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Pointing Pathagoras to your external database.

   Many users have quite extensive collections of data already sitting on their computers or available over their networks. While it is not 'hard' to retype one or two pieces of information into Pathagoras Instant Database system, when there is a lot of retyping to do, it would be nice to be able use what is already there so that data entry time could be saved, and the risk of a typo while text into the Instant Database screen can be minimized.

   To draw information from your external databases, you will need to accomplish the following:

1. Display the Instant Database screen by pressing Alt-D. Click the Power Tools button.

idbpowertools1

2.The bottom section of the Instant Database screen repaints. See image below. Click More Tools.

idbpowertools3

3.A new screen appears, with the Instant Database Settings front and center. Click the External Database tab in the lower set of tabs.

MailMerge2

4.With the Instant Database tab (1) selected, click the External Database Content tab (2) in the lower tab set. Navigate to (using the navigation tool (3) and select to the desired database. IF YOUR DATABASE IS A SQLSERVER OR MYSQL, YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE ADDITIONAL STEPS.
5.If the first row of the database contains the field names, check the box so named (4).
6.When Pathagoras displays the data from the selected database, it will display up to two columns of data from the database so that you can make your selection. You can select which column(s) will be displayed. (Typically you would want to display a file name, or a last name and a first name, or a file number, something that will insure that you select the proper unique record.) Type in the Selection Column box (5) the number representing the field name or column number which contains the value(s) you want displayed. Separate the columns (if 2 are selected) by a comma. Because of the way the selection screen is designed, make sure that the 'longer' column is shown first

Click the button just beneath the "Selection Column" box to display the first 10 fields of the database. That should assist you in making your display selection

7.Repeat the steps in paragraph 4 above for a second and third external database files, if desired.

 

SQLServer and MySql database intermediate connections.