Special Requirements - Database Tour Documentation

Database Tour can work on PC's with Windows 7 and later Windows versions.

Database Tour works with relational databases through the interface of the following database engines:

Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)

Works with different types of databases like ODBC data sources, multi-table database files like .mdb, .xlsx etc, or folders with text, CSV, dBase, Paradox, or XML files. Alternatively, advanced users can describe the above mentioned databases manually by specifying connection strings for them. In internet, there is a lot of sources with examples of connections strings for specific types of databases.

ADO is usually installed by default in Windows 2000 or above. It can also be downloaded as MDAC package from Microsoft web site.

Check the ADO status by choosing Help | About... menu (System page).

FD

Works with some popular types of databases like Firebird, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server etc.

Requires the corresponding database clients installed on your computer.

Interbase

Works with Interbase and (with some limitations) Firebird databases.

Requires Interbase client installed on your computer.

Check the Interbase status by choosing Help | About... menu (System page).

Borland Database Engine (BDE)

Works with different types of databases like ODBC data sources, BDE aliases, multi-table database files like .gdb etc, or folders with text, CSV, dBase, or Paradox files.

Requires BDE 5.0 or above installed on your computer.

Check the BDE status by choosing Help | About... menu (System page).

Note: BDE is available only in 32-bit version of the application.

Some types of databases can be connected by more than one interface (for example, dBase files can be opened by ADO or BDE), but some types of databases can be connected only by one interface (for example, HTML files can be opened only by ADO). Please note that different interfaces support different sets of features and may have different efficiency when working with the same database types.

You can choose which interface to use when selecting a database or writing a command line.

Please note, that access to server databases (for example, Interbase, Oracle, SQL Server etc.) is possible only under corresponding client-server software, regardless of which database interface is used.

Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)
	Works with different types of databases like ODBC data sources, multi-table database files like .mdb, .xlsx etc, or folders with text, CSV, dBase, Paradox, or XML files. Alternatively, advanced users can describe the above mentioned databases manually by specifying connection strings for them. In internet, there is a lot of sources with examples of connections strings for specific types of databases. ADO is usually installed by default in Windows 2000 or above. It can also be downloaded as MDAC package from Microsoft web site. Check the ADO status by choosing Help \| About... menu (System page).
FD
	Works with some popular types of databases like Firebird, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server etc. Requires the corresponding database clients installed on your computer.
Interbase
	Works with Interbase and (with some limitations) Firebird databases. Requires Interbase client installed on your computer. Check the Interbase status by choosing Help \| About... menu (System page).
Borland Database Engine (BDE)
	Works with different types of databases like ODBC data sources, BDE aliases, multi-table database files like .gdb etc, or folders with text, CSV, dBase, or Paradox files. Requires BDE 5.0 or above installed on your computer. Check the BDE status by choosing Help \| About... menu (System page). Note: BDE is available only in 32-bit version of the application.