Connect to Azure Table Data from PowerBuilder via ODBC

The CData ODBC Driver for Azure Table can be used from any platform or development technology that supports ODBC, including PowerBuilder. This article shows how to connect to Azure Table data and execute queries from the Database Painter and controls such as the DataWindow.

Connect to Azure Table as an ODBC Data Source

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

Specify your AccessKey and your Account to connect. Set the Account property to the Storage Account Name and set AccessKey to one of the Access Keys. Either the Primary or Secondary Access Keys can be used. To obtain these values, navigate to the Storage Accounts blade in the Azure portal. You can obtain the access key by selecting your account and clicking Access Keys in the Settings section.

Create a Profile for the ODBC Driver for Azure Table

Follow the steps below to use the Database Painter tool to create a database profile based on an ODBC DSN (data source name) for Azure Table. In the Database Painter, you can use wizards and the UI to work with Azure Table data.

1. In PowerBuilder, click Tools -> Database Painter.
2. In the Objects window in the Database Painter, right-click the ODBC node and click New Profile.
3. On the Connection tab, enter a name for the profile and select the Azure Table DSN in the Data Source menu. 👁 The ODBC DSN, required to create the Database Profile. (Salesforce is shown.)
   
4. To view and modify a table, right-click a table and then click Edit Data -> Grid.

Using Azure Table Data with PowerBuilder Controls

You can use standard PowerBuilder objects to connect to ODBC data sources and execute queries. The following example shows how to retrieve Azure Table data into a DataWindow. You can add the following code to the open method:

SQLCA.DBMS = "ODBC"
SQLCA.DBParm = "ConnectString='DSN=CData AzureTables Source'"
CONNECT USING SQLCA;
dw_northwindproducts.SetTransObject(SQLCA);
dw_northwindproducts.Retrieve();