Preparing to use the Informix database

Before you define the database interface and connect to an Informix database in PowerBuilder, follow these steps to prepare the database for use:

1. Install and configure the required database server, network, and client software.

2. Install the native Informix IN9 or I10 database interface.

3. Verify that you can connect to the Informix server and database outside PowerBuilder.

You must install and configure the required database server, network, and client software for Informix.

1. Make sure the Informix database server software and database network software is installed and running on the server specified in your database profile.

   You must obtain the database server and database network software from Informix.

   For installation instructions, see your Informix documentation.

2. Install the required Informix client software on each client computer on which PowerBuilder is installed.

   Install Informix Connect or the Informix Client SDK (which includes Informix Connect).

   You must obtain the Informix client software from IBM. Make sure the version of the client software you install supports all of the following:

   • The operating system running on the client computer

   • The version of the database that you want to access

   • The version of PowerBuilder that you are running

   For installation instructions, see your Informix documentation.

3. Make sure the Informix client software is properly configured so that you can connect to the Informix database server at your site.

   Run the SetNet32 utility to configure the client registry settings. When you configure Informix Connect client software, it creates a registry entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Informix\SqlHosts. The registry entry contains parameters that define your network configuration, network protocol, and environment variables. If you omit these values from the database profile when you define the native Informix database interface, they default to the values specified in the registry entry.

   For instructions on configuring your Informix client software, see your Informix documentation.

4. If required by your operating system, make sure the directory containing the Informix client software is in your system path.

In the PowerBuilder Setup program, select the Typical install, or select the native Informix database interface in the Custom install.

Make sure you can connect to the Informix server and database you want to access from outside PowerBuilder.

To verify the connection, use any Windows-based utility (such as the Informix ilogin.exe program) that connects to the database. When connecting, be sure to specify the same parameters you plan to use in your PowerBuilder database profile to access the database.

For instructions on using ilogin.exe, see your Informix documentation.