I can't find any information on your site regarding the ODBC driver so please let me ask a few - possibly obvious- questions.

Background: A number of users have asked to be able to access their DBISAM database from other applications

1.  If i purchase DBISAM-ODBC-STD will this provide an ODBC driver that my end users can install?  (IOW do i need to do any work myself?)

2.  Does it require any configuration by my end users?

3.  Does it provide read/write access via ODBC?

4.  Are editing actions over ODBC supported while the table is open in a normal DBISAM application (assuming sharing is enabled)

5.  I'm using v3.30, will a newer ODBC DLL be required for v4/v5?  If so, will i need to pay again?

Thanks

d

Hi Dave,

> 1.  If i purchase DBISAM-ODBC-STD will this provide an ODBC driver that my end users can install?  (IOW do i need to do any work myself?)
>
> 2.  Does it require any configuration by my end users?

All that is needed is to ship the driver (a DLL file) and setup a couple
of registry keys to let the system know about the driver and which data
it can access.

> 3.  Does it provide read/write access via ODBC?

Yes


> 4.  Are editing actions over ODBC supported while the table is open in a normal DBISAM application (assuming sharing is enabled)

Yes

> 5.  I'm using v3.30, will a newer ODBC DLL be required for v4/v5?  If so, will i need to pay again?

Yes

Dave,

<< 1.  If i purchase DBISAM-ODBC-STD will this provide an ODBC driver that
my end users can install?  (IOW do i need to do any work myself?) >>

There is a setup program for the ODBC driver, however you cannot simply put
our setup program on your web site for your customers to download since that
violates the portion of our license agreement that deals with distributing
the product in a way that competes directly with us for revenue.  What we
recommend is that you either:

a) Specifically distribute the ODBC setup program that we provide directly
to the customers that request it.

or

b) Re-package the ODBC driver as necessary in order to make it available for
download to only your customers on your web site.  I can provide you with a
copy of our Inno Setup installation script if you need it so that you can
use it as a guide.

<< 2.  Does it require any configuration by my end users? >>

Yes, they will have to create a DSN (Data Source Name) using the ODBC Data
Sources dialog in the Control Panel and make sure that it points to the
location of the data (local/remote and the database directory/remote
database).  This process, of course, could be automated by your own custom
installation program also.

<< 3.  Does it provide read/write access via ODBC? >>

Yes.

<< 4.  Are editing actions over ODBC supported while the table is open in a
normal DBISAM application (assuming sharing is enabled) >>

Yes.

<< 5. I'm using v3.30, will a newer ODBC DLL be required for v4/v5?  If so,
will i need to pay again?  >>

There are separate drivers for 3.x and 4.x, but they can be installed on the
same machine and do not interfere with one another.  Also, a current 4.x
purchase automatically gives you access to all prior versions of the driver,
including 3.x.

--
Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com

Thanks Tim and Chris,

That all sounds good.

Only question.  When is v5 out?  It might be better to wait for that to avoid paying the upgrade...

Dave,

<< Only question.  When is v5 out?  It might be better to wait for that to
avoid paying the upgrade... >>

I can't really give you a release date at this point.  It's getting closer
every day, however.

--
Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com

Hmmm, that makes it difficult.  Is there any grace period, e.g. anyone who purchased in the 3 months before the release gets a free upgrade?

Otherwise I presume most people would hold off purchasing until its out.

Dave,

<< Hmmm, that makes it difficult.  Is there any grace period, e.g. anyone
who purchased in the 3 months before the release gets a free upgrade? >>

Yes, there's a 90-day grace period and if you purchase expecting to be
within the window, please send us an email when you purchase and ask to be
"forced" into the window even if the release is past the 90-days when it is
actually released and we will honor it.

--
Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com