INF: Relationship Between Btrieve and Microsoft Access
  
PSS ID Number: Q113928
Article last modified on 03-13-1995
 
2.00
 
WINDOWS
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Access version 2.0
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SUMMARY
=======
 
Btrieve is not a complete database program, such as Microsoft Access or
Microsoft FoxPro. Btrieve is a database engine that provides database
functionality to applications developed with programming languages such as
Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Visual C++, Pascal, and Assembly
Language.
 
Microsoft Access has the ability to attach, import, and export Btrieve
files.
 
MORE INFORMATION
================
 
Btrieve Technologies defines Btrieve as a record manager, not as a
complete stand-alone database application. Btrieve has no user interface;
it provides only back-end functionality.
 
In order to retrieve data using Btrieve, a front end, or user interface,
must first be written, usually in a programming language. Microsoft Access
has been designed to provide such front end functionality.
 
The relationship between Btrieve and its front end is similar to the
relationship between the Microsoft Jet database engine and a Visual Basic
front end application, although the Jet database engine provides greater
functionality.
 
To provide front end functionality for Btrieve, Btrieve Technologies
created Xtrieve. Where Btrieve standards and Xtrieve standards differ,
Microsoft Access follows the Xtrieve standard.
 
Many programs have been written to use Btrieve. Several major accounting
applications use it to perform database functions. Customers often use
Microsoft Access in conjunction with these programs to provide report
generation capability. By attaching the Btrieve files, Microsoft Access can
read them while the accounting application is still actively using them.
 
Btrieve is provided by Btrieve Technologies as a dynamic-link library
(DLL) file named WBTRCALL.DLL. This DLL file provides the disk I/O and
indexing for the Btrieve files. Data Dictionary (DDF) files are used by
Xtrieve and Microsoft Access, since Btrieve files do not contain any
field information.
 
The relationship between Microsoft Access and Btrieve is shown in this
diagram:
 
    Microsoft Access
          |
   Jet database engine   Database engine used by Microsoft Access.
          |
      BTRV200.DLL        Microsoft Access Btrieve ISAM DLL file.
          |
     WBTRCALL.DLL        This file is provided by Btrieve Technologies.
          |
      DDF files          Data Dictionary files.
          |
       Hard disk         This is the Btrieve file that can be used
         file            as a table in Microsoft Access.
 
Btrieve and Xtrieve are manufactured by Btrieve Technologies, a vendor
independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise,
regarding these products' performance or reliability.
 
Additional reference words: 2.00 importing exporting attaching
KBCategory: kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: IsmBtrv
 
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.
