Instruction manual

Open Database Connectivity CentreVu® CMS Open Database Connectivity
ODBC Background and Functionality 1-4
ODBC Background and Functionality 1
Definition 1
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is an Application Programming
Interface (API) that interfaces with one or many Database Management
Systems (DBMSs) and allows queries to access data in the database for
extraction and use in reports and other outside applications.
Data Access
Through ODBC
1
ODBC was developed as a solution to accessing different types of data.
Within one call center, users may be working with different applications
such as
Microsoft Access
*
or Seagate Crystal Reports
†
, that must access
call center data. Users may need to import CMS data into many different
applications. ODBC provides a standard method of database access that
shields users from the underlying functionality of network software,
naming conventions, and the other complexities involved in accessing
data through a DBMS. The data only needs to be queried through the
embedded SQL query function in the
Windows
‡
application that you are
using. Refer to your specific application documentation for further
information on its embedded SQL function.
Data Access
Diagram
1
The following figure illustrates user data access through ODBC.
*Access is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
†Crystal Reports is a trademark of SeaGate Software.
‡Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
ODBC API
ODBC API ODBC API
DBMS 1 DBMS 2 DBMS 3 DBMS 4
User 1:
Microsoft Access
User 2:
Crystal Reports
User 3:
Other