Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver Getting Started Guide

This guide shows you how to download, install, and license the Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver, at the end of which you'll be able to access an Easysoft test database using a Windows application.

On completion of this process, you'll be ready to prepare your own Indexed Sequential Access Method (ISAM) files for ODBC access by using the Easysoft Administrator to map your own file definitions.

If you're installing to evaluate the Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver, this guide shows how to obtain a free trial license for 14 days.

Assumptions

Step 1: Login

Step 2: Download the Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver software

  1. Go to the Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver download page.
  2. Download the Windows and UNIX (or Linux) distributions.

Step 3: Install the Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver server software on your UNIX or Linux server

  1. Login to your UNIX or Linux system as root and change to the directory where you have saved the distribution.
  2. Uncompress and untar the distribution file using the following commands, substituting the version number and platform from your distribution filename: 
    tar -xvf eda-isam-version.platform.tar
  3. This will create a new directory called eda-isam-version.platform within your current directory. Change into that directory and enter ./install.
  4. Accept all the default settings other than where you are prompted to obtain a free trial licence:
    • Choose [6] Data Access for ISAM from the licensing options menu and enter your personal details, leaving the Ref field blank.
    • Choose [1] Automatically by contacting the Easysoft License Daemon when asked how you wish to obtain your license and then [0] Exit.
  5. At the end of the install you will have installed and licensed Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver and the Easysoft ODBC-ODBC Bridge server software, installed the unixODBC Driver Manager, and created an ODBC data source named SAMPLE_ISAM.

    To test the SAMPLE_ISAM data source:

    1. Change directory to /usr/local/easysoft/isam/bin.
    2. To access the SAMPLE_ISAM data files from UNIX or Linux, enter: 
      ./demosql
    3. At the > prompt, you can enter some SQL statements to query your database. For example: 
      select * from LINEITEM;
    4. Getting data back from demosql confirms that the data source is correctly configured to access the Easysoft sample files.
    5. Exit ./demosql by pressing Enter twice.

    Step 4: Install the Easysoft ODBC-ODBC Bridge client software on your Windows client

    1. Double-click the ODBC-ODBC Bridge distribution file.
    2. Choose the Custom setup option, and install the ODBC-ODBC Bridge client.

    Step 5: Configure an Easysoft ODBC-ODBC Bridge data source to access your remote ISAM data

    1. Run ODBC Data Source Administrator, which is located in Control Panel.
    2. In the System DSN tab, double-click Easysoft ODBC-ODBC Bridge.
    3. Complete the ODBC-ODBC Bridge data source setup dialog box:
      Attribute Value
      DSN A name for this data source.
      Description A meaningful description.
      Server The host name or IP address of the machine on which you installed the Easysoft ISAM ODBC driver.
      User A valid UNIX or Linux account name for Server.
      Password The password for User.
      TargetDSN SAMPLE_ISAM
      TargetUser dbo
      TargetAuth easysoft
    4. Use the Test button to confirm that you can successfully connect.

    Step 6: Retrieve data from the Easysoft sample data source using Microsoft Access

    1. You now have a data source on your Windows machine that connects through the Easysoft ODBC-ODBC Bridge to an ISAM data source on your UNIX or Linux server.
    2. Start Microsoft Access and create a blank database.
    3. Do one of the following:
      • For Microsoft Access 2003 and earlier, on the File menu, choose Get External Data > Link Tables.

        The Link dialog box is displayed.

      • For Microsoft Access 2007, on the External Data tab, choose More > ODBC Database.

        The Get External Data wizard starts.

      • For Microsoft Access 2010 and later, on the External Data tab, choose ODBC Database.

        The Get External Data wizard starts.

    4. Do one of the following:
      • For Microsoft Access 2003 and earlier, choose ODBC Databases from the Files of type list.
      • For Microsoft Access 2007 and later, choose Link to the data source by creating a linked table, and then choose OK.

      The Select Data Source dialog box is displayed.

    5. Choose your ODBC data source from the Machine Data Source list, and then choose OK.

      The Link Tables dialog box is displayed.

    6. Choose the LINEITEM table then choose OK.
    7. Choose the linked table in Microsoft Access, and then choose RETURN to work with the linked data.
    8. You have now verified that you can access your remote ISAM files.

    What next?

    Further Support