HDescribeConnection (Function)

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Syntax 1: Using a character string for the OLE DB provider

Syntax 1: Pseudo-connection to HFSQL Classic database

Differences between HOpenConnection and HDescribeConnection

Using the Native xBase Connector with non-Latin character sets

UDL file

See also

HDescribeConnection (Function)

In french: HDécritConnexion

Not available with these kinds of connection

Describes a new connection to an external database. This connection is named. Specific parameters can be defined such as the management mode of cursors (if the accessed database allows it).

To associate this connection with a table or a data file, use HChangeConnection.

To establish the connection, use HOpenConnection. If the connection parameters described by HDescribeConnection are incorrect, HOpenConnection will return an error.

With HDescribeConnection, an Oracle table description imported into the analysis can be directly used by HFSQL Classic data files. Simply describe a temporary connection to an HFSQL Classic database and associate it with the file description from in the analysis. See the Examples for more details.

This function is kept for backward compatibility. We recommend that you use a Connection variable and its properties to describe a connection.

Only the access to a MySQL database, MariaDB database or to an AS/400 database is allowed.

Versions 17 and later

This function is now available for iPhone/iPad applications.

New in version 17

This function is now available for iPhone/iPad applications.

Versions 18 and later

This function is now available in Windows Store apps mode.

This function is now available in Android Widget mode.

New in version 18

This function is now available in Windows Store apps mode.

This function is now available in Android Widget mode.

This function is now available in Windows Store apps mode.

This function is now available in Android Widget mode.

Versions 21 and later

This function is now available in Universal Windows 10 App mode.

New in version 21

This function is now available in Universal Windows 10 App mode.

Remark: From version 19, HFSQL is the new name of HyperFileSQL.

Example

See additional examples

HDescribeConnection("MyConnection", "", "", ...
"Server_SQLServer", "dbo", hNativeAccessSQLServer, hOReadWrite, "")

Syntax

Describing a connection by programming Hide the details

<Result> = HDescribeConnection(<Connection> , <User> [, <Password>] , <Data source> , <Database> , <OLE DB provider or Native Connector> [, <Access> [, <Extended information>]])

<Result>: Boolean

True if the operation was performed,
False if a problem occurred. HErrorInfo is used to identify the error.
To establish this connection, use HOpenConnection (this function will return an error if the connection parameters are incorrect).
To assign this connection to a data file, use HChangeConnection.

<Connection>: Character string (with quotes)

Name of new connection to define.
If this name is already used by an existing connection, the former connection is replaced by the new one. The former connection (as well as the data files that used it) are automatically closed.

<User>: Character string (with quotes)

User name that will be used for the database. This parameter is returned by ..CtUserName.

<Password>: Optional character string (with quotes)

Connection password (if this password exists). If no password is required, use an empty string ("") or the NULL keyword.

<Data source>: Character string (with quotes)

Full path of data source. The connection will be created and opened for this data source. This parameter is returned by ..CtDatabase.
XML: This parameter corresponds to the name of XML file.
This parameter corresponds to the server name. The port number used by the HFSQL server can be specified. The port 4900 will be used by default. If the port number of the HFSQL server is different, use the following notation:
<Computer name>: <Port number>
Example: "ComputerName:4901".
For a use via Internet, the ports must be managed by Firewall. See Managing ports for more details.
Versions 15 and later
You have the ability to specify an IPv6 address by writing the IPv6 address between square brackets. In this case, the port number must be specified after the closing square bracket. For example: [0154:2145:2155::5554]:4900.
New in version 15
You have the ability to specify an IPv6 address by writing the IPv6 address between square brackets. In this case, the port number must be specified after the closing square bracket. For example: [0154:2145:2155::5554]:4900.
You have the ability to specify an IPv6 address by writing the IPv6 address between square brackets. In this case, the port number must be specified after the closing square bracket. For example: [0154:2145:2155::5554]:4900.

Access by JDBC:
This parameter corresponds to URL for connecting to the database.
Depending on the JDBC driver used, the database name must be specified in the connection URL.
For an Android application:
Versions 18 and later
Connection to an HFSQL Client/Server database:
The database is found on the development computer and it is handled from an Android emulator: use the IP address 10.0.2.2 with the server port. Example: "10.0.2.2:4900"
The database is found on the network of the development computer and it is handled from an Android emulator: use the full name of server with the domain. Example: "Server@domain.com:4900" (with the WINDEV Mobile simulator, the computer name without domain may be sufficient).
New in version 18
Connection to an HFSQL Client/Server database:
The database is found on the development computer and it is handled from an Android emulator: use the IP address 10.0.2.2 with the server port. Example: "10.0.2.2:4900"
The database is found on the network of the development computer and it is handled from an Android emulator: use the full name of server with the domain. Example: "Server@domain.com:4900" (with the WINDEV Mobile simulator, the computer name without domain may be sufficient).
Connection to an HFSQL Client/Server database:
The database is found on the development computer and it is handled from an Android emulator: use the IP address 10.0.2.2 with the server port. Example: "10.0.2.2:4900"
The database is found on the network of the development computer and it is handled from an Android emulator: use the full name of server with the domain. Example: "Server@domain.com:4900" (with the WINDEV Mobile simulator, the computer name without domain may be sufficient).
Connection to a SQLite database:
Full path of the file containing the SQLite database on the Android device.
Example : /sdcard/bdd/MyDatabase.db
If the parameter corresponds to an empty string (""), the file containing the database data will be created in the "databases" directory of application and its name will be identical to the application name followed by the ".db" extension.

<Database>: Character string (with quotes)

Name of database that will be used on the data source, empty string ("") if no name must be specified. This parameter can be used if the data source allows you to specify the database that must be used.
For example, on SQL Server, the "Master" database is the default database but other databases can be handled ("dbo" for example).
To specify that the access is performed on a file found in the "dbo" database (that is not the default database), <Database> must correspond to "dbo".
This parameter is returned by ..CtInitialCatalog.

<OLE DB provider or Native Connector>: Character string or constant

Name of OLE DB provider used. To easily retrieve the string to use, select "Connection" in the data model editor (see the Notes).

or
one of the following constants:
hAccessHF7 Pseudo-connection to HFSQL Classic database
hAccessHFClientServer Native Connector to an HFSQL Client/Server database.
hNativeAccessAS400 Native AS/400 Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessDB2 Native DB2 Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessInformix Native Informix Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
Versions 20 and later
hNativeAccessMariaDB
New in version 20
hNativeAccessMariaDB
hNativeAccessMariaDB Native MariaDB Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessMySQL Native MySQL Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessOracle Native Oracle Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessOracleLite Native Oracle Connector (optional module of WINDEV Mobile)
hNativeAccessPostgreSQL Native PostgreSQL Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessProgress Native Progress Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
Versions 16 and later
hNativeAccessSQLAzure
New in version 16
hNativeAccessSQLAzure
hNativeAccessSQLAzure Native SQL Azure Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV, supplied with Native SQL Server Connector)
Versions 16 and later
hNativeAccessSQLite
New in version 16
hNativeAccessSQLite
hNativeAccessSQLite Native SQLite Connector (supplied with WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessSQLServer Native SQL Server Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV).
The former Native Connector is used by default. To force the use of new Native SQL Server Connector, use the H.SQLServerMode variable.
hNativeAccessSQLServerMobile Native SQL Server Mobile Connector (optional module of WINDEV Mobile)
hNativeAccessSybase Native Sybase Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessXBase Native xBase Connector (supplied with WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessXML Native XML Connector (supplied with WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hODBC OLE DB provider for ODBC (used to access an ODBC data source declared in the ODBC data sources of Windows)
hOledbAccess97 OLE DB provider for Access 97
hOledbAccess2000 OLE DB provider for Access 2000
hOledbDBase5 OLE DB provider for dBase 5
hOledbExcel2000 OLE DB provider for Excel 2000
hOledbExcel97 OLE DB provider for Excel 97
hOledbLotus4 OLE DB provider for Lotus 4
hOledbOracle OLE DB provider for Oracle
hOledbSQLServer OLE DB provider for SQL Server

The available constants are as follows:
hAccessHF7 Pseudo-connection to HFSQL Mobile database
hAccessHFClientServer Connection to HFSQL Client/Server database
hNativeAccessOracleLite Native Oracle Lite Connector (optional module)
hNativeAccessSQLServerMobile Native SQL Server Mobile Connector (optional module)

The available constants are as follows:
Versions 15 and later
hNativeAccessSQLite
New in version 15
hNativeAccessSQLite
hNativeAccessSQLite Native SQLite Connector from an Android application.

The available constants are as follows:
hAccessHF7 Pseudo-connection to HFSQL Mobile database
hAccessHFClientServer Connection to HFSQL Client/Server database
hAccessJDBCMySQL Access to MySQL database via JDBC
Versions 15 and later
hAccessJDBCSQLite
New in version 15
hAccessJDBCSQLite
hAccessJDBCSQLite Access to SQLite database via JDBC
hAccessJDBCSQLServer Access to SQL Server database via JDBC

This parameter can correspond to one of the following constants:
hNativeAccessAS400 Native AS/400 Connector (optional module of WEBDEV)
Versions 20 and later
hNativeAccessMariaDB
New in version 20
hNativeAccessMariaDB
hNativeAccessMariaDB Native MariaDB Connector (optional module of WINDEV/WEBDEV)
hNativeAccessMySQL Native MySQL Connector (optional module of WEBDEV)
Versions 15 and later
hNativeAccessOracle
New in version 15
hNativeAccessOracle
hNativeAccessOracle Native Oracle Connector (optional module of WEBDEV)
Versions 15 and later
hNativeAccessPostgreSQL
New in version 15
hNativeAccessPostgreSQL
hNativeAccessPostgreSQL Native PostgreSQL Connector (optional module of WEBDEV)

<Access>: Optional constant

Configures the type of access to the database.
hOReadWrite
(default value) The database can be accessed in read/write. You have the ability to read the records and to write new records.
hORead The database can be accessed in read-only. You only have the ability to read the records. No record can be added or deleted.

This parameter is returned by ..CtAccess.
This parameter is not available.
Access by JDBC: This parameter is ignored.

<Extended information>: Optional character string (with quotes)

Optional information inserted into the string for connecting to the database. If specific keywords are recognized, the corresponding information is extracted from the connection string. The rest of the connection string is sent to the database. Then, the extracted parameters are processed by the Native Connector or by the OLE DB connector used.
These keywords must be indicated as follows: "<Keyword> = <Value>;".
You can for example specify "Trusted_Connection=YES" in order to use a connection with authentication via the NT login.
The keywords recognized by OLE DB and the Native Connectors are presented in the Optional connection information page.
Example of string to use:

"WD Cache Size = 10000; Server Port=3306;"

Keywords recognized for the access by HFSQL Client/Server:
COMPRESSION Enables or disables the compression of data exchanged between Client and Server. This keyword can correspond to:
TRUE to enable the data compression.
FALSE to disable the data compression.
ENCRYPTION Enables the encryption of the data exchanged between the Client and the Server. This keyword can take two values:
FAST
RC5_16 for a RC5 encryption (16 rounds).
DB_EXIST Checks the existence of the database. If the specified database does not exist, HDescribeConnection returns False.

This parameter is returned by ..CtExtendedInfo.
This parameter is ignored.
HFSQL database accessed via a RMI server: This parameter corresponds to the address of RMI server and to the port used. The following format must be used: "RMI=<Server address>:<Port number>". For example: "RMI=192.168.52.148:1099".
Access by JDBC: This parameter is mandatory. It must correspond to the full name of JDBC driver to use. This name is case sensitive.

Describing a connection from an ADO connection string Hide the details

<Result> = HDescribeConnection(<Connection> , <ADO connection string> [, <Access>])

<Result>: Boolean

True if the operation was performed,
False if a problem occurred. HErrorInfo is used to identify the error.

<Connection>: Character string (with quotes)

Name of new connection to define. If this name is already used by an existing connection, the former connection is replaced by the new one. The former connection (as well as the data files that used it) are automatically closed.

<ADO connection string>: Character string (with quotes)

ADO connection string used. For more details on the syntax of this connection string, see the documentation of the OLE DB provider used.

<Access>: Optional constant

Configures the type of access to the database.
hOReadWrite
(default value) The database can be accessed in read/write. You have the ability to read the records and to write new records.
hORead The database can be accessed in read-only. You only have the ability to read the records. No record can be added or deleted.

Remarks

Syntax 1: Using a character string for the OLE DB provider

To easily find the character string that must be used to define the OLE DB provider, we recommend that you proceed as follows:

In the data model editor, open the connection description window: on the "Analysis" pane, in the "Connections" group, click "Connections".
Select the provider to use ("Connect via" combo box).
The character string corresponding to the provider is displayed. This character string can be used to define the OLE DB provider used in <OLE DB provider>.

Syntax 1: Pseudo-connection to HFSQL Classic database

OLE DB data files or native data files are described in the data model editor. To handle these descriptions by programming with an HFSQL database, simply specify the hAccessHF7 constant as provider name.

Then, this connection can be assigned to the data files affected by HChangeConnection.

The data files in HFSQL format corresponding to the description of the OLE DB or native files will be created (if necessary) in the directory defined by <Data source>. By default, these data files are empty when they are created.

Differences between HOpenConnection and HDescribeConnection

Method 1: To open a connection at the start of the application and close it at the end, use HOpenConnection. To use this connection when handling data files or tables, simply change this connection with HChangeConnection.

HOpenConnection(MyConnection, params) // open the connection
HChangeConnection(AFile, MyConnection)

Method 2: To describe a connection by programming and to automatically open it when opening the data file, you must:

describe the connection with HDescribeConnection.
associate this connection with the data file description via HChangeConnection. The connection will be established during the first access to the data file.

This solution can be useful when an application handles both HFSQL data files and Oracle data files. For example, if the application uses a single Oracle file, in a specific process, the connection to the Oracle database will only be made if necessary.

If the first solution is chosen for the same type of application, the connection (that may take quite a long time) will be established whenever the application is started.

Example:

HDescribeConnection(MyConnection, params)
HChangeConnection(AFile, MyConnection)
...
HReadFirst(AFile) // Open the connection
...
HClose(AFile) // Close the connection

Using the Native xBase Connector with non-Latin character sets

To use the Native xBase Connector with non-Latin character sets, a standard OEM/ANSI conversion must be performed by the Native Connector. To do so, the following string must be specified in the extended information:

OEMTOANSI=WINDOWS;

Example:

In the initialization code of the project, add the code used to modify the character set:

ChangeCharset(charsetChinese)
Create an xBase connection:

HDescribeConnection("CntxBase", "", "", fExeDir(), "", hNativeAccessXBase, hOReadWrite, ...
"OEMTOANSI=WINDOWS;")
HChangeConnection("*", "CntxBase")

UDL file

To create a UDL file:

Create a text file whose extension is "UDL".
Double-click this file. The window for the properties of the data links is opened.
Configure the connection.
Run the test of the connection.
Validate ("OK" button). The UDL file can now be used.

Business / UI classification: Business Logic

Component: wd260hf.dll