ODBC is an abbreviation for Open Database Connectivity. The ODBC standard was designed by Microsoft Corporation. Computer data files that are ODBC compliant are stored using a standard data file structure and can be accessed by various third-party software programs in conjunction with an ODBC driver.

Tabs3 data files are ODBC capable. This means that the information in the Tabs3 data files can be accessed with an ODBC driver. The ODBC driver is written by FairCom Corporation, the manufacturer of the C-tree file storage method used by Tabs3. ODBC driver licenses can be purchased from the consultant from which you purchased the software license or from our Sales Department.

ODBC capability allows you to retrieve information from the Tabs3 data files; however, do not write information to the Tabs3 data files via an ODBC driver. Writing directly to the Tabs3 data files will corrupt the data. Tabs3 requires the 32-bit Read Only ODBC driver.

Before deciding whether ODBC will meet your needs, you need to determine exactly what information you would like to access and what third party software you will be using (i.e., Microsoft Query, Crystal Reports Pro Report Writer, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, etc.). Keep in mind that certain items in our system, such as accounts receivable and 90 days past due amounts, are calculated items and are not stored as a field in a file. For example, to calculate accounts receivable, all records for each client from the client ledger file must be retrieved and a formula must be applied to calculate this information. As another example, the total fee work-in-process is not stored in a separate field. To calculate the total fee work-in-process, all fee transactions for a client must be retrieved from the fee file and a formula must be applied. Depending on the information you want to access, in many cases, it may be easier and more economical to use the Tabs3 Report Writer to generate the desired report.

The Initialize Tabs3 ODBC program must be run before the Tabs3 data files can be accessed by an ODBC driver to ensure data accuracy. Furthermore, the ODBC driver must be installed and a User Data Source for Tabs3 must be configured.

Caution: The ODBC driver allows access to all data files in all of the Tabs3 Software. Be aware that anyone who uses the ODBC driver has access to all records in all files in all Tabs3 Software, including secure clients, private calendar records, and clients restricted by assigned timekeepers.

ODBC Data Source Configuration Requirements

A special conversion DLL file, OT_USR32.DLL, is installed with Tabs3. This DLL file must be used in order to ensure that all fields are translated correctly. When using the ODBC driver software to configure the Tabs3 User Data Source, the following fields must be configured as indicated:

Data Dictionary Name Tabs3.DB
Data Dictionary Path your Tabs3 working directory
Special Data Type Conversion DLL Name

path and file name of the special DLL file, OT_USR32.DLL

For example, if your program directory is C:\Tabs3, you would enter: C:\Tabs3\OT_USR32.DLL
Alignment 1 byte

Note: Tabs3 Technical Support provides limited support for ODBC drivers. All support for ODBC drivers is billable. Tabs3 Technical Support cannot provide support for third-party software that uses ODBC drivers.

See also:   How to Set Up an ODBC Data Source
  Tabs3 Data Files & Field Names
  Knowledge Base Article R10017 - Working with ODBC