Installation and New Features Guide (Windows)

Chapter 5: ODBC import with FileMaker Pro
This chapter explains how to import data from ODBC sources, a new
feature in FileMaker Pro 4.1. See the FileMaker Pro User’s Guide for
information about importing other file types.
What is ODBC?
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is a standard language that
enables compliant applications to access data from many different
database management systems (DBMSs). It allows an application
accessing data, for example, FileMaker Pro 4.1, to make a request
without database-specific calls that work with only one DBMS.
An application makes its request, or query, for data using Structured
Query Language (SQL, pronounced “sequel”). Each DBMS that
supports ODBC recognizes a common subset of SQL statements.
ODBC terminology
To use the ODBC import feature, it’s useful to understand the
following terms.
Term Refers to
Open Database Connectivity
or ODBC
An application programming interface (API) that enables
FileMaker Pro to import data from other database
management systems (DBMS).
Database Management System
or DBMS
An application that allows users to store, process, and
retrieve information in a database (for example,
FileMaker Pro).
DBMS or
data source
ODBC
Driver
Driver
Manager
FileMaker Pro sends SQL
requests to the driver manager,
which sends them to the DBMS
through an ODBC driver
FileMaker Pro interacting with a DBMS via SQL
The ODBC driver sends the
requested data back to the
driver manager, which passes
it to FileMaker Pro