Connect to Reckon Data from PowerBuilder via ODBC

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

Connect to Reckon 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.

When you are connecting to a local Reckon instance, you do not need to set any connection properties.

Requests to Reckon are made through the Remote Connector. The Remote Connector runs on the same machine as Reckon and accepts connections through a lightweight, embedded Web server. The server supports SSL/TLS, enabling users to connect securely from remote machines.

The first time you connect to your company file, authorize the Remote Connector with Reckon. See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide.

Create a Profile for the ODBC Driver for Reckon

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

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