Program overview 
=================

The ODBCCPY program is a program written for the Windows platform by 
Jorgen Grosbol at ISS Data A/S in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1996. 

The program copies and replicates data between tables in ODBC accessible 
databases. Replication is a copying process where only changed data are 
transferred. Replication greatly reduces execution time when only minor 
parts of the data need to be updated and allows synchronization of 
database tables in an efficient manner without deleting and rewriting 
the whole table. The program also allows you to perform updates to 
tables. In this mode new rows are added and changed records are updated, 
but no records are deleted from the target table. 

The copy function of the program makes it a nice tool when moving data 
from one database to another. The databases can be on the workstation or 
on the same or different servers. 

The program contains a timer function allowing synchronization of data 
to be scheduled at fixed intervals (for instance each night or each 
weekend). The program contains some error recovery and can retry 
processing to allow for networks and servers that go offline in an 
unscheduled manner. 

The program lets you perform character set translation and text 
replacement on a field-by-field basis. 

The shareware version of the ODBCCPY program has a requester asking you 
if you want to continue every 25 rows copied. Otherwise it is identical 
to the licensed version of the program (see the Ordering and Licensing 
Information). You must license the full version of the program from ISS 
Data if you want the requester removed. Please also see the copyright 
notice and Disclaimer at the back of this document. 

The shareware version of the program can be freely distributed in its 
original form, that is: in the form of the self-extracting exe file that 
installs the program. 



Installation guide 
===================

The ODBCCPY program is available for download from several sources. You 
can get it from: 

    
 1. Internet: 
    16-bit version: http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/win3/database.html 
    32-bit version: http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/win95/database.html 
    
    
 2. CompuServe: 
    16-bit version: GO CIS:WINSHARE,LIB 18, download: IDODBC16.EXE 
    32-bit version: GO CIS:WINSHARE,LIB 18, download: IDODBC32.EXE 
    

The ODBCCPY program requires you to run one of the Windows operating 
systems. Also you should have ODBC installed on your system and you 
should have access to ODBC drivers for the data sources you plan to use. 


The program exists in a 16-bit version and in a 32-bit version. The 
16-bit version uses 16-bit ODBC drivers, the 32-bit version uses 32-bit 
ODBC drivers. If you use Windows 3.x, you have to use the 16-bit 
version. If you use Windows 95 or Windows NT, you can install either or 
both versions of the program. Please note that the 16-bit version is no 
longer developed or updated by ISS Data. 

Installation of the ODBCCPY program is straightforward. Simply double 
click on the installation file named IDODBC16.EXE (16-bit version) or 
IDODBC32.EXE (32-bit version) and follow the onscreen prompts. The 
installation process also generates an UNINSTALL icon (16-bit) or an 
entry in the add/remove programs icon in the control panel (32-bit) that 
you can use to remove the program should you feel so inclined. 

The ODBCCPY program is protected by a license information file (called 
ODBCCPJ.LIF) and a license number. The first time you start the program 
you have to enter the correct filename and license number into the 
displayed dialog. 

        
        The shareware license key is: 1 (one) 
        

The program defaults to the License Information File name ODBCCPJ.LIF, 
so unless you have changed something you can simply leave the filename 
entry alone. Simply enter the number 1 and press the return key. 

The program remembers your license number. See the chapter on Updating 
the License Information File for information on how to change or update 
the license number. 



Copyright information 
======================

The ODBCCPY program is the property of and copyrighted by 

    
*   ISS Data A/S 
    Rentemestervej 60-62 
    DK-2400 Copenhagen NV 
    Denmark 
    
    Phone: + 45 38 17 17 17 
    Fax: + 45 38 88 26 29 
    E-mail: info@iss-data.dk 
    

The program was written by Jorgen Grosbol in 1996 using the Microsoft 
Visual C++ programming language. 

Disclaimer 
===========

When you use this program, you do it at your own risk. We have done 
everything we can to make the program behave as well as possible, but 
nevertheless. Neither the author of the program nor ISS Data A/S can 
accept any responsibility for any damage or problems occurring as a 
result of the use of this software or its documentation. If anything 
happens it is your problem, not ours. 

A word of advice: This program copies and deletes data in database 
tables. If you use it incorrectly it may potentially delete or destroy 
data you did not intend to have deleted or destroyed. 

Please take the following precautions when testing the program: 

    
*   Use test tables when trying out new scripts. 
    
*   Take backups of data until you are sure everything works as 
    intended. 
    
*   Check the results of replications before accepting the program for 
    production situations. 
    

While these precautions may not be necessary in all cases, you will 
probably appreciate that your life could be significantly more 
unpleasant than it already is if you unintentionally delete important 
data in your departments computer. 


