Which ODBC Features Are Not Supported By SQL Tools?

Which ODBC Features Are Not Supported By SQL Tools Pro?

SQL Tools Pro does support the Asynchronous Execution of SQL Statements, but it only supports one of the two available methods. Here is what the Microsoft ODBC Software Developer Kit says about Asynchronous Execution:

"In general, applications should execute functions asynchronously only on single-threaded operating systems. On multithread operating systems, applications should execute functions on separate threads, rather than executing them asynchronously on the same thread. No functionality is lost if drivers that operate only on multithread operating systems do not support asynchronous execution."

The Windows operating system is capable of multithreading -- as are PowerBASIC and most other 32-bit Windows programming languages -- so SQL Tools does not support ODBC-style asynchronous execution. PowerBASIC and most other languages can create threads that allow SQL statements to be executed asynchronously.

Unlike most other languages, Visual Basic does not support true multi-threading, but SQL Tools Pro includes functions that allow SQL Tools itself to create threads which can execute asynchronous SQL statements in VB programs. (These functions, which are easier to use than threading functions, can be used by any programming language.)

To be clear, SQL Tools Pro does not support ODBC-style asynchronous execution, but it does support thread-based asynchronous execution, exactly as recommended by Microsoft.

Descriptors

Here is what the Microsoft ODBC Software Developer Kit says about Descriptors:

"An application calling ODBC functions need not concern itself with descriptors. No database operation requires that the application gain direct access to descriptors. However, for some applications, gaining direct access to descriptors streamlines many operations. For example, direct access to descriptors provides a way to rebind column data that may be more efficient than calling [the SQL_ManualBindCol function] again."

SQL Tools Pro supports virtually 100% of the ODBC functions that can be performed without descriptors. If you feel that your program would benefit from using them, we suggest that you consult the Microsoft ODBC Software Developer Kit for more information. SQL Tools should be completely compatible with any descriptor-API-based functions that you write, but (of course) it is not possible for Perfet Sync to guarantee compatibility.

(By the way, "rebinding column data" was an interesting choice for Microsoft to use as an example, because a very efficient alternate method – which does not use descriptors -- is provided via "statement attributes".)

We believe that only the most complex ODBC programs would require the use of descriptors, and very few programs would benefit from using them.

Deprecated Functions

As the ODBC specification has grown from version 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0 to 3.5, a few functions have been "Retired In Place" along the way. An "RIP" or "deprecated" ODBC function is one that has been replaced by a better, more powerful function, but is still available for older applications to use.

SQL Tools does not support deprecated functions

Duplicate Functions

In a very few cases where two or more ODBC functions can be used to perform the same operation, SQL Tools does not support all of the different methods.

That's it! Every other major feature that is included in the ODBC 3.5, Level 2 specification is supported by the SQL Tools Pro DLL!