SQL TOOLS

What's New In Version 2?

The BASICally Speaking newsletter reviewed SQL Tools Pro in their September 1999 issue and gave it a 4.2 on a scale of 5.0. They have never given a product a higher rating! Read the review here.

What is SQL Tools?

SQL Tools is a software development package that allows programmers to add comprehensive SQL database support to their PowerBASIC and Visual Basic 32-bit Windows programs.  SQL Tools is also fully compatible with C, C++, Delphi, and many other compilers, but header files and sample programs are currently provided only for VB and PB.  (Contact support@perfectsync.com to inquire about other languages.)

SQL Tools provides all of the functions that PowerBASIC and Visual Basic developers need to write programs that can create, access, query, and modify SQL databases.  You can use any type of database for which a driver is available: Microsoft Access, SQL Server, Oracle, Btrieve, dBase, Sybase, Excel, FoxPro, Paradox, Quattro Pro, Lotus Notes, MySQL,... well over 50 of the world's most popular and powerful databases are supported.  Even plain old "flat files"!

SQL Tools is much easier to install and use than ADO, DAO, or OLE DB.  And while it depends on the driver you select, most SQL Tools users report equal or better performance!

SQL Tools is 100%  procedural -- you perform database operations with  simple functions like SQL_OpenDatabase and SQL_Statement -- so there are no handles, objects, or Windows API calls to worry about.  And because SQL Tools relies only on low-level drivers, it is also much easier to distribute your applications.  SQL Tools works with almost any version of MDAC -- including the versions that are pre-installed with Windows 98SE, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP -- so "installation conflicts" are virtually eliminated.

SQL Tools is based on Microsoft's ODBC technology, but all of the "hard parts" are handled 100% automatically.  If you don't believe us, check out the sample program that's shown below.  (By the way, if you've heard the time-honored rumor that Microsoft is "dropping support for ODBC" it's simply not true! Visit microsoft.com and you'll see that ODBC is a core component of Microsoft's Universal Data Access package, and it is actually the recommended technology for non-OLE database access.)

SQL Tools allows you to use the worldwide-standard SQL Language in your programs. The entire SQL language is supported, using 100% standard syntax.  SQL Tools does not impose any limitations on the SQL syntax that is supported by your ODBC drivers.  (If you've never used the SQL Language before, click here.)

SQL Tools Pro provides virtually 100% of the functionality of the ODBC 3.5, Level 2 specification, which is the state of the art for SQL/ODBC databases. Complete ODBC 3.5 support means that you can create, read and write MDB file without using Microsoft Access... You can read and write DBF files without using FoxPro or dBase... You don't have to use any DBMS software to gain access to over 50 different types of databases!

SQL Tools is NOT a database-design program like Microsoft Access or Oracle's SQL*Plus. In other words, SQL Tools does not provide a GUI environment for designing databases from scratch. (To be clear, SQL Tools can be used to create certain types of databases, such as Access MDB files. But it does not provide a GUI interface for doing so.)

SQL Tools is perfect for Internet and Intranet web server applications!

What's the Difference Between the Standard and Pro Packages?

SQL Tools Standard includes all of the basic functions that you will need to create PowerBASIC and Visual Basic programs that can read and modify SQL databases.  It allows a program to have one or two databases open at the same time, and each database can use one or two SQL statements at a time.

Several basic "Info" functions are provided, such as Database Info, Database Attributes, Table Info, Table Column Info, and Result Column Info. (The Database Attribute function alone provides well over 250 different values.)   A powerful set of Error Management functions is also provided, including two Trace Modes and an "ignore specified error" system.

SQL Tools Pro provides all of the Standard functionality plus a large number of advanced features, including:

• Up to 256 concurrent databases
• Up to 256 concurrent statements per database
• Manual Commit/Rollback of Transactions
• Stored Procedures (pre-compiled SQL statements)
• Batched SQL Statements
• Asynchronous (Background) Execution of SQL Statements
• Enhanced handling of date-time values
• Bookmarks
• Automatic  Row-Number Tracking
• Datasource Management Tools (creating, compacting, etc.)
• Bound Statement Parameters, including Long values and arrays
• Relative Fetches
• Support for MultiRow (Block) Cursors
• Bulk Operations
• Positioned Operations
• Named Cursors
• Connection Pooling
• Multithreaded Operation (if supported by your language)
• Low level SQL/ODBC Diagnostics

Many different Info (catalog) functions are included with the Pro version, including:

• Driver Info
• Datasource Info
• Data Type Info
• Table Statistics
• Table/Column Privilege Info
• Unique Column Info
• Primary Column Info
• AutoColumn Info
• Index Info
• Foreign Key Info
• Stored Procedure Info

...and more! The Pro version even allows you to access low-level API functions that require ODBC Handles and memory pointers to SQL Tools data buffers. (But only if you want to! The use of handles is never required.)

For a function-by-function breakdown of the features that are provided by the Standard and Pro versions of SQL Tools, see Functional Families. For the very brief list of ODBC 3.5 features that are not supported by SQL Tools Pro, see Unsupported Features.

Please Note: All of the SQL Tools functions that are described here are subject to the limitations of the database and ODBC Driver that you choose to use. Most modern drivers provide most of these functions, but Perfect Sync cannot guarantee that every feature listed here will be available to every SQL Tools program.

What Does a SQL Tools Program Look Like?

Here's the BASIC source code for a simple program that opens a database, retrieves all of the data from a table, and exports it to a comma-and-quote-delimited text file:

'open a text file for output...
OPEN "\SQL-DUMP.TXT" FOR OUTPUT AS #1

'open the database...
SQL_OpenDatabase "MyData.DSN"
'(SQL Tools supports both DSN and DSN-less connections)

'execute a SQL statement...
SQL_Statement IMMEDIATE, "SELECT * FROM ADDRESSBOOK"

'retrieve the data...
DO
   SQL_Fetch NEXT_ROW
   IF SQL_EndOfData THEN EXIT DO
   PRINT #1, SQL_ResultColumnText(ALL_COLs)
LOOP

CLOSE #1
SQL_CloseDatabase

That's just ten lines of BASIC code, and it's a fully functioning SQL Tools program

But don't be fooled by the simplicity of that code! Take another look at the SQL Tools Pro feature list and you'll see that it provides everything you'll need to build powerful, flexible, multi-user database programs.  Whether you're a novice or a seasoned SQL guru, SQL Tools has what you need!

For more SQL Tools sample programs, click here.

What Will I Need To Use SQL Tools?

SQL Tools works with any version of Windows from Windows 95 through Windows 7.

You'll need either a PowerBASIC 32-bit Windows Compiler (PB/Win, PB/DLL or PB/CC) or Visual Basic (4.0 or better) and the ODBC Driver for the database that you want to use. (Free drivers for several popular databases can be downloaded from the Microsoft web site.)

If you want to design a complex relational database (as opposed to working with an existing database) you should probably consider the purchase of the appropriate GUI-based "DBMS" database management software, such as Microsoft Access or Oracle SQL*Plus. (If you distribute your program, you do not have to distribute the DBMS program with it.)

We also suggest that you acquire reference materials related to SQL programming. While the SQL Tools documentation contains a lot of information ­ the Help File is over 800 pages long -- it could not possibly be all-inclusive. Literally hundreds of high-quality SQL books are available, covering virtually every "flavor" of SQL. 

SQL Tools Price List

SQL Tools Version 2 Standard License just $99.95
This license allows you to use SQL Tools Standard on a single development computer, and to distribute the Standard runtime files with your applications.

SQL Tools Version 2 Pro License just $199.95
This license allows you to use SQL Tools Pro on up to four (4) development computers, and to distribute the Pro runtime files with your applications. (The Pro version has greatly expanded functionality, compared to the Standard version.)

For a limited time, Discount Upgrade prices are available to SQL Tools Version 1.x licensees.

What Is Included With SQL Tools?

You'll get a copy of the Standard or Pro runtime files with royalty-free distribution rights (see Software License Agreement, the SQL Tools Help File, the declaration/header files that you'll need to link SQL Tools into your PowerBASIC and Visual Basic programs, a selection of sample programs (including a sample database), and a variety of other "support" files.

The SQL Tools Documentation is provided in a standard-format Windows Help File.   The help file is extremely thorough (click here to view the Table Of Contents) and it extensively covers all SQL Tools functionality.  Its 800+ pages are filled with code examples, helpful tips and techniques, and many other Windows, ODBC and SQL related topics.

The SQL Tools documentation is also available in the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) format.  The PDF format allows you to print, search, and even add notes to your copy of the SQL Tools documentation.  The PDF file is available free from Perfect Sync, on request, to licensed users.

Prices, specifications, and availability are subject to change without notice.

Before ordering, please review the

SQL Tools Software License Agreement
and
Perfect Sync's Technical Support Policies

Technical Support for this product is provided by Perfect Sync, Inc.