HB++ Tutorial: MyAutograph 2 - The Conduit and Backend
Introduction
This is a step-by-step tutorial for HB++. This uses the MyAutograph program created in Part 1 of the tutorial. In Part 2, we will show you how to generate the conduit and the backend mdb database files.
The Conduit
Open MyAutograph with HB++ and note the following Project Settings by tapping the three tabs at the top:
In the Project Window, click Tables and double-click tblAutograph. You will remember from Part 1 that tblAutograph has the following definitions:
We want to create an Access 2000 table that will be able to synchronize with tblAutograph. Go to Tools > Conduit Generator.
Click Next.
Click Next.
Click Configure.
The connection string is as follows:
Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=<Your full path>\MyAutograph.mdb;
Note that the connection string needs to be specified, as the default setting are not correct.
Click OK.
The Autograph column in tblAutograph is linked to a bmp file. The "Path to linked files:" indicates where you want the files to be stored. In my case, I stored them in the same MyAutograph directory. (After HotSync, take a look in the directory, and you will see new filenames that look like this: tblAutograph_Autograph_13144065.bmp. If you make an error in the path, you may find your bmp files in the c:\ root directory and your application may not be able to link to this location.)
Click Finish.
Click Yes.
Click Save.
Click Yes.
Click OK.
Click OK.
Open your MyAutograph directory. All of the files are readily idenitfied, but there is no mdb table as yet.
Open HotSync > Custom…
Examine the details and close.
Run MyAutograph in HB++, which opens the application in POSE. Set up POSE to HotSync then HotSync. Open your MyAutograph directory.
The MyAutograph.mdb has been added. Open it with Access 2000 or later.
Which creates the tables as noted.
On the PC, change John Doe to Jane Doe, change Dirty to -1, and HotSync again.
On the Handheld, change Peter Levy to Peter Levy 1.
On the PC, change Peter Levy to Peter Levy 2 and change Dirty to -1.
HotSync.
And…
Therefore the conduit is working correctly.
To remove the conduit, open the conduit installer.
Click OK.
Click OK.
Open HotSync > Custom…
The conduit is gone.
If you find any errors in this tutorial or if you have suggestions for improvement, please drop me a note.
Jon Blackman
Updated July 5, 2004