I've not worked specifically with Lytec but have worked extensively with Pervasive. What error are you getting from the ODBC Commands? What version of Pervasive are you using? What ODBC COmmands are you issuing?

What's the error you get?

If you've got a connection to the database using ODBC, then you've got DDFs. However, that might be part of your problem. If the DDFs don't match, then you'll have problems.

To be sure, what's the error?

Yeah I am connecting with ODBC though VB.NET, so its just coming up with an unhandled exception error. I am looking in the database directory and there seems to be no files that are .DDF though.

From what I understand, ODBC is for relational databases and Btrieve is Sequential access? Does that make a difference if I am connecting to a database created in the Btrieve format vs. the relational database format? I read on another site that everything Lytec created uses Btrieve. So could I then use an ODBC connection to a database created with Btrieve?

Thanks for your help. There isn't much documentation about what they have done, and their developers don't want to disclose too much information rightfully so.

There's no difference in the underlying data files between a "Btrieve" data base and a "relational" database. The only difference is that the "relational" database is accessed through ODBC or OLEDB.
What happens if you catch the exception using a Try..Catch block and display the Exception message (like:
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message)
End Try

OK I tried it again and its still just and exception, with no further info. All I am doing is connecting to the database and then trying to run a "SELECT * FROM PATIENT;" command.

Is there a special way my connection string should be for the ODBC.NET provider and the Pervasive database?

Thanks so much for all your help.

Here's code I've used in VB.NET 2003:

Imports System.Data.Odbc
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim myConnString As String
Dim mySelectQuery As String
myConnString = txtConnStr.Text
Dim myConnection As New OdbcConnection(myConnString)

mySelectQuery = txtSQL.Text

Dim myCommand As New OdbcCommand(mySelectQuery, myConnection)
Dim i As Int32
Dim sTemp As String
Dim sTemp2 As String

ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Try
myConnection.Open()
Dim myReader As OdbcDataReader = myCommand.ExecuteReader()

While myReader.Read()
For i = 0 To myReader.FieldCount - 1
Select Case myReader.Item(i).GetType().ToString
Case "System.TimeSpan"
Dim sTimeSpan As TimeSpan
sTimeSpan = myReader.Item(i)
sTemp2 = sTimeSpan.ToString

Case "System.DBNull"
sTemp2 = "null"
Case Else
sTemp2 = CStr(myReader.Item(i))
End Select

If i = 0 Then
sTemp = sTemp2
Else
sTemp = sTemp & ", " & Trim(sTemp2)
End If
Next
ListBox1.Items.Add(sTemp)
sTemp = ""
End While
' always call Close when done reading.
myReader.Close()
' always call Close when done with connection.
myConnection.Close()
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message)
End Try
End Sub

This code uses a ListBox (called ListBox1), two TextBoxes (called txtConnStr and txtSQL), and a Button (called Button1).
My default txtConnStr was set to: DSN=DEMODATA
The txtSQL was set to: select * from class

Mirtheil,

Thanks for all your help. I think I am going to start over and re-install the whole thing and then try your code.

Mirtheil,

OK here is something strange. I download the Lytec demo. (I don't have the actual Pervasive 2000i server installed) It somehow installs itself and the Pervastive 2000i database on the computer. It seems to run on any OS, so it must be some other version of the server which I am not sure about considering the regular Pervasive 2000i database only runs on NT, 2000 or 2003 Servers. When you start the Lytec program a little Database Server Manager starts in the system tray. It says: Pervasive.SQL 2000i SP4 version 7.94.251.003. It looks like the full blown version.

Any ideas what kind of server this is? I can run it off XP Home, XP Pro, and 2000 as far as I know right now. It also has all the same files as the full version of the server.

Pervasive comes in two flavors.
Server Engine
WOrkgroup Engine

The Workgroup engine is designed to run on any Win32 OS (Win98, WinME, WinXP, Win2000, Win2003) and runs as an EXE in the user space. The Server engine runs on a "Server" platform. THere is a NetWare, Linux, and Windows server engine. The WIndows server runs as a Service on WinNT, Win2000, Win2003.

If you're seeing a tray icon, you're running the workstation/workgroup engine. It's not the server engine. THe server engine runs as a service so you don't see a tray icon.

ahhhh... no wonder.. OK, then I guess my next question is, how can I work with the Workgroup engine? Is there a good way to connect to the database using some developer tools, or is there a way to connect to it with VB.NET? I can't install any of the normal Pervasive tools since I don't have a server then.

Actually, the SDK will install on either the Workgroup or Server ENgine.
Using VB.NET, you can use either ODBC (with ODBC.NET) or the Btrieve API. THere is a sample on Pervasive's web site. THe code I posted worked for me.

Mirtheil,

Thanks for all your help. Yeah I installed it and am messing with it all now. I didn't realize that there was another version of Pervasive 2000i. This is a whole new database for us here.

Thanks again.

I' trying to connect to the Lytec .dbp files as well and I'm unable to right now. Amy ideas?

Thought I would share:
http://dbforums.com/arch/26/2002/8/430017

I am trying to get some custom reporting out of Lyutec and have found all posts helpful. I have setup what seems to be a working ODBC connection to Lytec Medical XE Release 4 Client/Server version by following the steps you setup. Basically take the existing data files on the server and leave them alone. Copy the .ddf files out of the program directory into the data directory. Go into the server's Pervasive control center and create a new database using the engine on the server and point the directory to the data directory then create the database by pointing it to the directory (DO NOT CREATE DDF). You will then have the database created. You can then go to a client with the pervasive client installed and create an ODBC connection by using the persavive data source and the database you just created. Seems to work fine. I can use crystal and VS to view data in the tables. Thanks to all the work done before me.

What version of Lytec is this referring to? I would love to help

Originally posted by microwize
What version of Lytec is this referring to? I would love to help

http://www.microwize.com

I was just using the latest version of Lytec Medical 2004.

We can provide your business with custom reporting. We specialize in data file repair and have built several custom reports for the the Lytec Medical program. Please visit our web site www.2kmedicalbilling.net for additional information or call Toll Free 866-372-3616.