This is the DAL Check utility to be used with DAL Server for NetWare SQL v3.0 on the Macintosh workstation. The DAL Check utility enables you to verify that a Macintosh client can connect to and access information on a NetWare server running the DAL Server NLM. You should copy the utility onto the local disk of the client whose connection you want to verify. See the Data Access Language Server Installation and Operation manual that comes with NetWare SQL for further information.
The Installation utility for NetWare SQL requires either a DOS or an OS/2 workstation. If your network consists of Macintosh workstations and a NetWare server (with no access to a DOS or OS/2 workstation), contact Novell Developer Support at 1-800-NETWARE for assistance with installation.
Unlike the other Readme files for NetWare SQL, the Installation utility does not install the README.DAL file. You can read the file directly from the diskette or copy it to your Macintosh hard disk for easy reference.
NOTE: The README.DAL file is designed to be viewed on a Macintosh with a Macintosh text editor. Viewing it on a PC may change the format and truncate the text, making only a portion of the text visible.
In addition to reading the README.DAL file for the Data Access Language (DAL) Server for NetWare SQL, be sure to read the README.DOC file for NetWare SQL. README.DOC contains important information concerning data type enhancements, SQL statements, changes to the "Status Codes and Messages" manual, and other changes that may affect your system operation.
When using the DAL Server with NetWare SQL v3.0, note the following issues:
- Unloading the DAL Server from the NetWare file server also closes any open log files.
- After issuing any one of the following SQL statements for NetWare SQL through the DAL EXECUTE statement, log out from the database and then log in again:
EXECUTE "ALTER TABLE"
EXECUTE "DROP DICTIONARY"
EXECUTE "DROP TABLE"
EXECUTE "DROP VIEW"
- When you enter data in a money field, the DAL Server assumes the last two digits should appear to the right of the decimal point. For example, if you specify 700, the DAL Server interprets this value as 7.00. To indicate a value that the DAL Server interprets as 700, specify 70000.
If your overall network load is high or the processor on the file server is relatively slow, you may want to run the DAL Server in an optimized mode. Doing so assures all users better access to the file server on a regular basis. The default is for the DAL Server not to run in an optimized mode.
When you load the DAL Server, you can specify the -o option on the LOAD DALSVR command line to optimize DAL Server performance. For example, to load the DAL Server with optimization turned on, use this command line:
LOAD DALSVR -o
If the DAL Server is already running, you can use the DALOPT command at the system console to change your optimization specification without unloading the NLM. To turn on optimization after the DAL Server is loaded and running, enter this command:
DALOPT ON
To turn off optimization when the DAL Server is loaded and running, enter this command:
DALOPT OFF
NOTE: If you specify the -n option with the LOAD DALSVR command to fine-tune the file server's performance, you must also run the DAL Server in optimized mode. To turn on optimization, you can either specify the -o option with the LOAD DALSVR command or enter the DALOPT ON command.
DALEXEC.SCR is a procedure file in which you can include DAL statements. When loading the DAL Server, you can specify the -a option on the LOAD DALSVR command line to load the procedure file into memory upon starting up. The DALEXEC.SCR file must reside on the root of the SYS: volume.
After the DAL Server is running, execute the statements in the DALEXEC.SCR file by entering this DAL statement:
EXECUTE FILE "DALEXEC.SCR";
Unlike other files you execute with the EXECUTE FILE statement, DALEXEC.SCR remains loaded in memory after you execute it.
NOTE: While the DAL Server is running, you can execute any other DAL procedure file using EXECUTE FILE. Use the following syntax (omitting the [ and ] symbols):
EXECUTE FILE "filename" [LOCATION "location"];
In the previous statement, the variables are as follows: filename = Name of the procedure file location = Full NetWare path to the file
If you include the LOCATION option, do not specify a drive mapping. If you omit the LOCATION option, the statement looks for the procedure file on the root of the SYS: volume.
For example, to execute a file named Test that resides on the root of the SYS: volume, enter the following statement:
EXECUTE FILE "Test";
To execute a file named Demo that resides in SYS:SYSTEM\DEV (where SYS:SYSTEM is mapped to drive F), enter this statement:
EXECUTE FILE "Demo" LOCATION "SYS:SYSTEM\DEV";
If you specify "F:\DEV" for the LOCATION option, an error results.
Note the following changes to the "Data Access Language Server Installation and Operation" manual for NetWare SQL:
- Page 2-28: The first bulleted item at the top of the page should read as follows.
The User_Location field identifies the user process as DAL CLIENT. The five-byte decimal number in the field is assigned to the Macintosh client by the DAL Server. The first number is 1. For each successive client login, the DAL Server increases this number by one. When the value reaches 65,535, the number wraps back to 1.
- Page 3-2: The section "If You Are Not Using Named Databases" indicates that you must issue the DESCRIBE DATABASES statement in the process of accessing a NetWare SQL database. You are no longer required to issue this statement. If you issue the DESCRIBE DATABASES statement, however, you can see a list of named databases available to your application.
When installing Excel 3.0, select ALL the provided options, including DAL and Auto Install. If you do not select Auto Install, you must manually load the DAL Macro.
The documentation for Excel DAL provides helpful information when you are first learning Excel's interface for DAL. Here are some steps to get you started:
1. Choose the Data menu in Excel.
2. From the Data menu, choose Set Database.
3. Choose External for Database.
4. Choose the New option.
5. Choose your server name as the hostname.
6. Choose OK. The NetWare SQL DBMS should be displayed.
7. If you are using a named database, select Named Database, and then choose the desired database name. Otherwise, enter the path to the database.
Wingz on System 6 does not use NetWare SQL as the default DBMS. Therefore, you must follow these steps to make NetWare SQL the default:
1. Choose the Script menu in Wingz.
2. From the Script menu, choose Open Script.
3. From the available list, choose the DBLink folder.
4. From the available list, choose the ACL folder.
5. From the available list, open the SUDG script file.
6. In the Add pop-up menu, replace Datatrieve with NETWARESQL.
NOTE: If the DBMS name you are replacing contains fewer characters than NETWARESQL, an error message announcing a missing parenthesis may occur at login. You can disregard this message and proceed.
To run with NetWare SQL, the Omnis5 Totally Rad SQL DAL connectivity program requires two modifications. The first is a modification to the Open DAL Database script. The second is the addition of NetWare SQL to the list of DAL-supported products. To complete the modifications, follow these steps:
1. Start the Totally Rad SQL application.
2. From the Design menu, choose Recent Formats.
3. From the Recent Formats menu, choose Window w_Logon.
4. From the Modify menu, choose Procedure or press Command-5. Three windows appear.
5. In the upper left-hand window, click on Open DAL database (Item 26). The upper right-hand window changes to display a script file.
6. Modify the Open DBMS and Open Database command lines. When you choose the line to modify, it appears in the bottom right-hand window of the screen.
Modify the lines as follows. In the second line, substitute DatabaseName with the name of your database. (Be sure to include the quotes.)
Open NETWARESQL dbms;
Open Database "DatabaseName";
7. Press Return to save the changes.
8. From the Design menu, choose Close Top Window.
9. From the Totally Rad SQL menu, choose SQL Vendors (dialects).
10. On the SQL Vendor Data Sheet, click the Next button until you reach a blank data entry form.
11. Click the Insert button.
12. At Dialect Name, enter NetWare SQL.
13. At Vendor Name, enter Novell.
14. Click OK, and then close the window.
15. From the Totally Rad SQL menu, choose Link SQL Vendors to Drivers.
16. In the SQL Vendors (Dialects) box, highlight NetWare SQL.
17. In the Drivers box, highlight DAL.
18. Click on Make Link.
19. Close the Link SQL Vendors to Drivers window.
After following these steps, you are ready to select SQL Log on (Command-3). The Host name you enter is the NetWare file server. Be sure you enter the name in uppercase.
