Thank you for your response, Elmar. I have been developing my
application with IBObjects. I think there is maybe just a TIB_Query,
a TIB_Connection and a TIB_Transaction. I know so little about
embedded Firebird that I don't know if these classes can be used with
it or what substitutes should be made. I do have Helen's book and I
will study making a connection to an embedded database in it. My
database access is simple and all contained in one unit which should
be swappable with a unit I could write to address embedded Firebird.
So I think I could use embedded Firebird in a way that would be
transparent to the rest of my program.

To me, the value of the thumb drive would be the portability and lack
of installation required to set up and run a demo. To be able to walk
in, plug in the drive and demo the application (in a Visual Basic/SQL
Server world where nothing is done without extensive modification of
the prospect's computer) would be a significant advantage. You could
not demonstrate multi-user aspects of the software, but that would be
a given and not the focus of the demonstration. In a situation like
this, there would be no anticipation of any other users using the
program.

I understand that there may not be anyone else doing this with a
Firebird server for good reason. On the surface, it appears to be an
illogical proposition. But you can probably see where it would be
advantageous and the only remaining question is whether it can be
done. Or, maybe your assertion is still that although it might be or
is possible to do it, the easiest way to accomplish what I want to do
would be by using embedded Firebird.

Again, thank you for your help.

-Jack

--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, Elmar Haneke <elmar@h...>
wrote:

> > Since my application is designed using the server
> > version and this is to be a demo of the full version that just

happens

> > to come in a pretty convenient package, I need to use the server
> > version.
>
> The Server is required if you really want to demonstrate Multi-User
> access. For an single user it's just an minor change to switch to
> embedded.
>
> > I recognize that I will not be running the Firebird server
> > as a Windows service, but I think that will be fine, considering

the

> > short term nature of the demo.
>
> You can run the server as an application, on Windows 9x/Me this is

the

> only way to start it.
>
> > I don't think Firebird requires access to the Windows registry

since

> > it is not an ActiveX control and gets its configuration

information

> > from an ini file.
>
> That's right: Both server and embedded can be installed by copying
> files to program directroy only.
>
>
> Elmar