Files required to build an ODBC application

Identify the files required to build an ODBC application.

• Choose an interface to access the ODBC driver
  There are different programming interfaces that can be used with the iSeries™ Access for Windows^® ODBC Driver. Each interface has its strengths and weaknesses.
• ODBC C/C++ application header files
  Identify C/C++ header files for an ODBC C/C++ application.
• ODBC APIs: General concepts
  The following general concepts apply to ODBC APIs:
• Parameter markers
  Parameter markers act as place holders for values that are supplied by the program when you instruct the data source to run the SQL statement.
• SQLFetch and SQLGetData
  SQLGetData provides an alternative to SQLBindCol to retrieve data from the columns of a retrieved row. It can only be called after calling fetch APIs and when the array size is 1.
• Code directly to ODBC APIs
  Many PC applications make ODBC calls that allow the user to seamlessly access data on different platforms. Before you begin developing your own application with ODBC APIs, you should understand how an ODBC application connects to and exchanges information with a database server.
• Retrieve results
  In order to work with all of the rows in a result set, call the SQLFetch API until no more rows are returned.
• Access a database server with an ODBC application
  An ODBC application needs to follow a basic set of steps in order to access a database server.
• Establish ODBC connections
  Use these handle types to establish an ODBC connection.
• Execute ODBC functions
  Use these handle types to execute ODBC functions.
• Execute prepared statements
  If an SQL statement is used more than once, it is best to have the statement prepared and then executed.
• ODBC API return codes
  Every ODBC API function returns a value of type SQLRETURN (a short integer). There are seven possible return codes, and associated with each is a manifest constant.
• End ODBC functions
  The last procedure that must be completed before ending an ODBC application is to free the resources and memory allocated by the application. This must be done so that they are available when the application is run the next time.