Remote SQL Database

[Keith Hubert]

Hi All,

Is there a remote sample SQL database with dummy data that we can use as a demo to show how Active Linked tables work, both for desktop and web pages?

That is rather than doing it on your own machine.

As a developer, we know what is happening but from a non technical persons point of view that would be even more impressive.

[NoeticCC]

Re: Remote SQL Database

Hi All,

Is there a remote sample SQL database with dummy data that we can use as a demo to show how Active Linked tables work, both for desktop and web pages?

That is rather than doing it on your own machine.

As a developer, we know what is happening but from a non technical persons point of view that would be even more impressive.

Remotely accessing a database via the Internet is not really the way it's normally done - our IT manager would skin me alive if I allowed external access to our production database! There is a free mySQL host at http://www.freesql.org/freesql but I don't know if they are still working.

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Remote SQL Database

Hi Andrea,

I did say dummy data, maybe, that is because that is what I am.

I thought that was the whole idea of of using data from remote places and combining them onto forms and web pages.

Have I got it all wrong again?

[NoeticCC]

Re: Remote SQL Database

Hi Andrea,

I did say dummy data, maybe, that is because that is what I am.

LOL not quite... it's just that free database hosts aren't all that easy to find - mySQL requires you to specify what each user is allowed to do, by IP address usually, so setting that up for remote administration for example is a nightmare. Depending on your internet connection it is feasible to run an active link table against a remote database, but it's much more logical & faster to connect to a SQL database on your network (or the network of your customer).

I thought that was the whole idea of of using data from remote places and combining them onto forms and web pages.

Have I got it all wrong again?

The usual way for web apps at least is to have the database well hidden behind the firewall, and have the web server - preferably located in the same building/network - connect to it as and when needed, rather than adding to speed and security worries by requiring a database to be accessible from any and all possible IP addresses etc.

[gagsoft]

Re: Remote SQL Database

Hi all
I have an existing booking desktop application running on a remote MySQL database. I also have a local MySQL database which is a mirror of the remote database. The local database I use for testing. So basically I use two connection strings. I want to try third connection string on the same local network from another computer and I am having difficulty with the syntax. The firewall is switched of and all other network related services are working fine. How do I change the following connection string to work from another computer on the same network and which IP should I use? The MySQL server Info displays the following : Network � production, IP � 168.254.221.81.
{A5API=MySQL,Server='localhost',Port='3306',UserName='root',Password='**********',Database='TEventss'}
Thanks,
Peter

[gagsoft]

Re: Remote SQL Database

I got it sorted. Used the IP address from ipconfig. But I have another question. I noticed that one can store the connection string in a variable to be used for inserts, update....but how do I use a variable for active or passive link tables on the tables/sets screen? or is this not possible.




Thanks
Peter

[Selwyn Rabins]

Re: Remote SQL Database

I got it sorted. Used the IP address from ipconfig. But I have another question. I noticed that one can store the connection string in a variable to be used for inserts, update....but how do I use a variable for active or passive link tables on the tables/sets screen? or is this not possible.




Thanks
Peter

are you familiar with named connection strings?

you should use named connection strings. then you can change your whole app to point to a different sql database by just chaning the definition of the named connection string.

[gagsoft]

Re: Remote SQL Database

Hi Selwyn

Thank you for the response. I am currently using named connection strings for this application. I am attempting to convert it to a sort of fail safe situation where the database is mirrored all the time. Should the server fail mechanically, the user can then switch to the mirrored database (editing a text or ini file) and continue working until the server is up and running. I do not know how this can be achieved with the actual tables.

Thanks,


Peter

[Selwyn Rabins]

Re: Remote SQL Database

Hi Selwyn

Thank you for the response. I am currently using named connection strings for this application. I am attempting to convert it to a sort of fail safe situation where the database is mirrored all the time. Should the server fail mechanically, the user can then switch to the mirrored database (editing a text or ini file) and continue working until the server is up and running. I do not know how this can be achieved with the actual tables.

Thanks,


Peter

not clear if you are talking about a desktop or web application.


if a web application, then the named connection strings are in a file called a5_application.a5i file.


if you are talking about a desktop application, then the named connection strings are stored internally.

however, below are some xbasic functions that you can use to edit, and create and enumerate named connection strings. these functions will allow you to put a button on a form in your app to change the definition of any connection string.

'create an alphadao (first parameter = 'cs' which means 'alphadao') connection string called '_foo'. connection string is 'this is a dummy connection'
a5_connstringoperation("cs","_foo","save","","this is a dummy connection string")


'3rd argument is either 'save' or 'delete' ('save' can create a new connection, or edit an existing one).

'list connection strings
?a5_getsavedadoconnections("","AlphaDAO")
Adventureworks
alphasports
Northwind

'resolve a named connection
?a5_GetNamedConnectionString("Nw")
= "{A5API=Access,FileName='C:\northwind\northwind.Mdb',UserName='Admin'}"

[gagsoft]

Re: Remote SQL Database

Hi Selwyn

Thank you for the response. This is just what I need.

Thanks,

Peter