* [question] Ada and DataBase @ 1999-04-23 0:00 S. Metzger 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Tom Moran ` (3 more replies) 0 siblings, 4 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: S. Metzger @ 1999-04-23 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) Hello all, I have no experience with ADA (but with C++ or visual Basic) and I have a question : Is there any Data base engin with ADA ? or Is there any Data base engin (For exemple : Microsoft DAO engin) compatible with ADA ? All this under Windows 95/98 naturally !!! If yes, where may I find some documentation about it ??? Thank you by advance for answers. Best regards. Serge Metzger. LSIIT - Stagiaire CNAM - Bureau B226 metzger@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr ou metaxylophenol@hotmail.com "Les dimensions et les caract�ristiques sont toujours exprim�es en termes les moins usit�s. La vitesse, par exemple, est indiqu�e en huiti�me de mille par quinzaine" (Loi de Murphy) ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 [question] Ada and DataBase S. Metzger @ 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Tom Moran 1999-04-23 0:00 ` David Botton ` (2 subsequent siblings) 3 siblings, 0 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: Tom Moran @ 1999-04-23 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) >Is there any Data base engin (For exemple : Microsoft DAO engin) compatible >with ADA ? >All this under Windows 95/98 naturally !!! I don't have the URL handy, but I know that last summer my son did an Ada program under Windows that used SQL bindings posted on someone's web site. Someone else hopefully will post a URL here. ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 [question] Ada and DataBase S. Metzger 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Tom Moran @ 1999-04-23 0:00 ` David Botton 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Paul Whittington 1999-04-26 0:00 ` Fr�d�ric BROUARD 3 siblings, 1 reply; 10+ messages in thread From: David Botton @ 1999-04-23 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) To: S. Metzger ODBC bindings exist and a thicker binding to them has been created by Pascal Obry. An example of using ODBC and a link to Pascal Obry's packages can be found on the Ada Source Code Treasury. http://www.botton.com/ada/os/odbc.html It would also be possible to use the ADO (which replaces DAO from MS) using the COM techniques on the site. I am working on a binding generator that will be available soon to make the task of binding COM objects easier in the future. David Botton "S. Metzger" wrote: > > Hello all, > > I have no experience with ADA (but with C++ or visual Basic) and I have a > question : > > Is there any Data base engin with ADA ? > or > Is there any Data base engin (For exemple : Microsoft DAO engin) compatible > with ADA ? > All this under Windows 95/98 naturally !!! > > If yes, where may I find some documentation about it ??? > > Thank you by advance for answers. > > Best regards. > > Serge Metzger. > LSIIT - Stagiaire CNAM - Bureau B226 > metzger@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr > ou > metaxylophenol@hotmail.com > > "Les dimensions et les caract�ristiques sont > toujours exprim�es en termes les moins usit�s. > La vitesse, par exemple, est indiqu�e en > huiti�me de mille par quinzaine" (Loi de Murphy) ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 ` David Botton @ 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-23 0:00 ` me ` (3 more replies) 0 siblings, 4 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: Siamak.Lina @ 1999-04-23 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) David Botton <David@Botton.com> wrote in message news:3720E1D0.E0EF7B58@Botton.com... > ODBC bindings exist and a thicker binding to them has been created by > Hi, Sorry for my stupid question but I am wondering what is the meaning of thin or thick binding. I appreciate any explanation. Sam ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina @ 1999-04-23 0:00 ` me 1999-04-24 0:00 ` Tom Moran ` (2 subsequent siblings) 3 siblings, 0 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: me @ 1999-04-23 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) In article <xo6U2.170$lA1.475@198.235.216.4>, "Siamak.Lina" says... > > >Sorry for my stupid question but I am wondering what is the meaning of thin >or thick binding. I appreciate any explanation. > > Assume you have some C layer of software (or any other language), with n API's (functions) defined on it that clients can use, this layer is meant to be called by a C linkage interface. So, if you want to also to call this same layer from Ada, you need an Ada binding (a small layer of software that sits between the Ada program, and the C layer). an Ada thin binding means to have an Ada API that maps 1:1 each one of those 'native' C calls to an Ada call. So the Ada API (the small layer of binding software) that you see in your Ada program is very much like the C API, so using the Ada thin binding is very easy if you know the C API, and you can then use the C API documentation as well. (Ada bisning calls uses same number of arguments, same error return status etc.. to large extent). In a Thick API, the Ada API (the binding) is not a 1:1 mapping, it is a new API (form the Ada client point of view) to the lower C layer, where one Ada call, can end up calling a number of those underlying C API calls, i.e. the Ada binding is meant to both allow you to interface to the C layer, and also simplify the interface and to project a higher level of view/abstraction to the system. Usually a thick binding will contain less calls than the C API. (that is the is called think, the Ada think API will do more work internally and has more logic in it than the thin one). The disadvantage of this, is that it is a new API, different than the one most people are used to, and requires new documentaions. The advantages, is that you can give the thick API an Ada look and feel to it, since you are free to not to use the same way the C API was designed, and also you can hide more detailes from the user. (you can for example throw an expection, where the C API might have returned an error status, etc..) hope this helps. me. ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-23 0:00 ` me @ 1999-04-24 0:00 ` Tom Moran 1999-04-25 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-25 0:00 ` David Botton 3 siblings, 0 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: Tom Moran @ 1999-04-24 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) > I am wondering what is the meaning of thin >or thick binding. I appreciate any explanation. A thin binding has the underlying (C or whatever) functions rewritten in Ada syntax, with appropriate pragma Imports. Usually the names have also been changed as little as possible from the original. The advantages include: little documentation (you can just go read the C docs) and ease and speed of creation - in fact a substantial amount of the work can be automated. The disadvantages include: you are forced to program in C with Ada syntax, ie at a very low abstraction level. Usually it uses C idoms - pointers, 'address, no "out" parameters, etc. A thick(er) binding is more Ada-like. It usually utilizes Ada capabilities like strong typing, tasking, protected records, etc etc. You are using your Ada skills and getting help from the Ada compiler, instead of using your C skills, and it feels like it. Typically the abstraction level is much higher, and a lot of memory allocation/deallocation, task safeness, etc stuff has already been done for you by the author of the binding. Last but not least, said author has already discovered many of the things the C docs left out, since he had to learn how things actually work. The disadvantage is that it isn't C so it needs to be documented itself rather than just refering you to the C books, and of course it takes a lot more work to create. Thickness varies of course. A very thick binding often obscures the differences between OSes, which can be good for portability, but bad when you really need "that Windows look and feel" or some capability that is so specific to one OS that the thick binding doesn't even try to support it. OTOH, a good thick binding should allow ways to get at the underlying system and mix abstraction levels when necessary without too much pain. I once suggested that thickness be measured in R values, like house insulation. Really thin is R1, near complete separation from the external environment is, say, R50. Someone counterproposed that thickness could be measured by the ratio of sizes of the specs to the bodies. A thin binding has hardly any body, of course. I coauthored a paper on Claw, a thick Ada binding to Windows, at the TriAda '97. It discusses some of the issues and is available online at www.rrsoftware.com (I'd describe Claw as about R15-20, and its package bodies total just under twice the specs.) ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-23 0:00 ` me 1999-04-24 0:00 ` Tom Moran @ 1999-04-25 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-25 0:00 ` David Botton 3 siblings, 0 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: Siamak.Lina @ 1999-04-25 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) Thank you all for explaining me the difference between thin and thick binding, your explanations are helpful, Sam ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina ` (2 preceding siblings ...) 1999-04-25 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina @ 1999-04-25 0:00 ` David Botton 3 siblings, 0 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: David Botton @ 1999-04-25 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) To: Siamak.Lina Thin bindings are the equivalent of translating a C header file in to Ada. A thick binding would be to abstract the yuckiness (technical term) of C style programming with code that leverages the P O W E R of Ada. Familiar C++ example of thin/thick bindings: Windows 32 API = Thin C/C++ binding to Windows API Microsoft Foundation Classes = Thick C++ binding to Windows API David Botton "Siamak.Lina" wrote: > > David Botton <David@Botton.com> wrote in message > news:3720E1D0.E0EF7B58@Botton.com... > > ODBC bindings exist and a thicker binding to them has been created by > > > > Hi, > > Sorry for my stupid question but I am wondering what is the meaning of thin > or thick binding. I appreciate any explanation. > > Sam ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 [question] Ada and DataBase S. Metzger 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Tom Moran 1999-04-23 0:00 ` David Botton @ 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Paul Whittington 1999-04-26 0:00 ` Fr�d�ric BROUARD 3 siblings, 0 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: Paul Whittington @ 1999-04-23 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) I used to work for the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), and over the past seventeen years, or so, we developed an embedded database library for Ada called Sage. You can find out about it at http://sageftp.inel.gov/sage/homepage.html. Note the "Free Downloads" section. You might want to call Doug Colonel (208)526-0204 [col@inel.gov], or Warren Merrill (208)526-9157 [wom@inel.gov] at the INEEL to see if you can get one of the free CDs that have been distributed at trade shows in the past. One of the CDs, I don't remember if all, had a complete working version, with source, that compiled and ran using GNAT on Linux, but note that this was several years ago. "S. Metzger" wrote: > > Hello all, > > I have no experience with ADA (but with C++ or visual Basic) and I have a > question : > > Is there any Data base engin with ADA ? > or > Is there any Data base engin (For exemple : Microsoft DAO engin) compatible > with ADA ? > All this under Windows 95/98 naturally !!! > > If yes, where may I find some documentation about it ??? > > Thank you by advance for answers. > > Best regards. > > Serge Metzger. > LSIIT - Stagiaire CNAM - Bureau B226 > metzger@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr > ou > metaxylophenol@hotmail.com > > "Les dimensions et les caract�ristiques sont > toujours exprim�es en termes les moins usit�s. > La vitesse, par exemple, est indiqu�e en > huiti�me de mille par quinzaine" (Loi de Murphy) -- Paul Whittington GrepNet, Inc. (208)523-7375 paul@grep.net "Even if you're on the right track you'll get run over if you stand still." Will Rogers ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
* Re: [question] Ada and DataBase 1999-04-23 0:00 [question] Ada and DataBase S. Metzger ` (2 preceding siblings ...) 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Paul Whittington @ 1999-04-26 0:00 ` Fr�d�ric BROUARD 3 siblings, 0 replies; 10+ messages in thread From: Fr�d�ric BROUARD @ 1999-04-26 0:00 UTC (permalink / raw) To: S. Metzger S. Metzger wrote: > Hello all, > > I have no experience with ADA (but with C++ or visual Basic) and I > have a > question : > > Is there any Data base engin with ADA ? > or > Is there any Data base engin (For exemple : Microsoft DAO engin) > compatible > with ADA ? > All this under Windows 95/98 naturally !!! > > If yes, where may I find some documentation about it ??? > > Thank you by advance for answers. > > Best regards. > > Serge Metzger. > LSIIT - Stagiaire CNAM - Bureau B226 > metzger@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr > ou > metaxylophenol@hotmail.com > > "Les dimensions et les caract�ristiques sont > toujours exprim�es en termes les moins usit�s. > La vitesse, par exemple, est indiqu�e en > huiti�me de mille par quinzaine" (Loi de Murphy) You can use Inprise (Borland) BDE engine. The use is free for files bases databases (Paradox, dBase, FoxPro, Access, Excel) and works much more faster than MS products. Also you can have more access to SQL C/S bases like Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2 and SQL Server with the same engine, but you will have to pay (take DELPHI 4, Enterprise version)... To find how to uses API call to the engine, see the documentation include in .int files. Frederic BROUARD - databases conceptor in FRANCE DELPHI - Paradox - SQL C/S expert - Ada lover Professionnal e-mail address : f.brouard@simog.com Private e-mail address : brouardf@club-internet.fr ^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 10+ messages in thread
end of thread, other threads:[~1999-04-26 0:00 UTC | newest] Thread overview: 10+ messages (download: mbox.gz / follow: Atom feed) -- links below jump to the message on this page -- 1999-04-23 0:00 [question] Ada and DataBase S. Metzger 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Tom Moran 1999-04-23 0:00 ` David Botton 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-23 0:00 ` me 1999-04-24 0:00 ` Tom Moran 1999-04-25 0:00 ` Siamak.Lina 1999-04-25 0:00 ` David Botton 1999-04-23 0:00 ` Paul Whittington 1999-04-26 0:00 ` Fr�d�ric BROUARD
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