Database Reference
In-Depth Information
ODBC Data Sources
The last import data source is called ODBC. This data source is a popular standard to let pro-
grams access information stored in database systems. For instance, if your company has an
Oracle, Sybase, or Microsoft SQL Server database to manage orders, you can extract data
directly from that database and import it into your FileMaker Pro database (perhaps you want
to make your own reports with FileMaker).
NOTE
Although you can
import
data from other big database systems, FileMaker also offers a much more
powerful means to interact with some of them: External SQL Sources, or ESS (
External SQL
in FileMaker. ESS is often a simpler and more powerful choice unless you're just after a one-shot
copy of the data.
ODBC is the most complex import data source to set up. It's a two-step process:
▪ First, you need to install an ODBC driver for the kind of database you're connecting to.
For example, if your corporate database is in Oracle, you need an ODBC driver for
Oracle. These drivers are platform specific, and most vendors supply only drivers for Mi-
crosoft Windows. If you're using Mac OS X, you can buy high-quality FileMaker-com-
patible drivers from Actual Technologies at
www.actualtechnologies.com/filemaker.php
.
(When you visit its site, make sure you get the version that's appropriate for the number
of simultaneous users you'll have.)
▪ Next, you need to set up an ODBC data source. FileMaker doesn't connect to the data-
base directly. Rather, it uses a data source that's been specified in the ODBC system on
your computer. So you have to set up that data source first. In Microsoft Windows, you
do this setting up in the ODBC control panel. In Mac OS X, you use the ODBC Admin-
istrator program in your Utilities folder.
Once you have a driver installed and a data source set up, you can use the File→Import Re-
cords→ODBC Data Source command. When you do, you see the Select ODBC Data Source
window (
Figure 21-23
).
When you click Continue in this window, you probably need to enter a user name and pass-
word for the database you're connecting to. You need to get this information from the data-
base administrator, unless you created it in the ODBC software yourself.
Next, FileMaker shows the SQL Query Builder dialog box (
Figure 21-24
).
