Copyright © 1996-2001, SNAP Innovation Softwareentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. All rights reserved.
Welcome to PrimeBase 4.0
PrimeBase is a development platform for the production of client/server and web applications. It consists of 3 main products: the PrimeBase Database Server, the PrimeBase Application Server, and the PrimeBase Open Server, all of which are based on open standards.
The PrimeBase Database Server is a relational Database Management System (DBMS) for Mac, UNIX and Windows platforms. The PrimeBase Database Server supports all common database access standards (SQL, ODBC, JDBC, EOF and DAL) and protocols (TCP/IP, Shared Memory and Appletalk).
The PrimeBase Application Server allows rapid development and deployment of Web applications. The PrimeBase Application Server has many features that make implementing a Web application simple and efficient, including: an object-oriented programming environment and framework and multi-processor capabilities to ensure unlimited scalability.
The PrimeBase Open Server allows the PrimeBase Application Server or other applications using the PrimeBase Virtual Machine to connect to alternate data sources via PrimeBase Open Server plug-ins loaded by the PrimeBase Open Server. For example the Oracle plug-in enables you to access an Oracle database, or by loading the ODBC plug-in you will be able to access data servers via their ODBC drivers.
The software, whether on CD or downloaded from the internet, is "pre-installed". This means it is ready for use within minutes, just copy the software to your machine, unpack and start the application.
Documentation for PrimeBase including reference manuals and user guides is provided in PDF (Portable Document Format) and may be read and printed using Adobe Acrobat available, free of charge, from http://www.adobe.com.
Should you still have problems with the installation of this software, or you have any other questions then you are free to contact us by telephone at ++ 49 40 306 39 400 or via e-mail: support@primebase.com. If you have general support questions that may be interesting to the entire PrimeBase community, then we suggest you visit our Web-site, www.primebase.com, and join our mailing list.
For a more detailed overview of the PrimeBase system we recommend that you read the PDF document: "PrimeBase System Overview"
Before starting the PrimeBase Open Server please read the license agreement at the end of this document. Only proceed to use the PrimeBase Open Server if you are in agreement with the terms of this license.
If you have not already done so, we recomend that you create a new user (by convention called 'snap') on your system for the PrimeBase software.
This software is pre-installed so all you need to do is move this directory to the 'snap' user's home directory and start the open server executable (pbos).
Optionally you can install the exacutables and libraries into the directory specified by the environment variable PRIMEBASEHOME. If it is not defined then PRIMEBASEHOME defaults to /usr/local/primebase. The PRIMEBASEHOME directory must be created and given read, write, and execute privileges for all users who may use the PrimeBase software before doing the installation.
To install this package into PRIMEBASEHOME execute the file "Install_pbos". This will move the files to the correct locations inside of your PRIMEBASEHOME directory.
It is also recommended that ownership of all files in this directory (and sub-directories) is given to the user 'snap', and that the executables are started as the user 'snap'.
Before you can start the open server you must have a PrimeBase Open Server plug-in in the "setup/plugins" directory. The plug-in that the PBOS will use is determined by the environment variable 1505 in the PBOS's environment file 'pbos.env'. Use the PrimeBase environment editor 'pbee' to set this variable. If the variable has not been set then the PBOS will try to load a plug-in called 'pbosrv.so'. The PrimeBase Open Server loads the plug-in automatically on startup.
After you have started the open server you may enter CTRL-R to detach the console, leaving the server running in the background. You may start the server immediately in the background by using the -b option, as follows:
./pbos -b
or use the 'start_open_server' shell script.
To attach a console to the open server running in the background, execute the shell script 'open_server_console' or start the console (pbcon) program. The console executable may be started from any where on the server machine.
You can shutdown the server by entering '#halt' at the console, or by running the 'stop_open_server' shell script.
Developer and Demo Versions
The software in this directory will run for a limited period only. The activation information, including the expiry date is stored in the file 'pbos.key' in this directory.
When the demo period has expired the open server will still start but will run for a limited time and then automatically shutdown.
You may request an extension to this demonstration period for development purposes by sending an e-mail to support@primebase.com. Please state the nature and duration of your project.
We will send you a new 'pbos.key' file. To activate the open server, replace the file in this directory and restart the open server.
Getting Started with PBOS
After you have started the open server you may access it using any PrimeBase client application such as the PrimeBase Application Server 'pbas', the PrimeBase Automation Client 'pbac' or a third party application via the PrimeBase Virtual Machine. Applications access the open server in the exact same way in which they would access a PrimeBase Database Server with the exception that when setting up a connection definition using 'pbac' the brand will be 'Open Server' instead of 'Database Server'. Depending on the plug-in that the open server is using, driver specific connection options may also be specified while setting up the connection. Refer to the plug-in's documentation to see what options may be required.
By default the open server will publish itself with the name 'OpenServer'.
Once connected the clent application treats the PBOS as if it were a PrimeBase Data Server. How much of the PrimeBase Data Server's functionality or what additional functionality is supported by the PBOS is determined by the PBOS plug-in which has been loaded.
The open server can optionally display the commands that it is executing. By default this option is turned on. You can deactivate this option by setting the 'Command Tracing' variable in the 'pbos.env' file to '0' using 'pbee' (PrimeBase Environment Editor). You can also toggle this option on and off using the commands 'set tracing_on()' and 'set tracing_off()' executed by an application connected to the open server.
PBOS character set: You can set the PBOS character set by setting the environment variable 388 in the PBOS environment file to the name of a PrimeBase Unicode file. The PBOS doesnŐt do charter conversion itself but it needs to report the character set of the data being returned to the client so that the client can do the correct charter conversion when required. The character set to use is plug-in dependent but will normally be the native charter set for the platform on which the PBOS is running. The PrimeBase Unicode file specified must exist on the client application's Unicode directory for conversions to take place. If no Unicode file is specified in the PBOS's environment file then the client will accept the data as is without doing any conversions.
Open Server Default Setup
The PrimeBase Open Server comes pre-installed with the ODBC plug-in.
This is a legal agreement between you, the end-user, and SNAP Innovation Software GmbH("SNAP"). By installing a SNAP software program (the "Software") with an installer, or by copying the software to your computer, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this agreement. If you do not agree to these terms, promptly return the disk package and the accompanying items to the place you obtained them for a full refund.
SNAP grants you the right to use one instance of the PrimeBase Database or Application Server for each unique serial number issued. The total number of simultaneous connections may not exceed the number encoded in the activation key. You may run the server on any one of the platforms encoded in the activation key. If a temporary license has been granted the Software may not be used beyond the indicated expire date.
You may use any number of instances of the client software on any platform on which it is available.
The Software is owned by SNAP and is protected by the German copyright law and all other applicable law. You may not decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, patch or modify the Software. You may not rent or lease the Software, but you may transfer your rights under this SNAP License Agreement on a permanent basis provided you transfer all copies of the Software and all written materials, and the recipient writes to SNAP accepting all the terms of this Agreement. Any transfer must include the most recent update and all prior versions.
SNAP shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever (such as damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use this software.
This license is governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.
PrimeBase, the PrimeBase logo and the SNAP logo are trademarks of SNAP Innovation Softwareentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. Copyright © 1997 SNAP Innovation Softwareentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. All rights reserved.