MSSQL::OlleDB 2.000

This is MSSQL::OlleDB, a module for calling Microsoft SQL Server from Perl through OLE DB.

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

Brief Overview

MSSQL::OlleDB is a module that permits you to access SQL Server from Perl, by using any of the OLE DB providers SQLOLEDB or SQL Native Client. OlleDB exposes two levels of interface, a high-level interface and a mid-level interface. The high-level interface is a developed version of the interface of my older module MSSQL::Sqllib, and largely backwards compatible with this interface. The mid-level interface exposes a few more knobs at the price of somewhat more verbose code. A special feature of MSSQL::OlleDB is that there is a big focus on control of error handling.

There is no support for DBI. This module does not run on Unix – or any other non-Windows OS for that matter.

What's in This Kit

The zip file includes x86 binaries for ActivePerl 809 or later as well as source code and test scripts. If you want to run this on 64-bit machine, you will either have to use the x86 binary, or build from sources. (I have not tested any of these options.) For information on how to build from sources, see below. The kit also includes a copy of MSVCR70.DLL.

The binaries were built on Windows XP SP2 with the Visual Studio 2002 C++ compiler and build 809 of ActivePerl.

Prerequisites

Perl 5.8.3 or later. (That is ActivePerl build 809 or later.)
Windows NT4 SP6, Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows 2003.
SQL Server 6.5 or later.
MDAC 2.6 or SQL Native Client.

For details, see the Prerequisites section in the MSSQL::OlleDB manual.

How to Install the Binary

Extract the zip file anywhere you like.
Open a Command Prompt, and change directory to where you extracted the files.
Run the script activeperl-copy.pl. This script inspects your PATH to determine where your Perl installation is, and installs the files according to the structure used by ActivePerl.
You can prevent the script from searching by giving the top directory for your Perl installation yourself. E.g.:
```
    perl activeperl-copy.pl C:\Perl
```

To test that the installation is OK, either run any of the test scripts that comes with OlleDB and which are detailed in tests.html, or run any of the sample scripts in the MSSQL::OlleDB manual.

Note that beside the OlleDB DLL, the script will also place a copy of MSVCR70.DLL in the directory Site\Auto\Mssql\OlleDB. As I understand it, this is the recommended procedure for modules built with Visual C++ 7.0 or later.

Manual

The manual is in mssql-olledb.html. activeperl-copy.pl also installs is under html/site/lib/MSSQL as OlleDB.html. There is a POD file as well, but there is no real contents in it, only a pointer to the HTML file.

Reporting Bugs or Problems

Please mail bug reports and suggestions to esquel@sommarskog.se. Try to make your reports as specific as possible. Particularly do not forget to include which versions of Perl, Windows, SQL Server etc you are using.

I usually try to respond within 24-48 hours, but if I am on holiday I am.

Building from Sources

Prerequisites

To build MSSQL::OlleDB you need:

The Platform SDK for Windows, more precisely, the Core SDK and the MDAC SDK. The Platform SDK comes with Visual Studio. You can also download it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx. (Specify Platform SDK as Product/Technology.)
The header file for SQL Native Client sqlncli.h. This file comes with the SDK for SQL Server 2005. I don't think it is available as a separate download, but you can always download the free SQL Express edition. When you install SQL Express, you must uncheck Hide advanced configuration options, as the SDK is not installed by default.
Perl 5.8.3 or later.
A C++ compiler, preferrably Visual C++ 7.0 or later. (The C++ compiler that comes with Visual Studio 6 will not work.) If you don't have Visual Studio, you can download the .Net Framework SDK (link as above), there is a C++ compiler included. I have no idea whether OlleDB compiles with other C++ compilers than Microsoft's.
A make facility. You can get Microsofts NMAKE (for x86) on: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/nmake15.exe

How to Build and Install

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

Extract the zip file anywhere you like.
Edit makefile.pl so that $SQLDIR points to where sqlncli.h is located.
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.
Open a Command Prompt, and change directory to where you extracted the files.
Perl makefile.pl.
MAKE
Or NMAKE, DMAKE or whatever your MAKE utility you use.
MAKE test
Before you run the tests, please read tests.html so that you understand what impact the test scripts have on your server. This document also describes how to set the environment variable OLLEDBTEST, from which the test scripts get information how to log into SQL Server.
MAKE install

Last updated 05-11-13 18:30