Connect to Parallel Data from PowerBuilder via ODBC

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

Connect to Parallel 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.

The Parallel API uses API Key authentication via the x-api-key request header.

Using API Key Authentication

Your Parallel API key is required to create a connection. To obtain your API key:

1. Log into your Parallel account at app.parallel.ai.
2. Navigate to Settings or API Keys in your account dashboard.
3. Generate or copy your API key.

After obtaining your API key, set the following connection properties:

• AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
• APIKey: Set this to your Parallel API key.

Example connection string:

Profile=C:\profiles\Parallel.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_api_key';

Create a Profile for the ODBC Driver for Parallel

Follow the steps below to use the Database Painter tool to create a database profile based on an ODBC DSN (data source name) for Parallel. In the Database Painter, you can use wizards and the UI to work with Parallel 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 Parallel DSN in the Data Source menu.
4. To view and modify a table, right-click a table and then click Edit Data -> Grid.

Using Parallel 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 Parallel 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_monitorevents.SetTransObject(SQLCA);
dw_monitorevents.Retrieve();