Connect to PostgreSQL Data from PowerBuilder via JDBC

The CData JDBC driver for PostgreSQL is a standards-based control that can be used from any platform or development technology that supports JDBC, including PowerBuilder. This article shows how to use the CData JDBC Driver for PostgreSQL in PowerBuilder.

This article shows how to create a basic PowerBuilder application that uses the CData JDBC Driver for PostgreSQL to perform reads and writes.

Connect to PostgreSQL Data from PowerBuilder

Follow the steps below to use the Database Painter tool to create a database profile based on an JDBC URL for PostgreSQL. You can use a database profile to save connection properties. In the Database Painter, you can graphically manipulate data as well as execute SQL queries.

1. Add the driver JAR to the PowerBuilder classpath. Set the CLASSPATH system environment variable to the path to the driver JAR, located in the lib subfolder of the installation directory.

   Note: If you are using PowerBuilder Classic, you can also add the path to the driver JAR by clicking Tools -> System Options -> Java.

2. Click Tools -> Database Painter.
3. Right-click the JDBC node and click New Profile.
4. In the Database Profile Setup dialog, enter the following:
   • Profile Name: Enter a user-friendly name for the profile.
   • Driver Name: Enter the class name of the driver, cdata.jdbc.postgresql.PostgreSQLDriver
   • URL: Enter the JDBC URL.

     To connect to PostgreSQL, set the Server, Port (the default port is 5432), and Database connection properties and set the User and Password you wish to use to authenticate to the server. If the Database property is not specified, the data provider connects to the user's default database.

     SSH Connectivity for PostgreSQL

     You can use SSH (Secure Shell) to authenticate with PostgreSQL, whether the instance is hosted on-premises or in supported cloud environments. SSH authentication ensures that access is encrypted (as compared to direct network connections).

     SSH Connections to PostgreSQL in Password Auth Mode

     To connect to PostgreSQL via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

     • User: PostgreSQL User name
     • Password: PostgreSQL Password
     • Database: PostgreSQL database name
     • Server: PostgreSQL Server name
     • Port: PostgreSQL port number like 3306
     • UserSSH: "true"
     • SSHAuthMode: "Password"
     • SSHPort: SSH Port number
     • SSHServer: SSH Server name
     • SSHUser: SSH User name
     • SSHPassword: SSH Password

     SSH Connections to PostgreSQL in Public Key Auth Mode

     To connect to PostgreSQL via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

     • User: PostgreSQL User name
     • Password: PostgreSQL Password
     • Database: PostgreSQL database name
     • Server: PostgreSQL Server name
     • Port: PostgreSQL port number like 3306
     • UserSSH: "true"
     • SSHAuthMode: "Public_Key"
     • SSHPort: SSH Port number
     • SSHServer: SSH Server name
     • SSHUser: SSH User name
     • SSHClientCret: the path for the public key certificate file

     Built-in Connection String Designer

     For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the PostgreSQL JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

     java -jar cdata.jdbc.postgresql.jar
     

     Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard. A typical JDBC URL is below:

     jdbc:postgresql:User=postgres;Password=admin;Database=postgres;Server=127.0.0.1;Port=5432;

   👁 The JDBC data source defined in the Database Profile Setup dialog. (Salesforce is shown.)
   
5. To view and modify a table, right-click a table and then click Edit Data -> Grid.

Using PostgreSQL Data with PowerBuilder Controls

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

SQLCA.DBMS = "JDBC"
SQLCA.AutoCommit = False
SQLCA.DBParm = "Driver='cdata.jdbc.postgresql.PostgreSQLDriver',URL='jdbc:postgresql:User=postgres;Password=admin;Database=postgres;Server=127.0.0.1;Port=5432;";
CONNECT USING SQLCA;
dw_orders.SetTransObject(SQLCA);
dw_orders.Retrieve();