IBProvider Free v1.5.2
Almost two years have passed since we've decided to make OLE DB provider for InterBase. Now it's difficult to say why this project has been started. There is only one thing that can be precisely said that IBProvider was created not for its own sake. Hardly a year ago this site was created and the opportunity for downloading of IBProvider trial versions was given. At the same time it got known that to link a limitation of component with a limitation of server is not quite correct. And the strategy of minimization of requirement for access components is not popularized abroad of LCPI :). Therefore we had to re-form and remake the provider code quite totally during the year. And as at the present situation the number of «users» functioning from release to release of versions of IBProvider reached the quantity we like we decided to make the next step.
Free IBProvider v1.5.2
This version represents the code based on v1.5 with following characteristics:
- No runtime limits
- The unit renamed in _IBProviderFree.dll
- «Free Borland C++ Compiler» was used to compile
- The same tool library was used with that for the 1.6.x version
- All corrections found during v1.6 lapping were included
Moreover the v1.5. distributive tool library is included in the distributive set.
In fact, «Free IBProvider» represents v1.5 totally updated or v1.6 without support of
- IColumnsRowset
- IDBSchemaRowset
- IDBInfo
- some opportunities added in two last versions (1.5.1 and 1.6)
Nevertheless the free version represents a stable and high-productive software with wide range of potentialities. If you need a real support of arrays, BLOB-fields, free-threading, MTS, the possibility to process any size rowsets, full-fledged support of SQL-queries and independence from server version then «Free IBProvider» is for you. If you are interested in greater functionality you have to become a registered user. We'll try to support both versions, but we can't give guarantees of keeping differences between their functionalities. Therefore you can begin from shared version and switch to the original one afterwards. Also you can keep all «as is» and download time-limited last variant of IBProvider periodically.
We don't put any limitations on the possibility of use of «Free IBProvider» except for making references on IBProvider site when sharing distributive set by CD's and your own Internet-servers.
Preview of 1.6.x
In spite of the presence of shared version we are sure that original version of IBProvider will be in demand. And at present it is already possible to inform on availability of the following functionalities in v1.6.x:
- Correct support of TIMESTAMP type (without loosing milliseconds)
- NUMERIC/DECIMAL storage without rounding and precision loosing.
- Declinations fitting and schema rowsets addition.
- The possibility of IBProvider using as linked server in MSSQL to execute heterogeneous queries. The tests are carried out with using of MSSQL 7.
The release is scheduled to the first half of January. We hope that because of a combination of all above-stated with the low price and the transparent price policy the idea of official purchase of IBProvider will become even more attractive. Naturally, that to avoid the possibility of buying a pig in a poke, the practice of the publication of trial versions of commercial variant will be maintained.