ODBC Overview

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is a de facto IT standard programming interface. Using this interface you can connect your ODBC-enabled application to the USoft Developer rule server, and also to other ODBC drivers.

The ODBC interface defines the following:

·	A library of ODBC functions that allow an application to connect to USoft Developer's repository-based rule server, execute SQL statements, and retrieve results.

·	SQL syntax based on the X/Open and SQL/Access Group SQL CAE specification (1992). To send a SQL statement, you include the statement as an argument in an ODBC function call. You do not need to customize the statement for a specific RDBMS. The ODBC driver deals with the translation.

·	A standard method of connecting to a data source, a standard set of error codes, and a standard representation for data types.

The USoft Remote Rules Service API provides conceptual constraint, rules and authorization checking for external applications. It makes the USoft Developer conceptual processor accessible to all ODBC-enabled applications. The main benefit of using the USoft Remote Rules Service API is that you do not have to re-program all business rules if they change. This saves time, money and guarantees quality, because you only have to define and manage them in one place.

You can use the USoft Remote Rules Service API when you want to access data which is created and managed by a USoft application, using a third-party application, for example:

·	Data analysis tools

·	Spreadsheets

·	Word processors

·	Report writers

·	E-mail or EDI packages

·	Your own C programs

Visual C

·	Visual Basic

You could use the USoft Remote Rules Service API, for example, to bring data from the corporate database into your worksheet for analysis, reporting, and charting.

On Windows machines, the USoft Remote Rules Service API is provided as a DLL (Dynamic Link Library). The RDBMS type selected when installing USoft Production is also used by the USoft Remote Rules Service API.