL Server and Access but haven't ever connected to a Pervasive database. I have to find the raw data in our system. What do I need?

I tried once a while ago to open an ODBC connection on another product we use, and got an error about limited users = 1 so I didn't go any further.

I can get security priviledges, or at least I've been instructed to inform the Executives if the guy in charge of PSQL won't let me in.

Any ideas to help me get started?

grnelson · Jan 13, 2009

One of the first things you will need are the data dictionary files. The primary ones are file.ddf, field.ddf and index.ddf. If you have these and they are accurate then you should be able to access your data with ODBC if you have the later drivers. If you do not have these files you can try and contact the program vendor or you can try and create them yourself with BtSearch 2008 at

http://www.nssdd.com.

Also you can visit

http://www.pervasive.com

and download the documentation on the various methods of accessing the data. If your limited to 1 user you may have to purchase more licenses from Pervasive or a reseller of Pervasive.

Gil

ettienne · Jan 14, 2009

Pervasive runs a database engine, most likely on your server, and you need a Pervasive client on the workstation from which you will access the data on the server. You need to setup the Pervasive database on the server in Pervasive Control Center, if this has not already been done. The next step is to setup the ODBC DSN on the workstation and point it to the database on the server. This is assuming you have the DDF files for the database as mentioned earlier, as well as available user licenses.

barbola · Jan 14, 2009

Thanks, this is very helpful. The server / production buildings are a few hours drive from here and on a different network that we've been locked out of. This is not a big deal as I can find a way to get connected if I need to, or make the trip out there.

Another option is to load up my workstation with the Pervasive stuff and replicate the database. Do you think this would work? Is that what the paragraph below says?

I have a document for this company's software package that one part says "with the current version you cannot by standard access pervasive data using ODBC. This only works with data replicated in a database or by setting up a Pervasive.SQL database." It refers to a configuration document.

thanks

ettienne · Jan 15, 2009

Some software companies do not make the database DDF files available, they claim this is proprietary. Without the DDF files you cannot access the data, with or without ODBC. Well technically you can by building your own DDF files, but let's be practical here.

Loading Pervasive on your workstation raises an issue with licensing: do you have a valid license to install Pervasive on your workstation?

Have you considered contacting the software vendor and inquiring about your options to access the data?

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new to Pervasive, know nothing

barbola

Technical User

grnelson

Programmer

ettienne

Programmer

barbola

Technical User

ettienne

Programmer

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