Connect to Browserless Data from PowerBuilder via ODBC

The CData ODBC Driver for Browserless can be used from any platform or development technology that supports ODBC, including PowerBuilder. This article shows how to connect to Browserless data and execute queries from the Database Painter and controls such as the DataWindow.

Connect to Browserless as an ODBC Data Source

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

Browserless uses HTTP API token authentication. Your Browserless API token is sent as the token query parameter on every request. You can generate or view your token in the Browserless dashboard at https://account.browserless.io/.

Using ApiKey Authentication

After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:

• AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
• APIKey: Set this to your Browserless API token.

Example connection string:

Profile=C:\profiles\Browserless.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="ApiKey=your_api_token";

Create a Profile for the ODBC Driver for Browserless

Follow the steps below to use the Database Painter tool to create a database profile based on an ODBC DSN (data source name) for Browserless. In the Database Painter, you can use wizards and the UI to work with Browserless data.

1. In PowerBuilder, click Tools -> Database Painter.
2. In the Objects window in the Database Painter, right-click the ODBC node and click New Profile.
3. On the Connection tab, enter a name for the profile and select the Browserless DSN in the Data Source menu.
4. To view and modify a table, right-click a table and then click Edit Data -> Grid.

Using Browserless Data with PowerBuilder Controls

You can use standard PowerBuilder objects to connect to ODBC data sources and execute queries. The following example shows how to retrieve Browserless data into a DataWindow. You can add the following code to the open method:

SQLCA.DBMS = "ODBC"
SQLCA.DBParm = "ConnectString='DSN=CData API Source'"
CONNECT USING SQLCA;
dw_map.SetTransObject(SQLCA);
dw_map.Retrieve();