An Introduction to Open Database Connectivity and the Microsoft Foundation Class Library
Wilhelm Schwab, Ph.D.
University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology
This tutorial presentation describes the development of a forms processing program, which is based on the Microsoft Foundation Class Library (MFC). The program uses Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) to store its data in a database. Building the application involves the following steps: (1) build the database; (2) register the database as an ODBC datasource; (3) write the program that reads and updates the database. The example database is implemented using Microsoft Access; however, ODBC allows the program to be independent of the database management system. Access has advantages for the early stages of program development; it provides excellent tools for table and query design, and it simplifies registering the datasource with ODBC. Registering the datasource with ODBC involves using the ODBC administrator, which is part of the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. The administrator associates a unique name with each datasource; programs that use ODBC datasources refer to them by their registered names. Many options exist for writing the program that utilizes a registered datasource. This tutorial illustrates using Microsoft¹s Visual C++ and MFC¹s database classes. Visual C++ includes code generating tools that simplify writing Windows programs, and accessing ODBC datasources.