> > Sorry, made a few mistakes in my original post...
> >
> > We're going to be using an OpenBSD 4.0 machine to collect employee
> > Punch-in data and store that data in a form similar to that of a Microsoft
> > Access Database file. We would then like to access that data from our
> > mainframe via ODBC to retreive the records.
> >
> > Would you be so kind as to lend your opinion as to the best package(s) to
> > install on the OpenBSD machine to provide that ODBC functionality?
> >
> ODBC has nothing to do with the application you describe - ODBC is a
> connectivitiy 'middle layer' that connects an application to a database.
>
> We use MySQL all the time with MyODBC on the app end, .. although I doubt
> that there is a MyODBC for a mainframe, to ODBC really doesn't enter into
> the mainframe picture.
>
> So what, exactly, are you asking for?
>
> 1) An ODBC service you can access from a mainframe? Not possible with
> OBSD as the remote server.
>
> 2) A GUI application you can use to collect data? There are hundreds -
> Access is a good tool for Windoze, .. for OBSD, you favorite scripting
> language + GUI toolkit.
>
> 3) It's simpler, if appropriate, to use a text-based application. This
> also works well with wireless devices, as the systems are WM or CE,
> they will support a command-line directly. Login to your OBSD machine (no
> GUI needed), and you're off and running.
>
> 4) Depending on the mainframe environment, there are also a ton of
> middleware tools that will 'bridge' tne DB environment on the mainframe to
> the DB environment of this application (e.g. MySQL).
>
> 5) As an alternative, you can do the data transfer manually from
> application -> mainframe.
>
> Lee
An alternative lee hasn't mentioned, but I've used
very successfully in the past to glue layers like this together
is perl DBI.
See http://dbi.perl.org/about/
but like he said, it depends what you're really asking
for.
-Bob
