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# Open Database Connectivity

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Open Database Connectivity, commonly ODBC, is an open specification for providing application developers with a predictable API with which to access Data Sources. An ODBC engine needs drivers to be able to interact with databases.

## ODBC engines

You have two options to chose from: unixODBC and iODBC. Apparently unixODBC is more widely supported. This document shows how to set up unixODBC. First to access your database on your localhost and then extends the steps to configure MySQL to allow remote access through ODBC.

Additionally you can choose from various Devart ODBC drivers for SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, SQLite, Firebird, PostgreSQL, Interbase.

### Installation

Install the unixodbc package.

### Configuration

Driver are declared in `/etc/odbcinst.ini`, and connections in `/etc/odbc.ini`. More instruction at each driver section.

## Drivers

### FreeTDS

FreeTDS is a set of libraries for Unix and Linux that allows your programs to natively talk to Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase databases. Technically speaking, FreeTDS is an open source implementation of the TDS (Tabular Data Stream) protocol used by these databases for their own clients.

#### Installation

Install the freetds package.

#### Configuration

    /etc/odbcinst.ini

    [FreeTDS]
    Driver          = /usr/lib/libtdsodbc.so
    UsageCount      = 1

The configuration file of FreeTDS itself is `/etc/freetds/freetds.conf`.

### Myodbc

Myodbc is ODBC driver/connector for mariadb.

#### Installation

Install the mariadb-connector-odbcAUR package.

#### Configuration

Starting with `odbcinst.ini`, which lists all installed drivers.

    /etc/odbcinst.ini

    [MySQL]
    Description     = ODBC Driver for MySQL
    Driver          = /usr/lib/libmaodbc.so
    FileUsage       = 1

### SQLite

sqliteodbc is ODBC driver/connector for sqlite.

#### Installation

Install the sqliteodbcAUR package.

#### Configuration

Starting with `odbcinst.ini`, which lists all installed drivers.

    /etc/odbcinst.ini

    [SQLite3]
    Description=SQLite ODBC Driver
    Driver=/usr/lib/libsqlite3odbc.so
    Setup=/usr/lib/libsqlite3odbc.so
    Threading=2
    UsageCount=1

### PostgreSQL

psqlodbc is ODBC driver/connector for PostgreSQL.

#### Installation

Install the psqlodbcAUR package.

#### Configuration

Starting with `odbcinst.ini`, which lists all installed drivers.

    /etc/odbcinst.ini

    [postgresql]
    Description=General ODBC for PostgreSQL
    Driver=/usr/lib/psqlodbca.so
    Setup=/usr/lib/psqlodbcw.so
    Threading=2
    FileUsage=1

## Databases

### Microsoft SQL Server 2000

    /etc/odbc.ini

    [server_name]
    Driver      = FreeTDS
    #Trace       = Yes
    #TraceFile   = /tmp/odbc
    Servername  = server_name
    Database    = database_name

    /etc/freetds/freetds.conf

    [server_name]
    host = 192.168.0.2 # Host name or IP address.
    port = 1433 # Default port.
    tds version = 7.1
    client charset = UTF-8

SQL Server ODBC driver connection strings and configuration guide

### Mariadb

Set up your data sources in `/etc/odbc.ini` (system wide) or `~/.odbc.ini` (current user). If a data source is defined in both of these files, the one in your home directory take precedence.

    [MySQL-test]
    Description     = MySQL database test
    Driver          = MySQL
    Server          = localhost
    Database        = test
    Port            = 3306
    Socket          = /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock
    Option          =
    Stmt            =

MariaDB ODBC driver connection strings and configuration guide

#### Create a test database

Create a new database "test". You can use one of the MySQL front-ends such as mysql-workbench, or the command-line mysqladmin command:

    $ mysqladmin -h localhost -u root -p create test

#### Testing the ODBC

To test the ODBC connection

    $ isql MySQL-test

If the connection is established, you will see

    +---------------------------------------+
    | Connected!                            |
    |                                       |
    | sql-statement                         |
    | help [tablename]                      |
    | quit                                  |
    |                                       |
    +---------------------------------------+
    SQL>

If you have a problem connecting then check the error message by running

    $ isql MySQL-test -v

#### A couple useful websites

https://www.unixodbc.org/doc/OOoMySQL.pdf

This website got me going on ODBC with MySQL but left out some things that were necessary for me to get isql up and running. However this might be a good reference for the OpenOffice part.

http://mail.easysoft.com/pipermail/unixodbc-support/2004-August/000111.html

To work around error messages this URL proved helpful so here it is as well.

### Postgresql

Set up your data sources in `/etc/odbc.ini` (system wide) or `~/.odbc.ini` (current user). If a data source is defined in both of these files, the one in your home directory take precedence.

    [Postgres-test]
    Description     = Postgres database test
    Driver          = postgresql
    Servername      = localhost
    Username        = postgres
    Password        = test123
    Database        = test
    Port            = 5432
    ReadOnly        = No

### Virtuoso / SPARQL

    /etc/odbc.ini

    [ODBC Data Sources]
    VOS = Virtuoso

    [VOS]
    Driver = virtuoso-odbc
    Description = Virtuoso Open-Source Edition
    Address = localhost:1111

    /etc/odbcinst.ini

    [virtuoso-odbc]
    Driver = /usr/lib/virtodbc.so

Opening a connection using the default credentials (username: "dba", password: "dba"):

    $ isql VOS dba dba

### SQLite

Setup `odbc.ini` by assign the sqlite file location.

    /etc/odbc.ini

    [ODBC Data Sources]
    sampleDB            = SQLite3 Driver

    [sampleDB]
    Driver      = /usr/lib/libsqlite3odbc.so
    Description = Sample DB
    database    = /home/db/sample.sqlite

Category:

- Database management systems

Open Database Connectivity
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