1.2 Desktop Configuration

With Dharma DataLink SDK Desktop, all components reside on a single computer.

Application

An ODBC application can be any program that calls ODBC functions and uses them to issue SQL statements. Vendors of Windows-based tools typically include ODBC capabilities with their software. Tools such as PowerBuilder™, Visual Basic™, and Web tools all can use ODBC for data access.

ODBC Driver Manager

The ODBC driver manager is a Microsoft-supplied program that routes calls from an application to the appropriate ODBC driver for a data source. To an application, the ODBC driver manager and a driver are a single entity that process requests to a particular data source.

Dharma DataLink Desktop Driver

The Desktop Driver processes ODBC function calls from applications that need to access the proprietary storage system. The driver translates the standard SQL statements into syntax the data source can process, retrieves the requested data from the proprietary storage system, and returns data to the application.

The Dharma DataLink Desktop Driver runs on Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT. It is compatible with Version 3.0 of the Microsoft ODBC standard. It supports all Core and Level 1 API functions, and all Level 2 functions required by Windows and Web tools.

Figure 1–1 shows how these components work together to provide access to proprietary data.