Connect to IBM Informix Data from PowerBuilder via ODBC

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

Connect to IBM Informix 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.

Set the following properties to connect to IBM Informix

• Server: Set this to the name of the server running IBM Informix.
• Port: Set this to the port the IBM Informix server is listening on.
• Database: Set this to the name of the IBM Informix database.
• User: Set this to the username of a user allowed to access the database.
• Password: Set this to the password of a user allowed to access the database.

Create a Profile for the ODBC Driver for IBM Informix

Follow the steps below to use the Database Painter tool to create a database profile based on an ODBC DSN (data source name) for IBM Informix. In the Database Painter, you can use wizards and the UI to work with IBM Informix 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 IBM Informix 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 IBM Informix 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 IBM Informix data into a DataWindow. You can add the following code to the open method:

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