Data Abstract Sample Server

This application is one of available samples that can act as a server for the client applications in the PCTrade Sample Suite. It provides almost all information about the underlying activities of Data Abstract.

While "real life" middle-tier servers are usually black boxes that run without any user interface as Windows Services or Daemons, this sample - for illustration purposes - takes the opposite approach and for each request made from a client provides textual descriptions of the processing that the Data Abstract library did underneath the hood to service the request. Thus, it provides a great opportunity to learn how Data Abstract works.

NOTICE
The Data Abstract for Delphi PCTrade samples suite ships with a precompiled sample server. The executable file along with some support files necessary can be found under \Bin subdirectory of the sample directory, as well as in the Windows Start Menu.
The precomipled server executable was built using AnyDAC data access suite, available as separate product, to provide more data access options. Please visit http://www.anydac.com for more information. In addition to AnyDAC, the server uses dbExpress components for data access to Firebird.
When you compile the sample server yourself, the executable file produced will also be placed into \Bin subdirectory. The executable file should be located there for the server to work correctly.
WARNING: if you are going to build the server with Delphi version prior to 2010 you must rename or delete the dbxdrivers.ini file from the \Bin directory and have a properly configured dbExpress suite installed.

NOTICE:
Unfortunately, our preferred out-of-the-box databases for this sample, SQLite and Firebird, have problems with accessing Unicode fields in Delphi 7. We are trying to resolve this for a future release, but until then, please set up a Microsoft SQL Server or MSDE test database with the provided .backup file, to run these samples. You can also use the precompiled server executable in this case. This only affects Delphi 7, and only when you manually rebuild the server. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Examine the sample

Majority of the server code was written to support logging of Data Abstract internal activity or other things rarely used in real life. Such code is not related to any sample in particular. There are several exclusions, please read corresponding samples descriptions for required server code references.

Getting started

• Launch the Sample Server executable.
• Check if the default database connection was successfully established (examine the log window).
• You may change the database server connects to. Click desired connection description in the list box and examine the log window to find out if connection was established successfully.
• Run the samples supplied and examine the log output to see Data Abstract internal data processing details.
• Use Clear Log button to get rid of text written to the log window.