MdacTools 1.0 - Putting it together.


- Getting Started:

	Unzip MdacTools.zip to any folder.


- Requirements:
	
	MDAC 2.x (tested up to MDAC 2.1 SP2).


- Features:

	MdacTools is a combination of five OLE DB tools:

	- CSBuilder: builds connection strings using the Data Links wizard. Once you have a connection string, you can modify it and test the connection. Full error report is obtained on failure.

	- PRBrowser: browses properties and property sets. Once connected, all supported property sets will appear in the left listbox. Selecting a property set, all supported properties for that set will appear in the right listbox. Selecting any property from the initialization or data source property sets, its value is shown below.

	- SCViewer: schema viewer. Once connected, all supported schemas will appear in the left listbox. Selecting a schema, all supported restrictions for that schema will appear in the right listbox. You can set values for any restriction and get the schema.

	- Enumerator: displays the OLE DB root enumerator and connects to the selected datasource using the provider-specific prompt. Selecting a child enumerator, displays its contents.

	- Table Analizer: lists all user tables from the selected provider, and shows schema and editable data for the selected table.


- Description:

	Connections made with any of MdacTools' pages are global: this means that all pages show their features related to the same connection. You can start or change the connection to another provider from any page, and the rest of the pages will refresh to show the new contents.

	Connection string builder: 

	Press the 'Build' button and the Data Links wizard will show up, allowing you to select a provider and set the desired properties. Closing the wizard displays the obtained connection string. You can modify it or leave it alone, and then check the connection pressing 'Connect'. Or you can copy the string to the clipboard pressing 'Copy'. 

	Once successfully connected, the string will be modified to reflect those properties the provider sets by default. To select a new connection, start over pressing 'Build'. If the selected provider requires a password, be sure to set 'Persist Security Info' to True, otherwise the password will not be included in the string.

	Properties browser:

	If not connected, press 'Connect' and follow the wizard's instructions. Once connected, you will get the selected provider's supported property sets on the listbox to the left. Selecting a property set, all supported properties for that set will show up on the rightmost listbox. 

	Since these properties are set on initialization, only properties belonging to the initialization or data source set will have their values set. Once again, press 'Connect' to change the provider.

	Schema viewer:

	Connect to a provider in the usual way. The leftmost listbox will display all supported schemas. Selecting a schema, the rightmost listbox will display the restrictions that can be set on that particular schema. If you select a restriction, you can set its value by typing it on the 'Value' edit box and pressing 'Set Value'. To get the schema, press 'Get Schema'.

	Restrictions are reset after getting a schema. If you selected a restriction and want to cancel, just select another schema and go back to the original: this resets any selection.

	Enumerator:

	When you select this page, the root enumerator's content will be displayed. You will have typically two kinds of rows: data sources and child enumerators (check the Type field). If you select a child enumerator, the button to the right will display 'Enumerate'. Pressing the button opens the child enumerator.

	If you select a data source, the provider-specific prompt will show up, allowing to connect to that data source. Be aware that some providers may not have an available data source on your machine.

	Table analyzer:	

	Connect as usual, and you will get a list of user tables, with three columns: Table Name, Catalog and Schema. Some providers require the full qualified name of a database object, and this is built 'on the fly' based on provider's properties.

	Selecting a table, you can view full schema information by pressing 'Schema', or display its data by pressing 'Data'. The data viewer is a 'grid-like' listview with editing capabilities (registered version). This grid was built upon the 'original' listview (Explorer 3.0), thus it will run on any Windows 9x / NT platform.

	Navigation:		Arrow keys
	Start edition:		F2 key, double click or context menu (Edit)
	Cancel editing:		Escape key or new selection
	Confirm editing:	Enter key
	Delete row:		Delete key or context menu (Delete)
	Insert row:		Insert key or context menu (Add) *

* you can confirm the insertion with Enter but it will depend on table's schema if the data source accepts partial rows. 


- Registered vs. evaluation versions:

	A new page for 'Command Processor' is added to the registered version. This tool allows to perform SQL commands against any datasource, set properties on the command object and obtain editable data on request.

	The registered version of MdacTools allows you to edit tables and rowsets with Table Analyzer and Command Processor. Full email support is granted to registered users (evaluators can ask for support and they generally get it).


Buenos Aires, July 1999
ARGSOFT
http://www.argsoft.com
support@argsoft.com	