ILWIS objects |
Tables - Databases |
In ILWIS, you can use databases from other sources.
A database is:
In general, you can access a database in two ways:
With the Use As method, you will have:
When you open an entire database with the Use As method, you will obtain a so-called database collection . A database collection is similar to an object collection; the difference is that an object collection may contain all kinds of ILWIS objects (maps, tables, layouts, etc.), while a database collection may only contain tables. You are not allowed to add any tables to a database collection, and you cannot delete any tables from a database collection.
The access to an external database is achieved through a Windows technique called ADO (ActiveX Data Objects), which makes use of an OLE DB provider, which, in turn, probably uses an ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) driver. The OLE DB provider and the ODBC drivers that are installed on your system determine which types of databases can be used. For a standard Windows database program like Access, the required driver is already present on your system.
Below, two methods will be shortly described to open an external database.
1. Showing and opening foreign database files through the Catalog:
This method can be used when the database consists of a single file which contains one or more tables (e.g. dBase, Paradox, Excel, Access):
You will obtain a database collection in your Catalog. When you double-click the database collection, the tables
in the database collection will appear. When you double-click a table, it will be opened in Use As manner
u.
You can:
Only when you save a Use As table as a regular ILWIS table, you can also:
Tips:
2. Using the Import Table wizard:
The Import Table wizard can be used when the database consists of a single file which contains one or more tables (e.g. dBase, Paradox, Excel, Access):
the Import Table wizard will be opened.
When you choose to convert the table to ILWIS table format, you will obtain an ILWIS table that can be shown, edited and with which you can calculate as usual.
When you choose to obtain a Use As table u, the same restrictions apply as described in section 1.
For technical information on database collections, refer to ILWIS objects : object collections.
For your information, in Windows Control Panel, under Administrative Tools, Data Sources (ODBC), you can find a list of installed ADO/ODBC drivers.
See also: