Frequently Asked Questions

General questions
1. What is dbDeveloper?
2. Where can I obtain a dbDeveloper?
3. What is the trial period of dbDeveloper and what functionality limitations does the trial version have?
4. How can I purchase dbDeveloper?
5. What support is available for dbDeveloper?
6. What platform does dbDeveloper run on?


Technical questions
1. How can I sort using two or more columns?
2. What expressions can be used to filter data id grid?
3. Sometimes specyfying alias or (table name) and dot I should get Completion Proposal with list of table columns. But instead I get a list of tables?
4. When I'm in Connect dialog and choose Oracle I got an error "TNS ....". My Oracle configuration is correct because I can connect to server using SQL Plus?
5. I connect through ODBC. During calling some queries I got an error: "Invalid descriptor index <13>
6. What are minimum required files for connect to MS SQL Server?
7. How I can connect to SQL Anywhere(or Adaptive Server Anywhere) using SQLDirect Components?
8. WhatÆs need for Open Client Library deploy?
9. How can I connect to specified server. What connection string should I put in the "Services" field?


General questions

Q: What is dbDeveloper?
A: dbDeveloper is a visual development tool intended for database design, modeling, creation, modification in an easy and powerful way.
It not only accelerates and makes the process of database creation clear but also simplifies database maintenance. dbDeveloper is developed to work with popular databases systems and takes into account theirs features. It gives the user a similar interface to many databases so that there is no need to have many tools each working differently. dbDeveloper makes your work faster and more simply.

Q: Where can I obtain a dbDeveloper?
A: You can always download the latest version of dbDeveloper at its Download Page. The 30-day trial version of dbDeveloper is fully functional.

Q: What is the trial period of dbDeveloper and what functionality limitations does the trial version have?
A: You can use dbDeveloper absolutely free for a period of 30 (thirty) days since the first installation. The trial version of dbDeveloper has no trial functionality limitations so you can evaluate all the possibilities and features of this product.

Q: How can I purchase dbDeveloper?
A: The best way to purchase dbDeveloper is to get online registration through a third party billing service provided by ShareIt. ShareIt also offers you offline ordering options - by phone, mail, fax, wire and PO (if applicable). Please find all the details at the Order Page.

Q: What support is available for dbDeveloper?
A: We provide our customers with efficient and high-professional e-mail support, which is absolutely free. Whether you have any questions about dbDeveloper or you want to report a bug, feel free to do it through the on-line form.

Q: What platform does dbDeveloper run on?
A: dbDeveloper runs on Windows 95/98/Me/2000/NT4/XP and Pentium processor, 32 MB RAM is recommended.



Technical questions

Q: How can I sort using two or more columns?
A: To sort on multiple selected columns hold SHIFT down while clicking column headers to set multiple sorted columns; hold CTRL down and click columns area to remove sorting.

Q: What expressions can be used to filter data id grid?
A: Now for every column you may specify filter statement which is of the form:

[RELATIONAL SIGN] STATEMENT

where relational sign is one of the following =, <>, <, >, <=, >=.
Omitting relational sign has the same effect as using equal sign ('=').
Statement is any alphanumerical text which is of a valid data type allowed for the corresponding field. For fields which accept string values you may specify filter mask in the statement substituting masked characters with an asterisk or percent ('*' or '%') symbol. To substitute a single character use underscore ('_') mask symbol.
Examples:
  >20   for Numeric column,
  <>T*T2   for String column.

Q: Sometimes specyfying alias or (table name) and dot I should get Completion Proposal with list of table columns. But instead I get a list of tables?
A: That happens when sql parser can't manage with query (it can be not correct, not finished etc.) In that situation parser doesn't know what tables are used in query. So Completion Proposa; doesn't show list of columns but list tables instead.

Q: When I'm in Connect dialog and choose Oracle I got an error "TNS ....". My Oracle configuration is correct because I can connect to server using SQL Plus?
A: It is because you haven't specified proper path to Oracle directory or you have preinstalled Oracle in other directory. dbDeveloper was asking about that path when you run it for the first time. You can set this Oracle home directory path manually in registy key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\ORACLE_HOME.

Q: I connect through ODBC. During calling some queries I got an error: "Invalid descriptor index <13>" A: Some ODBC driver can't execute a query, when BLOB column is not the last column for the query. You need to place BLOB columns at the end of select-item list.

Q: What are minimum required files for connect to MS SQL Server?
A: Below you can view description for the files, which are required for connectivity to Microsoft SQL Server. You can place the required files in Windows system directory (WinNT\system32 or Win95\system) or any other, which is necessary to add to the PATH environment variable.
File Name                         Description 
ntwdblib.dll                      DB-Lib interface library contains 
                                  functions for the WIN32 API 


Communication DLL                 You can use one of the following Net library:
/ Net Library One library         Dbnmpntw.dll - Named Pipes library  
for used communication protocol.  Dbmssocn.dll or dbnetlib.dll (for MSSQL 2000) 
                                  - TCP/IP Sockets library 
                                  Dbmsspxn.dll - NWLink IPX/SPX library 
                                  Dbmsrpcn.dll - Multi-Protocol library 
 

If you will use Named Pipes protocol, then it is enough to distribute the following 
files with your application: Ntwdblib.dll and Dbnmpntw.dll.
As since Named Pipes is default Net-Library for MS SQL Client, 
if Net-Library entry is not exist in registry.

When you need to use other Net Library (except Named Pipes), 
then you need to import the following data(Net Library entry) 
in the system registry for connect through TCP/IP library (for example): 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\ConnectTo] 
"DSQUERY"="DBMSSOCN" 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\DB-Lib] 
"AutoAnsiToOem"="on" 
"UseIntlSettings"="ON" 

Q: How I can connect to SQL Anywhere(or Adaptive Server Anywhere)?
A: First, you need to run SQL Anywhere as Open Server. ItÆs required Open Server Gateway for SQL Anywhere ver.5 and nothing for SQL Anywhere ver.6 (see SQL Anywhere Manuals for command line options). Second, you need to install Open Client Library (see below).

Q: WhatÆs need for Open Client Library deploy?
A: For deploying Open Client libraries you need to copy the following files and directories from full installation:
File/Directory Name            Description 
\sybase\dll                    Includes API-interface and communication libraries.
Libcomn.dll                    Open Client and Open Server Common Library 
Libcs.dll                      Open Server Library 
Libct.dll                      Open Client Library 
Libintl.dll                    Locale library 
Libtcl.dll                     TLI library 
Nlmsnmp.dll                    Named Pipes Driver 
Nlwnsck.dll                    WinSock TCP/IP Driver
Nlnwlink.dll                   NWLink IPX/SPX Driver
                               You can use and deploy only one network driver.
 
\sybase\ini                    Contains initialization files 
Libtcl.cfg 
Objectid.dat 
Sql.ini 

\sybase\charsets               Contains all charsets. You can use and copy only required
                               charsets. In most cases, it is enough ôIso_1ö and ôUtf8ö 
							   charset directories. 
\sybase\locales                Contains messages for some code pages. In most cases, 
                               it is enough a ôEnglish\Iso_1ö locale directory. 

Also you need set SYBASE environment variable to a path, which contains Sybase client, 
and add drive:\sybase\dll directory to the PATH environment variable. 
You can add the following line in your autoexec.bat and change X:\ on your valid driver, 
which contains Sybase client. 

SET SYBASE=X:\sybase 
SET PATH=%PATH%;X:\sybase\dll 
Below you can see a content of Sql.ini for TCP/IP connect, where ASESRV is 
a SQL Server name, and SRVHOST(port: 5000) is a host with SQL Server.

[ASESRV]
$BASE$00=NLWNSCK,SRVHOST,5000
MASTER=$BASE$00;
$BASE$01=NLWNSCK,SRVHOST,5000
QUERY=$BASE$01;

Q: How can I connect to specified server. What connection string should I put in the "Server name" field?
A:
- DB2, Informix and ODBC:
  The "Server name" field can contain DSN, which is set up in ODBC Administrator, 
  or a full datasource string with supported parameters for the required server.
  Below you can see an example of datasource string for Informix server:
  'SERVICE=ids_srv1;HOST=yourhost;PROTOCOL=OLSOCTCP;SERVER=ids_srv1;DATABASE=sysmaster;
  UID=informix;PWD=informix '.

- Interbase:
  The "Server name" field defines a remote server, path to the required database 
  and network protocol. See examples below.
  RemoteDatabase value	    Used network protocol
  :	                                TCP
  \\\                                  NetBEUI
  @	                                SPX

- Oracle:
  The property specifies a host string/service name.

- MySQL, MS SQL Server or Sybase SQL Server:
  If you connect to a remote server then "Server name" field has to include server 
  and database names divided by colon. 
  For example, "srv1:pubs" defines database name PUBS on the server SRV1.