%META:TOPICINFO{author="ChrisBartram" date="1170468705" format="1.1" version="1.2"}%
%META:TOPICPARENT{name="Hp3000ImageSql"}%
---+ What do I need to access HP3000 Image/SQL databases from a PC?

<pre>
For ODBCLink from M.B. Foster:                                          
--hardware on PC (net card/serial port/etc?)
        one or more of the following:
                - serial port (modem or hard wire connection)
                - TCP/IP lan card

--software on HP3000 (product names, versions)
        ODBCLink from MB Foster
        ThinlanLink (part of MPE/iX 5.0 push) (only if you want lan connect
        Image (Image/SQL not required, although can be used)
        Allbase (optional)
        Cognos PDL v 7.29 (optional, gets to KSAM and flat files)
        host software for serial, PPL and winsock is supplied

--software on PC (product names, versions)
        winsock.dll (WRQ's is nice, FTP Corp tested also) if you want
        winsock connection
        RNS from WRQ if you want lan connection via PPL
        A client to use, we have tested with the following:
                Impromptu v2.0 (Cognos)
                PowerBuilder
                MS Access v1 v1.1 or v2.0
                Visual Basic v2 or v3
                Visual C++ v1 or v1.5
                MS Excel (really MS Query)

--any "bugs" or "features" to watch out for?
        - with Image detail data sets, must have a unique key item for
          updates
        - most of the Microsoft products use a common interface called
          the Jet Engine which causes updating problems in many cases
        - using Visual Basic, if you code calls to the ODBC library, it
          seems
          that it works better than if you rely on the Experts that tend
          to call the Jet Engine routines
--------------------------------------
For HP PC/API that comes with Image/SQL


--hardware on PC (net card/serial port/etc?)
                - TCP/IP lan card

--software on HP3000 (product names, versions)
        ThinlanLink (part of MPE/iX 5.0 push)
        Image/SQL
        Allbase (optional)

--software on PC (product names, versions)
        RNS from WRQ is all I have used, don't know if alternatives exist
        A client to use, we have tested with the following:
                Impromptu v2.0 (Cognos)
                PowerBuilder

               MS Access v1 v1.1 or v2.0
                Visual Basic v2 or v3
                Visual C++ v1 or v1.5
                MS Excel (really MS Query)

--any "bugs" or "features" to watch out for?
        - versions prior to G.xx have been problematic, if you get involved,
          best to get latest and greatest from RC before you begin
        - with Image detail data sets, must have a unique key item for
          updates
        - most of the Microsoft products use a common interface called
          the Jet Engine which causes updating problems in many cases
        - using Visual Basic, if you code calls to the ODBC library, it
          seems
          that it works better than if you rely on the Experts that tend
          to call the Jet Engine routines
</pre>

  --[[BrianDuncombe]]


-- Main.ChrisBartram - 18 May 2006