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Firebird/InterBase® data access components features
Key features
The following list describes the main features of Firebird/InterBase® Data Access Components:
- Direct access to server data. Does not require installation of other data provider layers (such as BDE and ODBC).
- VCL, VCL.NET, and CLX versions of library available.
- Full support of the latest versions of InterBase®, Firebird and Yaffil database servers.
- Support for all InterBase® data types.
- Disconnected Model with automatic connection control for working with data offline.
- Local failover for detecting connection loss and implicitly re-executing certain operations.
- All types of local sorting and filtering, including by calculated and lookup fields.
- Automatic data updating with the TIBCQuery and TIBCTable components.
- Unicode and national charsets support.
- Firebird/InterBase® events support.
- Advanced script execution functionality with the TIBCScript component.
- Support for using Macros in SQL.
- Easy migration from BDE and IBX with the Migration Wizard.
- Lets you use the Professional Editions of Delphi, C++Builder, and Kylix to develop client/server applications.
- Includes an annual IBDAC subscription with Priority Support.
- Licensed royalty-free per developer (single), per team (up to four (4) developers), or per site (unlimited number of developers in a single company).
See all features for further details.
For a comparison of Devart's InterBase® Data Access Components to other components, refer to InterBase® Data Access Components Performance. Go to Editions and components for an overview of the various InterBase® Data Access Components editions and full list of components included.
Advantages of IBDAC technology
IBDAC is a direct connectivity database wrapper built specifically for the InterBase® server. IBDAC offers wide coverage of the InterBase® feature set, and emphasizes optimized data access strategies.
Wide coverage of Firebird/InterBase® features
By providing access to the most advanced database functionality, IBDAC allows developers to harness the full capabilities of the Firebird/InterBase® server and optimize their database applications. IBDAC provides complete support of Firebird/InterBase® blobs and arrays, Unicode character data, and Firebird/InterBase® events.
Optimized code
The goal of IBDAC is to enable developers to write efficient and flexible database applications. The IBDAC library is implemented using advanced data access algorithms and optimization techniques. Classes and components undergo comprehensive performance tests and are designed to help you write high-performance, lightweight data access layers.
Compatibility with standard Data Access components
The IBDAC interface retains compatibility with standard VCL Data Access components, such as the BDE and IBX.
Existing BDE- and IBX-based applications can be easily migrated to IBDAC and enhanced to take advantage of InterBase®-specific features. Project migration can be automated with the BDE/IBX Migration Wizard.
How does IBDAC work?
IBDAC uses the Firebird/InterBase® client directly to connect to the server. It is designed to be lightweight. IBDAC consists of a minimal layer between the database server and your code. This extends functionality without sacrificing performance.
In comparison, the Borland Database Engine (BDE) uses several layers to access Firebird/InterBase®, and requires additional data access software to be installed on client machines.
The BDE data transfer protocol is shown below.
BDE Connection Protocol
Using IBDAC lets you avoid using the BDE.
BDAC Connection Flow
IBDAC design-time view
All features
General usability
- Direct access to server data. Does not require installation of other data provider layers (such as the BDE and ODBC).
- Interface compatible with standard data access methods, such as BDE and ADO.
- VCL, VCL for .NET, and CLX versions of library available.
- Separated run-time and GUI-specific parts allow you to create pure console applications such as CGI.
- Unicode and national charset support.
Network and connectivity
- Disconnected model with automatic connection control for working with data offline.
- Local failover for detecting connection loss and implicitly reexecuting certain operations.
Compatibility
- Full support of the latest versions of InterBase®, Firebird and Yaffil database servers.
- Support for all InterBase® data types.
- Compatible with all IDE versions starting with Delphi 5, C++Builder 5, and Kylix 2, except Delphi 8, and with Free Pascal. New!
- Includes a provider for UniDAC Standard Edition. New!
- Wide reporting component support, including support for InfoPower, ReportBuilder, FastReport.
- Support of all standard and third-party visual data-aware controls.
- Allows you to use the Professional Editions of Delphi and C++Builder to develop client/server applications.
InterBase® technology support
- Support for fast record insertion with the TIBCLoader component. New!
- InterBase® event support.
- Comprehensive array data type support.
- Advanced BLOB support.
- Streaming (non-caching) BLOB access support.
- Advanced generator support.
- Advanced support for the character set OCTETS.
- Support for the Firebird 2 EXECUTE BLOCK syntax.
- Support for the Firebird 2 RETURNING clause.
- Advanced locking for Firebird 2 .
- Automatic updates by DB_KEY unique field for Firebird 2.
- Default value support for stored procedures.
- InterBase® services components for configuring server parameters and security. New!
Performance
- High overall performance.
- Fast controlled fetch of large data blocks.
- Optimized string data storing.
- Advanced connection pooling.
- High performance of applying cached updates with batches.
- Caching of calculated and lookup fields.
- Fast Locate in a sorted DataSet.
- Preparation of user-defined update statements.
Local data storage operations
- Database-independent data storage with the TVirtualTable component.
- CachedUpdates operation mode.
- Local sorting and filtering, including by calculated and lookup fields.
- Local master/detail relationship.
- Master/detail relationship in CachedUpdates mode.
Data access and data management automation
- Automatic data updating with TIBCQuery and TIBCTable components.
- Automatic record refreshing and locking.
- Automatic query preparation.
- Support for ftWideMemo field type in Delphi 2006 and higher.
Extended data access functionality
- Separate component for executing SQL statements.
- Simplified access to table data with TIBCTable component.
- Ability to retrieve metadata information with TIBCMetaData component. New!
- BLOB compression support.
- Support for using macros in SQL.
- Ability to customize update commands by attaching external components to TIBCUpdateSQL objects.
- Deferred detail DataSet refresh in master/detail relationships.
- MIDAS technology support.
- IBCDataAdapter component for WinForms and ASP.NET applications.
Data exchange
- Transferring data between all types of TDataSet descendants with the TCRBatchMove component.
- Data export and import to/from XML (ADO format).
- Ability to synchronize positions in different DataSets.
Script execution
- Advanced script execution features with TIBCScript component.
- Support for executing individual statements in scripts.
- Support for executing huge scripts stored in files with dynamic loading.
- Ability to use standard ISQL syntax in scripts.
SQL execution monitoring
- Extended SQL tracing capabilities provided by the TIBCSQLMonitor component and the DBMonitor application.
- Borland SQL Monitor support.
- Ability to send messages to DBMonitor from any point in your program.
Visual extensions
- Includes source code of enhanced TCRDBGrid data-aware grid control.
- Customizable connection dialog.
Design-time enhancements
- DataSet Manager tool to control DataSet instances in the project.
- Advanced design-time component and property editors.
- Automatic design-time component linking.
- Easy migration from BDE and IBX with the Migration Wizard.
- More convenient data source setup with the TIBCDataSource component.
- Syntax highlighting in design-time editors.
Product clarity
- Complete documentation sets.
- Printable documentation in PDF format.
- A large amount of helpful demo projects.
Licensing and support
- Included annual IBDAC subscription with Priority Support.
- Licensed royalty-free per developer (single), per team (up to four (4) developers), or per site (unlimited number of developers in a single company).
Trial versions can be downloaded from the Devart website.
Download product information (PDF).
You can order Devart's InterBase® Data Access Components for Firebird and InterBase® here. Details of purchase and payment options can be found here. If you have any further questions please mail info@ibexpert.com.
Product support is offered by Devart at their website: InterBase® Data Access Components support area.
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