Databases

Databases allow you to bridge the information gap between Process Systems and Business Systems.

This allows the system to read selected data from your existing Business systems and to accurately pass the information down into your Process Control systems:

	Works Orders
	Recipe Management
	Quality Parameters
	Management Instructions

Similarly, valuable Process information may be immediately written directly into your Business Systems:

	Job Status
	Energy Metering
	Material Consumption
	Quality Records
	Environmental Records
	Production Efficiencies
	Plant Maintenance and Reliability

Support for databases is extensive and varied. Two levels of direct database access cover both simple, stand-alone applications (DAO), where databases can be created and maintained; through to complex, powerful Client - Server based systems (ADO).

Database configuration is based on a tree structure, which consists of a database object, one or more Recordset objects and database tag objects (field). Auto-Creation Wizards and advanced drag drop operations makes database object creation and configuration easy. Projects are often designed using DAO and then converted to ADO at a later stage, using the in-built database conversion tool.

Databases may also be used as Event Loggers and in the System Security option.

DAO Databases (MS Access)

The software can create and maintain Microsoft Access databases via the DAO (Data Access Objects) option. Normally used for stand-alone, local databases, DAO offers a rich set of facilities including searching, filtering and querying.

The database object is linked to a database file, which may include encryption and password protection, if required. Both Access 97 and Access 2000 databases are supported.

Recordsets created within the database object are linked to tables or queries contained within the database. Alternatively, for more advanced requirements, a SQL statement can be generated. A powerful suite of properties and program methods are available, at this level, to lever the full power of database objects.

Finally, individual database fields are connected by means of database tags. These objects can be considered from two points of view: looked at from the database, individual field data can be passed to and from a project; looked at from the project, a single field value is available from a database table or query.

For users of Microsoft Access Reports, these can be attached to a project using the special Report Object option. This allows the configuration to include Reports created under Microsoft Access.

A stand alone DAO database viewer is included to view / modify data.

ADO Databases (SQL, MSDE, etc)

ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) is a newer Microsoft database technology, designed for scalability and for use with a wide variety of databases. The most common database used with ADO is Microsoft SQL Server.

Alternatives include Oracle and many other 3rd party OLEDB providers.

Functionality is similar to those described for DAO databases.

DAO Databases (MS Access)

ADO Databases (SQL, MSDE, etc)

More on Databases

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