DB transparency means that you can write one set of SQL queries (get db =
info) which will work on any database.  The ODBC (Open DataBase =
Connectivity) is an open standard which allows a programmer to do this.  =
Database engines generally do their magic inside a black box, and the =
community generally considers that a blessing.  If you truly wanted to =
see the guts of a database engine hang out, you would just resort to =
writing your own engine.  I've done that.  It works,   I'd never hoist =
that monstrosity on anyone else, though!  :)

The point is that you don't want to see the underlying code with =
database engines, so wrapping many of the popular engines with ODBC is a =
good thing, because you can switch as often as you need to without =
recoding.

HTH,

Brian A. Sayrs
Owner, Southwind Solutions

-----Original Message-----
From:	Dave Gorjup [SMTP:dgorjup(at)mediaone.net]
Sent:	Friday, April 07, 2000 4:37 PM
To:	HWG techniques
Subject:	Re: Relational Databases

I get the feeling that I don't understand some of the terminology being=20
used here, esp db transparency, but if you're worried about not seeing =
the=20
underlying code don't use CF Studio for your development. I'm learning =
to=20
talk to the CF Express server using Notepad. The cf tags are embedded=20
within your html code and look much like sql but with much less =
complexity.=20
As someone previously mentioned, what takes 10 lines of code with ASP =
can=20
take only 3 or 4 with CF. Of course I'm using the free Express server =
which=20
doesn't have all the functionality of its big brother but its more than=20
enough to satisfy my corporate intranet needs.
Also, CF doesn't generate the pages that are ultimately shown to the =
user.=20
CF server sends the requested data to a template html file and the web=20
server sends it to the user.
Apologies if I'm not understanding the discussion. I'm still learning =
this=20
web db stuff.
Regards,
Dave G.

At 03:21 PM 4/7/00 +0000, you wrote:
 ><stephen>I just want people to realize that CF is not the answer=20
for >database transparency, it is really good coding and knowledge of=20
the >cross DB capabilities exposed by ODBC that allow for this</stephen>
 >
 >I have been looking into the possibility of working with HTML=20
generated >from databases for some time and following this discussion =
has=20
been a >great help to me- thankyou everyone.
 >
 >I like the idea of database transparency aluded to in the above=20
posting. >I've been looking at using Cold Fusion (as someone said, the =
$500=20
price >tag for just the development kit is fine if you can recover it in =

time savings >later) but I don't want to surrender control (or=20
understanding) of the >processes going on underneath. For much the same=20
reasons I don't use >Home Site. In order to get my head round this =
database=20
thing I think I am >finally going to have to bite the bullet and learn =
more=20
about SQL. I'm pretty >hot on Access and general relational database=20
theory, but have no idea >whatsoever how to use SQL.
 >
 >Does anyone have any good suggestions for online tutorials etc.?
 >
 >Any other related information I need to look for? (I'm considering=20
taking >the long route, like Ben Ocean, and using PHP and MySQL)
 >
 >TIA
 >
 >-Matt
 >
 >PS- Go easy on me with the tutorials- I'm new to this. Just a foot on=20
the >ladder is all I need to start with.
 >______________________________________________________
 >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

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