MSSQL::DBlib 1.006
                            MSSQL::Sqllib 1.006

     This is MSSQL, classes for calling DB-Library for Microsoft SQL Server
     from Perl.

     Copyright © 1991-1995 Michael Peppler
     Copyright © 1996 Christian Mallwitz, Intershop Gmbh
     Copyright © 1997-2000 Erland Sommarskog
     All rights reserved.

     This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
     it under the same terms as Perl itself.

Brief overview

Michael Peppler developped Sybperl. Christian Mallwitz of Intershop GmbH
ported Sybperl 2.03 to NT (there is now a more recent NT port that comes
with the regular Sybperl distribution). From their work, I created
MSSQL::DBlib.

MSSQL::Sqllib is fairly generic SQL library built on top of the DBlib
class, with an interface which is focused on being simple to use.

Alternative distribution

This is a source-only distribution, and you will need a C++ compiler and a
MAKE utility to install it. At my web site you can find binary
distributions (with source included) for ActivePerl:

   * http://www.algonet.se/~sommar/mssql/mssql-as5xx-1.006.zip - Binary
     (Intel) distribution for ActivePerl 5xx (Perl 5.005).
   * http://www.algonet.se/~sommar/mssql/mssql-active5.6-1.006.zip - Binary
     (Intel) distribution for ActivePerl 6xx (Perl 5.6).
   * http://www.algonet.se/~sommar/mssql/mssql-as3xx-1.006.zip - Binary
     (Intel) distribution for the old ActiveState Perl 3xx (Perl 5.003).

Prerequisites

To install this you need.

   * Include files and link libraries DB-Library for MS SQL Server 6.5 or
     higher. These are in the Programmers Toolkit, which is on the SQL
     Workstation CD as the MSDN disks. They are also included on the SQL
     Server 7 CD.
   * A Perl 5.004 or higher installed on NT or Win2000.
   * C++ compiler. (I don't think a mere C compiler would do). If you don't
     have a C++ compiler GNU has a free compiler. (Sorry, I don't have a
     URL.)
   * A make facility. You can get Microsofts NMAKE (for x86) on:
     ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/nmake15.exe
   * I have only built this under NT4 SP3-5, but I would expect it work
     with Windows 2000, Win95/98 and NT3.51 as well. It will not run on
     Win3.11.

If you only have MS SQL Server 6.0 or 4.2:

   * Grab hold of the PTK with the include files and link libraries. Remove
     the functions in MSSQL::DBlib which does not compile or link.
     Hopefully, there are no essential functions among these.

How to install

Text in this type face indicates command you run from the command prompt.

  1. Extract the zip file anywhere you like.
  2. Edit DBlib/makefile.pl so that $SQLDIR points to where you inlucde and
     link libraries for DB-Library are included.
  3. DBlib/makefile.pl also includes a dynamic_lib option, which I don't
     know whether it will work with other compilers than Visual C++. For
     better startup performance, you are encouraged to find the
     corresponding command-line option for your compiler. However, you can
     remove it if you don't care.
  4. Open a Command Prompt, and change directory to where you extracted the
     files.
  5. Perl makefile.pl.
     I suggest that you run this from the top directory.
  6. MAKE
     Or NMAKE, DMAKE or whatever your MAKE utility you use.
  7. If you want to run the test scripts, edit DBlib/t/sqllogin.pl and
     Sqllib/t/sqllogin.pl so that they contain a valid combination of user,
     password and server. They're shipped to run as sa with no password on
     the local server. Don't forget to remove sensitive information, once
     the tests are OK.
  8. MAKE test
     See tests.html for notes on the tests.
  9. MAKE install

You're on the air!

Manuals

The docs subdirectory contains documentation for the two modules. There is
a POD and an HTML file for each module. You may want to rebuild the HTML
files, so that references to Perl elements outside MSSQL are resolved. The
file DOPOD.BAT is a simple file that just builds the HTML files locally.

Sample scripts

The directory eg contains a small collection of sample scripts, some that
I've inherited from the Sybperl distribution. You also find one utility
that might be useful, SPTRITEST, which tests all stored procedures in a
database for trivial errors. WARNING! Don't run SPTRITEST in a live
database, but only in a database you can afford to waste. There is a
separate README for this directory.

Reporting bugs or problems

Please mail bug reports and suggestions to sommar-perl@algonet.se. Try to
make your reports as specific as possible. Particularly don't forget to
include which versions of Perl, NT, SQL Server etc you are using, and not
the least which zip file you downloaded.

Please have patience with me, if I cannot address your issue on the spot. I
am sometimes a busy man. ...and don't forget to read the manual! Please
mail bug reports and suggestions to sommar-perl@algonet.se. Try to make
your reports as specific as possible. Paricularly don't forget to include
which versions of Perl, NT, SQL Server etc you are using. Please have
patience with me, if I cannot address your issue on the spot. I am
sometimes a busy man. ...and don't forget to read the manual!

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Last updated 00-05-03 22:42