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*   SQLDirect Component Library Ver.0.9.1    *
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

    OVERVIEW
    LATEST CHANGES
    INSTALLATION
    DEMO-PROGRAM
    KNOWN PROBLEMS
    CONTACTING AUTHOR

---------------------------------
OVERVIEW
---------------------------------

   SQLDirect - native components for Delphi 3 for access to SQL-servers.
Now supported Centura SQLBase Server and Oracle Server using 32-bit call
interface. No distributing and configuring BDE and ODBC.
Support all data-aware components.

   Using SQLDirect gives you the following advantages:

- use 32-bit native API of Centura SQLBase Server(ver. 6, 7) and
  Oracle Server 7.2 or later with SQLNet 2.2 or later;
- no distributing, installing and configuring the BDE and ODBC;
- no BDE or ODBC overhead;
- for SQLBase ver.7 and Oracle Server 2.3 you can execute multiple 
  concurrently transactions from one or more threads of your 
  application (one TSDDatabase component on one transaction);
- give to you access to both servers at the same time;
- possibility to use any Delphi3 version (Desktop and other) to develop
  Client/Server applications;
- BLOB-fields;
- support stored procedure;
- cached updates;
- using a data source to bind parameters for master/detail forms;
- interface (methods, properties) of SQLDirect components similar to
  standard BDE data access components (TSession, TDatabase, TQuery ..);
- support all data-aware components;

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LATEST CHANGES
---------------------------------

- incorrect work with TDBGrid in multiselect mode, TDateTimeField includes
  milliseconds (for SQLBase), empty result set with LONG column is 
  equal NULL(for Oracle) (ver.0.9.1);
- add editor of stored procedure's parameters, loss of a current record
  position after ApplyCommit, other bugs was fixed(ver.0.9);
- incorrect display string column (ver.0.8.7);
- support RAW and MLSLABEL column, LONG type for the input parameter 
  of a stored procedure (ver.0.8.6);
- support Oracle Server 7.2, bind parameters from data source (ver.0.8.5);
- now it isn't requred MATH.DCU, select Oracle ROWID-column (ver.0.8.4);
- TSDDataSet.RecordCount raised exception, renamed SDCSql.dcu to SDCsb.dcu (ver.0.8.3);
- only for SQLBase 7.0(6.5b): empty result set for table
  with DATETIME-field is equal NULL (ver.0.8.2);
- range error for query with 2 and more BLOB-fields (ver.0.8.1);
- support stored procedure and function for Oracle (ver.0.8);
- support SQLBase7 API - tested on SQLBase 6.5 beta 2, problem with 
  NULL-value fetch and set was fixed, support BLOB for Oracle Server (ver.0.7.5).

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INSTALLATION
---------------------------------

   Unzip the SqlDir.ZIP in your chosen directory for the components.
Uninstall "SQLDirect Components" package from design package list.
From the Delphi "Component" menu select "Install Packages". Press
the "Add" button and select the <Package collection (*.dpc)> filetype.
Select the SqlDir.dpc file from the chosen directory and press "OK". If
you want to choose of directory for installation press "Directories..".
You will see in column "Path" subdirectories in Delphi directories, you
can enter full path for install package.
The new components should now be available in the Data Access group. The
following dcu-files and lib-files should be installed: sdcsql.dcu,
sdora.dcu, sdconsts.dcu, sdengine.dcu, sqldir.dpl.

   Be sure to include the path in each project's "Search Directory" to
avoid file not found errors at compile time.
This is found in the "Options" for the project on the "Directories" tab.

   For converting the existing applications, using BDE data access a
component it is necessary to open dfm-file (as text) and to replace
TDatabase on TSDDatabase, TQuery on TSDQuery and etc. Then make this
in a pas-file.

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DEMO-PROGRAM
---------------------------------

   Demo-program can be connected to any database, which you choose.
Query test execute any SQL statement and diplay result in grid.
For testing cached updates necessary create the test-table for that
press the button "Create Table". Then it is possible to press "Test Update".
After viewing the demo the test-table can be removed by pressing the
button "Drop Table".

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KNOWN PROBLEMS
---------------------------------

   For Oracle:
   1. If the LONG-column (or LONG RAW) is equal NULL and is located last
in INSERT-statement, then all columns are inserted as NULL (tested
on SQLNet 2.3.2 & Oracle Server 7.3.3).

   2. If you get "External Exception C0000008" or "Access Violation" error 
with Oracle SQL*Net 2.3.3 that look at the following links:

	http://www.borland.com/devsupport/bde/qanda/641.html
		or
	http://www.borland.com/devsupport/sqllinks/pub-73.html

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CONTACTING AUTHOR
---------------------------------

If you have any problems send me the following information:
- what server(name, version) you use;
- what software client(SQL*Net and its version or SQLBase Client) you use;
- Delphi version;

Any questions or suggestions send E-mail to: sheino@cit.org.by

Welcome to SQLDirect Home Page (http://www.cit.org.by/users/sheino/sqldir.htm)

Thanks and I hope to hear from you.


Yuri Sheino
CIT  Center of Information Technology.
Minsk, Belarus.