IBProvider - OLE DB provider for Firebird and Interbase work

Driver supports 14 Firebird and Interbase server versions:

Connect to Firebird SQL Server

• Firebird 1.0 (1.0.3)
• Firebird 1.5 (1.5.3, 1.5.4, 1.5.5)
• Firebird 2.0 (2.0.1 - 2.0.x)
• Firebird 2.1
• Firebird 64 bits

Connect to Interbase SQL Server

• Interbase 4 (4.2)
• Interbase 5 (5.5, 5.6)
• Interbase 6 (6.0.1, 6.5)
• Interbase 7 (7.0, 7.1, 7.5.1)
• Interbase 2007

Moreover, IBProvider supports Yaffil SQL Server work.

Easy updating

If you use IBProvider for connecting to Firebird and Interbase, the upgrade to other database server versions as well as the switching between servers will be much easier then in case of using other components.

IBProvider makes automatic setup of its own core to the specific SQL server that includes the following steps:

1. Defining list of key words, reserved by SQL server.
2. Loading metadata provider.
3. Setup of ODBC Escape Sequences parser.
4. Choice of embedded transactions algorithm and supported dialect.
5. Connection of algorithms, optimized for concrete database server version.

You only need to write the queries, IBProver will make all the additional work:

1. Request the information about metadata from SQL server.
2. Specify the command parameters, their type, precision and size.
3. Make the correct values transformation to the specified data type.
4. Upload the data to the own swap-file if their size will exceed the required value in RW memory.
5. Process Unicode rows in ordinary columns, arrays, BLOB-fields as well as storage-objects correctly

In IBProvider we try to take into account all the nuances of Interbase è Firebird API implementation, covering them with standard OLE DB interfaces. It helps working with Firebird and Interbase, usage of client libraries OLE DB, ADO, dbGo (ADO Express), ADO .Net, as well as some others.

More opportunities

OLE DB technology is supported by practically all the modern development tools. Among them:

• Report builders: Crystal reports, Fast Reports, Reporting Services (SSRS).
• Analysis and OLAP tools (Analysis services (SSAS)).
• Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Visual Basic For applications (VBA)).
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Linked Server and Business Intelligence.

ADO Library

It enables developing applications in Visual Studio 6.0 (5.0) Visual Basic, Visual C++, as well as writing automatization scripts for Windows Script Host (WSH) on VBScript and JavaScript.

ADO.Net Library

You may use IBProvider and ADO.Net for connection to Firebird and Interbase in Visual Studio .Net 2008, 2005, develop modern applications on C#, Visual Basic .Net and other languages.

In ADO.Net Library there is a large set of components for the work with data: DataGrid, DataView, TableAdapter, OLE DB components, built-in masters and utilities (Server Explorer, Data connection wizard, DataSet designer) and other tools.

Client library on C++ for OLE DB

It enables to develop the applications on C++ in Visual Studio 2005 and in Ñ++ Builder. IBProvider is spread free of charge as the part of distributive.

Delphi and C++ Builder

The access to Interbase and Firebird from Delphi or from C++ Builder you may choose among the following variants::

• Interact with ADO via COM interfaces.
• Use dbGo (ADO Express) components.

Moreover, for C++ Builder you may use C++ library from IBProvider distributive free of charge.

MS SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence

IBProvider enables working with Interbase and Firebird not only via the MS SQL Linked Server but also as the component of Business Intelligence tools:

• Use Integration Services (SSIS) for developing ETL processes (Extract/Transform/Load) .
• Develop the reports with Reporting Services (SSRS).
• Form the analytic reports and develop the cubes with Analysis Services (SSAS).

IBProvider and 64 bits.

IBProvider Professional exists in 2 editions:

• IBProvider Professional Edition for 32 bits - a standard version allowing to create 32 bits applications.
• IBProvider Professional Edition for 64/32 bits - a component package allowing to develop 32 bits as well as 64 bits applications.

Additional advantages of IBProvider

Valuable transactions support

1. Embedded transactions.
2. Distributed transactions, two-phase commit, MS DTC transactions coordinator support.
3. Transaction retain (Commit Retain/Rollback Retain).
4. Transactions auto commit mode.
5. All the isolation levels: read committed, snapshot, Snapshot Table Stability.
6. Named Savepoints.

Work with commands parameters

1. Named and positional parameters support.
2. Automatic specifying of parameters descriptions, data sizes, precision and types.
3. Direction Support - In/Out parameters.

Data types

1. Support of all the Interbase and Firebird data types, including arrays and BLOB-fields.
2. Support of special types like BOOLEAN in Interbase 7 and in Interbase 2007
3. Implementation of the wide OLE DB Types range.
4. Built-in types converter (client errors protection).

SQL queries parser

1. Special support of DML for Firebird 2.0 , Firebird 2.1 (MERGE, UPDATE OR INSERT, RETURNING, EXECUTE BLOCK, etc).
2. ODBC Escape Sequences parser.
3. DDL queries support (ÑREATE/ALTER/DROP).

Also

1. Connection pool support.
2. Updatable Rowsets and Bookmarks support.
3. Work with multithreaded applications.
4. Client and server cursors support.
5. Support of 39 Firebird and Interbase code pages, including UNICODE.
6. Multilingual support and built-in connection wizard - Microsoft Data Link.

The economy of time

IBProvider is a big choice of development tools and support of all the Interbase and Firebird servers. Don't waste your time studying the low-level Firebird and Interbase API. Don't learn the components that limit you in choosing the development tool, download IBProvider.

You can find the answers to the majority of questions in the detailed documentation chapter and on forum.