Hello Martijn Tonies,

Thanks for all the help and insight that you have given to me.

A few last things.

Accoring to you which is the best provider that we can use?

Are there any ways by which we can access FB directly from VB rather
than through ADO->OLEDB Provider chain. I mean talk directly to the
server through fbclient.dll file?

Thanks.

--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, "Martijn Tonies"
<m.tonies@...> wrote:

>
> Hi,
>
> > > > > You can only get users logged in into a specific database
> > > > > by using the Services API.
> > > >
> > > > This means that one cannot also get thelist of all the databases
> > > > present on the DataServer (this is separate computer).
> > >
> > > Correct, Firebird doesn't know about datafiles unless
> > > you tell it to attach to them.
> > >
> >
> > In MS SQL (Which I have used once very extensively) I am used to this
> > feature. We get the complete list of all the database present on the
> > server.
> >
> > Looking from another angle this is good thing.
> >
> > BTW where does FB store its data files on the server?
>
> Where you tell it to store the datafiles. Different databases
> don't have to be in the same place either.
>
> > > > > by issueing:
> > > > > select * from rdb$relations where rdb$view_blr is null
> > > > > and rdb$system_flag is null or rdb$system_flag = 0
> > > >
> > > > This means I will have to mess with SystemTable for this. That

is a

> > > > bit frightning for me as I am a beginner in FB.
> > > >
> > > > Isn't there SQL Select facility like 'SELECT * FROM Tab' to

retrive a

> > > > list of all the Tables in a database?
> > >
> > > What would "Tab" be in this case? I'm telling you, it's

RDB$RELATIONS.

> >
> > I got what you are telling me. I am just suggesting that there should
> > be a predefined SELECT statement which returns a dataset which is
> > readonly.
> >
> > That is all!
>
> Resultsets are always read only. However, "under the hood",
> your access components/libraries could be generating INSERT
> or UPDATE statements for you if you do something from the
> GUI.
>
> If you like, you can start read-only transactions though.
>
> > > > Does any know of any such Undocumented function or has any

created any

> > > > UDF for this?
> > >
> > > UDFs cannot return resultsets.
> >
> > Oh! I did not know about that.
>
> If you come from a MS SQL Server world, UDFs means "User
> Defined Functions" which are really Stored Functions (T-SQL
> functionality that be can used as a function).
>
> In Firebird, UDFs are also called User Defined Functions, but
> are really "External Functions", routines in a DLL that can be
> used as a function. Something similar to Extended Procedures
> in SQL Server. These external functions (as I always like to call
> them) do not have a connection or transaction context.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Martijn Tonies
> Database Workbench - tool for InterBase, Firebird, MySQL, NexusDB,

Oracle &

> MS SQL Server
> Upscene Productions
> http://www.upscene.com
> My thoughts:
> http://blog.upscene.com/martijn/
> Database development questions? Check the forum!
> http://www.databasedevelopmentforum.com
>