How to find the information you need

When you work with PowerBuilder, you can connect to a database in the development environment or in an application script.

This book describes how to connect to your database in the PowerBuilder development environment.

For information about connecting to a database in a PowerBuilder application script, see Application Techniques.

Basic connection procedure

The following table gives an overview of the connection procedure and indicates where you can find detailed information about each step.

**Table 1-1: Basic connection procedure**
Step	Action	Details	See
1	(Optional) Get an introduction to database connections in PowerBuilder	If necessary, learn more about how PowerBuilder connects to a database in the development environment	Chapter 1 (this chapter)
2	Prepare to use the data source or database before connecting to it for the first time in PowerBuilder	Outside PowerBuilder, install the required network, database server, and database client software and verify that you can connect to the database	For ODBC data sources: Chapter 2, “Using the ODBC Interface” For JDBC data sources: Chapter 3, “Using the JDBC Interface” For OLE DB data sources: Chapter 4, “Using the OLE DB Interface” For ADO.NET data sources: Chapter 5, “Using the ADO.NET Interface” For native database interfaces: Chapter 6, “Using Native Database Interfaces”
3	Install the ODBC driver, OLE DB data provider, ADO.NET data provider, or native database interface	Install the driver, database provider, or native database interface required to access your data	For a list of what is supported on your platform: “Supported Database Interfaces” in online Help
4	Define the data source (ODBC connections and some OLE DB drivers)	Create the required configuration for a data source accessed through ODBC	For ODBC data sources: Chapter 2, “Using the ODBC Interface”
5	Define the database interface	Create the database profile	For ODBC data sources: Chapter 2, “Using the ODBC Interface” For JDBC data sources: Chapter 3, “Using the JDBC Interface” For OLE DB data sources: Chapter 4, “Using the OLE DB Interface” For ADO.NET data sources: Chapter 5, “Using the ADO.NET Interface” For native database interfaces: Chapter 6, “Using Native Database Interfaces” For PowerBuilder components: Chapter 15, “Making Database Connections in PowerBuilder Components”
6	Define the EAServer connection	Create an EAServer profile	Chapter 15, “Making Database Connections in PowerBuilder Components”
7	Connect to the data source or database	Access the data in PowerBuilder	Chapter 12, “Managing Database Connections”
8	(Optional) Set additional connection parameters	If necessary, set DBParm parameters and database preferences to fine-tune your database connection and take advantage of DBMS-specific features that your interface supports	For procedures: Chapter 13, “Setting Additional Connection Parameters” For DBParm descriptions: online Help For database preference descriptions: online Help
9	(Optional) Troubleshoot the data connection	If necessary, use the trace tools to troubleshoot problems with your connection	Chapter 14, “Troubleshooting Your Connection”