We have a system that uses MS Access and VB. We wish to convert the MS Access file to OI.
The access file has a record for each agent number, sweep date and week (the keys). We would like, in OI, to make one record for the agent # (just one key), with the sweep date and week part of a multivalued fields along with the rest of the information on each record. (An agent number can have many sweep dates and weeks).
Would it be best to import the Access file asis, as an ASCII file and then have a program to arrange the data in the manner we wish, or, try to do it all in a "conversion" program?
Any help, comments, etc., greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Andy
You can create a ODBC dataset to the Access MDB and play with it directly in OI either to import or simply leave in Access and read/write from OI front end as you need.
Tony
Please correct me if I am wrong, but, after scanning the manual (chapter 5 of the developement guide) it is my understanding that I can leave the access data base alone (don't have to convert it), and via sql and odbc use the existing file and update, read, etc, just as if I was accessing an OI database.
I realize that this is a generalization of the process but is it basically correct?
Spot on! OI can use ODBC drivers to work with many databases including Access and SQL Server. OI is 16 bit so depending on the version of the database that you want to talk to you may have to do a bit of "thunking" by editing the ODBC.INI file. Search for THUNKING on the site and there are plenty of examples - even a knowledge base article I think.
Of course, most ODBC databases are set based and work great with SQL syntax so bear that in mind when manipulating data in OI's variable length amv environment.
Tony