Elliott Business Software relies on PSQL database engines.  PSQL consists of two types of engines: transactional and relational. The transactional engine used to be called "Btrieve," which is a record manager. The relational engine is added on top of the transactional engine to allow database access by using SQL statements.  This type of arrangement has its unique benefits because a transactional engine is very fast when you add, change or delete a record.  On the other hand, the relational engine is better suited if you need to access a bunch of records in single batch.  Therefore, reporting typically will run faster if using a relational engine.

As of this writing, Elliott Business Software relies only on the transactional engine. However, we also support third-party applications to access Elliott's database through the relational engine. This may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Crystal Reports
• Excel Query
• Microsoft Access
• Starship or other third-party Manifest software

We also provide various web solutions like eStore, eOrder, Payment Portals and Web Services, which require the relational engine access.  

To access the relational engine, you first need to create a PSQL database.  This can be done through the PCC (Pervasive Control Center).  Even though you can do so from the workstation side, we recommend that you perform this directly on the server where the PSQL engine is installed.  Choose Start -> either Pervasive PSQL 11, or Actian PSQL 12 -> PSQL Control Center & Documentations.  In the PCC window, expand the server node under "Engines." Then expand the "Databases" node.  You should see the following three databases if you haven't done any customization yet:

• DEFAULTDB
• DEMODATA
• TEMPDB

To add a new DATABASE, right click on the "Databases" node and choose "New" -> "Database."  See sample screen below:

The following window will pop up and ask for additional information about the new database:

1. Database Name: Please look at Elliott Database Naming Convention.
2. Location: Please use the server local path.  Do not use the mapped drive path.
3. Create  dictionary file (if they do not exist) - By default this is checked, so please uncheck it.
4. Relational integrity enforced - By default this is checked, so please uncheck it.

Elliott adopts the following database naming conventions, so please do so as well:

• For V7.x Database, use ELLIOTTDATA for company 1. For the 2nd company and onward, use ELLIOTTDATA02...etc.
• For V8.0 - 8.2 Database, use ELIDATA for company 1. For the 2nd company and onward, use ELIDATA02...etc.
• For V8.5, use ELI85DATA for company 1, For the 2nd company and onward, use ELI85DATA02...etc.  
• For V8.6, use ELI86DATA for company 1, For the 2nd company and onward, use ELI86DATA02...etc. For the root directory data, use ELI86ROOT.  
  

Please refer to the following KB article on Elliott database naming conventions:

      http://support.elliott.com/knowledgebase/articles/1825993-psql-database-naming-convention-for-8-5-databases  

In the Location field, enter the place where the DDF resides. DDF stands for "Data Definition File," which is the database schema of the Elliott database files. Depending on your Elliott version, the DDF can be in different places:

• For V7.x, the DDF is located in <ElliottRoot>\DDF40
• For V8.0 - 8.2, the DDF is located in <ElliottRoot>\Bin\DDF40
• For V8.5 and after, the DDF is located in <ElliottRoot>Bin85\DDF83.  For root directory data, the corresponding DDF is located in <ElliottRoot>\Bin85\DDFROOT

In the above example, we were creating an Elliott 8.2 database ELIDATA. We entered D:\ACCT\Elliott7\Bin\DDF40. Note that we used the local drive D: instead of the mapped drive. Do not use the mapped drive path.  Enter the local drive path for the PSQL server where the DDF can be located.

By default, when a new database is created, PCC assumes the DDF files and data files are stored in the same location.  That is not the case for Elliott Business Software.  Elliott data files are stored in <ElliottRoot>\DATA, DATA_02, DATA_03...etc. depending on which company.  Therefore, we need to modify the database we just created to indicate a different data path.  To do so, right click on the database we just created (i.e., ELIDATA), and choose "Properties." In the pop-up "Properties" window, choose "directories."  Remove the data directory that points to the DDF folder. See sample screen below:

Then click "OK."  Now your new PSQL database is ready for access through the relational engine.  The PSQL relational engine can be accessed by a third party through ODBC (including ODBC.NET) or ADO.NET.  Based on our testing,  ADO.NET is faster than ODBC (or ODBC.NET.)  Any third-party application that supports these two interfaces will be able to access the database just created.

EMK