The ODBC interface

ODBC is an application programming interface (API) used to communicate with the database server. ODBC is made up of a function library that can be called from an application program to execute SQL statements and communicate with the data source (for example. Microsoft SQL Server).

The ODBC functions called by the LN MSQL database driver perform these actions:

• Connect to Microsoft SQL Server (open session).
• Allocate a statement handle.
• Parse a SQL statement.
• Bind input variables.
• Define result variables.
• Execute a SQL statement.
• Fetch the resulting rows.
• Commit or abort a transaction.
• Close, unbind and drop a cursor.
• Disconnect from MSQL (close session).

The LN MSQL driver also uses these features of ODBC:

• Array fetches (when enabled).
• Array inserts (when enabled and possible).