(upto 500pts!) Borland C++ Builder Database Newbie

OK, at this point, any information that leads in some way to my success in constructing this program will be accepted!!

> "*I plan to distribute this program to several people with different systems, so it has to be handled from within the program and can't require any external database drivers"

this is what concerns me most.  if you wanna use bde, you'll have to install at least paradox.  it can be via an installation program but it is still going to be separate db drivers...  the alternative is to use a 3rd party component but i am not sure if you wanna go that route

if you are happy with the paradox solution, i can give you a full recipe

-- ba

this is the quickest way but not the best way

step 1.  use database desktop software to create the tables you want.  put all the fields, etc.  once you are done, create a copy of these empty tables.  you'll distribute these files with your app

step 2. create a new data module.  put a ttable component in the module for every table you have ( sounds like you only have one ).  put a tdatasource and link it to ttable ( all these are done via the property inspector; no code to write )

step 3. link your tdatasource to your dbgrid and you are done.  the grid will by default show all your fields.  you can customize the look of the grid and the fields to be shown using the property inspector ( still no code )

step 4. other db components work the same way; just put the component, link it to the tdatasource and then pick the field you want to edit

step 5. using installshield ( this comes with c++ builder ), create an installation.  Installshield will create all the db aliases for you.  make sure you copy the empty table files you created into the db directory via installshield

step 6.  you are done

you can also replace steps 2 - 4 using the database wizard in c++ builder

let me know how much more detail you need 'cause i don't know how much you know about c++ builder.  i actually wrote all this from my mind.  if you can give more specifics, i can build  a project for you and write more detailed steps ( hey, anything for 500 points ;-) )

-- ba

Hi, thanks for posting.
My issue is that I really don't want to use some commercial-strength database just to store a bunch of text fields locally. I really want the program just to look in its own little file and put in/pull out a few pieces of data. I'd like it to be able to just run anywhere in just a folder with its data file and not have to have databases registered with the system. Is there a way to do something like this and still use the Data Controls? I noticed the "STANDARD" driver had a ttASCII mode. Could I use this? Or am I going in the wrong direction? Maybe I should write my own simple little engine to store values in a text file? I've done file access, BIOS calls, etc., but all this crazy database stuff is way over my head. I'm really not an experienced programmer.
If you could try to fill me in a little on how these things work, and reccommend what I should do, that would be great. I don't necessarily need the quickest way, but I need something that a learning programmer can understand (of course, I understand if no such explanation exists!).

Thanks!
-Greg Courville

My suggestion is: use TClientDataSet (it is in Data Access Pallete, beside TDataSource)

I suggest this because:

Vantages
1) It already comes with C++ Builder (and with Delphi too)
2) You can create local database without to need any SGBD
3) The database created can be in XML format, then you can import these data even outside your application
4) It works with Data Aware components as well as TTable

Disavantage:
You need to distribute one little DLL (midas.dll) with your application

The price is low if you use TClientDataSet .... take a look at its help in C++ Builder help, TClientDataSet section, look for tutorials in the Web and, if any doubt, as us : )

Fernando - Brasil

BlewItUp, sorry, i forgot about this question for a while.  i did use lozherbert's suggestion, kbmmemtable in a project a while ago and s/he is right, the component serves your purpose well if you don't want to distribute anything with your app.  it is not as advanced as some other db components you'll find but it serves the purpose

-- ba

I'm having problems with KbmMemTable!
When I try to install the design-time component, it says "Cannot load package [Path...]. One of the library files needed to run this application cannot be found."
Any ideas?

-Greg Courville

BlewItUp,
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