HOBLink DRDA - the middleware product for direct access to DB2
databases, VSAM, DL/1 and IMS/DB data from your PC.
HOBLink DRDA 4.2 for 32-bit Windows
Product Highlights
Many PC users are familiar with the problem: They have data residing in the
host database that cannot be directly ported to the local PC. The only way to solve
the problem is to print out the data and then to input it again into the PC.
HOBLink DRDA is middleware that allows you to access host databases directly
from your PC running Windows or OS/2, providing the databases comply with the
DRDA or SQL structure.
HOBLink DRDA allows access to "stored procedures" which are executed in the database
system.
What's new in Version 4.2?
BLOB and CLOB support (Binary and Character Large Objects)
In addition plain text, by using BLOBs you can place almost any kind
of data in the database. BLOBs are very large files and can take the
form of pictures, film, music, etc. CLOBs are text files of more than
32 KB. IBM DB2 supports LOBs as of Version 6 for MVS, Version 3.4 for
OS/400 and Version 8 for Windows, Linux and Unix. Only one LOB per SQL
command is supported.
Using Wildcards in the configuration Wildcards (% and ?) can be used in the configuration by
restricting the table selection (DB tab)M; thus, if you enter
'X%','ABC' in the table field, only those tables that begin with X, as
well as the table ABC will be listed.
Real file DSNs Real file DSNs are registry-independent, and can therefore be used
across different computers.
DSN-less connections DSN-less connections, i.e. the information on how a connection is
to be established to the database, are not stored in the ODBC administrator's
data source, but are explicitly stated when establishing the
connection. This is useful for applications that permit entry of a
so-called connection-string, for example, VB, VBA, C, C++, etc.
"Read-only access"
It is possible to set "read-only access" in the
configuration. This prevents users from changing any data in the
database. If an attempt to change data is made nonetheless, HOBLink
DRDA rejects the SQL instruction and issues a corresponding error
message.
Changing the password at logon If "EXTENDED SECURITY" on the database server is
activated, the user can enter a new password in the logon dialog in order,
for example, to change an expired password.
Maintain Your Host Database Directly From Your PC
Any PC application that can access databases via the ODBC or eSQL interface can be used
as a client. For example:
MS Office (Excel, WinWord, Access)
Brio Query
Centura SQL Windows
Sterling VISION:Clearaccess
Business Objects
Borland Delphi 2.0
Cognos Impromptu
MS Visual Basic
Customized applications which use the ODBC interface can be developed in-house using MS
Visual Basic, Centura SQL Windows or Delphi. The development of applications with MS
Visual Basic or VBA macros is fully supported. DAO 3.5 (Data Access Objects), ADO
1.5 (ActiveX Data Objects) and OLE DB1.1 are also supported.
Operating Systems and Languages Supported
For Windows 32-bit: HOBLink DRDA 4.2 - English, German, French, Spanish
For Windows 3.1x:
HOBLink DRDA 4.1 - English, German, French, Spanish
For OS/2:
HOBLink DRDA 4.1 - English, German, French, Spanish
... And How You Can Use HOBLink DRDA
Using HOBLink DRDA, you can execute OS/2 or Windows programs to access host databases.
The prerequisite under Windows is that the applications support ODBC; under OS/2 the
applications must support ODBC or embedded SQL. Many programs already exist that run
under Windows and support the ODBC standard, e.g. MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access and MS
Query. Applications can be programmed using MS Visual Basic, under the condition that
they have APPC capability.
Under Windows and OS/2, HOBLink DRDA allows access to host databases with applications
that support embedded SQL. HOB has also developed an application that does this: Easy SQL Entry.
HOBLink DRDA can be used in a wide variety of environments. The network
connection can be made either via APPC/APPN or TCP/IP. Under Windows it is also
possible to connect over TCP/IP AnyNet.
To connect via APPC, a subsystem must be present on the PC. At this time the following
systems are supported:
For Windows:
Novell NetWare for SAA 1.3b, 2.0
IBM Personal Communications
IBM APPC Networking Services IBM PC Support/400
IBM Client Access/400 for Windows
For OS/2:
IBM Communications Manager/2
IBM Communications Server
IBM Personal Communications
Database Access
HOBLink DRDA supports access to the following host databases:
DB2 for MVS or OS/390
DB2 for VSE & VM (formerly SQL/DS)
DB2/400
DB2/AIX (UDB)
DB2/2 (UDB)
DB2 for Windows NT (UDB)
All other databases that correspond to the DRDA architecture
When HOBDB connect is also used, further ODBC
compatible databases such as Oracle, MS SQL server Sybase, Informix and Adabas may also be
accessed.
