help for dummies please!

Discussion of open issues, suggestions and bugs regarding PgDAC (PostgreSQL Data Access Components) for Delphi, C++Builder, Lazarus (and FPC)
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KoenVandemoortel
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri 09 Jan 2009 12:23
Location: Gent, Belgium

help for dummies please!

Post by KoenVandemoortel » Fri 09 Jan 2009 13:00

Hello,

I just downloaded the PgDAC components for Delphi 2009 because they claim to be a replacement for the BDE and they do unicode.
Now, why is it that demos never work? They usually look more like exams to check if you understand everything, instead of explaining things!
I tried to run the demo and nothing works because I have to "connect" with some database, enter a password etc.

The help file says:
"Click on the "Connect" button on the PgDacDemo toolbar. A Connect dialog box will open. Enter the connection parameters you use to connect to your PostgreSQL server and click "Connect" in the dialog box. "
How can a new user possibly know this???
I have no idea what "a PostgreSQL server" is and whether it is on my pc or not!
I just know how to use the BDE and I did some experimenting with BlackFishSQL and dBExpress. I just want a decent simple example of basic things like:
* "How can I create a new database + tables & indices from scratch, having installed Delphi 2009 and PgDAC???" and
* "How do I connect this with grids etc.?".

I would be grateful for any help!

snorkel
Posts: 384
Joined: Tue 08 Aug 2006 15:10
Location: Milwaukee WI USA

Post by snorkel » Fri 09 Jan 2009 16:18

Hi,

These components are for use against a PostgreSQL RDBMS server(that is made very clear) which you absolutly must have installed somewhere. They are not a complete BDE replacement. PostgreSQL is a client server system not a desktop system such as DBase or Paradox which are two of the ways to work with the BDE.

If you want to use PostgreSQL instead of one of the BDE databases like Paradox dbase etc you will need to download it from www.postgresql.org
There are versions for windows and many other operating systems.

You can use the included psql.exe command line program to connect to the server or you can use one of the GUI admin tools that are available, I recommend Lightning Admin (http://www.amsoftwaredesign.com) it's the easies to get started with, or you can use the free one that is included with the server PgAdmin III.

To find out more about PostgreSQL please see:http://www.postgreSQL.org and join the mailing list for pg users, it's a great resourse to help you get started with PGSQL, which is a really good choice by the way.

Hope that helps,

Snorkel

snorkel
Posts: 384
Joined: Tue 08 Aug 2006 15:10
Location: Milwaukee WI USA

Re: help for dummies please!

Post by snorkel » Fri 09 Jan 2009 16:36

KoenVandemoortel wrote: * "How can I create a new database + tables & indices from scratch, having installed Delphi 2009 and PgDAC???" and
* "How do I connect this with grids etc.?".

I would be grateful for any help!
First you need to install PostgreSQL, it's a client server system and PgDAC is the client. Go to http://www.postgresql.org and download the win32 version of the server and install it on your PC.

During the install you have to make sure you check the box that allows the server to listen on all interfaces, not just localhost. By default the install only allows you to connect to localhost, so you must also edit the pg_hba.conf file which is located in the data directory of where you installed the server. Once you get the server up and running, you can use PgDac to execute a create table statement.

I don't advise you to try and do all your admin needs from the components though. You should use one of the GUI admin tools like Lighthing Admin or PG Admin III.

Here is a link on how to create a new database with LA:
http://www.amsoftwaredesign.com/onlineh ... tabase.htm If you want a Unicode DB, make sure you set the encoding to UTF8 not SQL_ASCII

Here is a link to the main How To? section:
http://www.amsoftwaredesign.com/onlineh ... w_to__.htm

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