Supported Database Types

You can use the Embedded Data Table Editor in BarTender to create and manage a multi-table database that becomes part of your BarTender document. After you create the database, you can connect to it by using the Database Setup wizard so that the database fields can be linked to objects on the template. When you use this editor, you can replace external applications such as a text editor, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, and so on.

For more information, refer to Using the Embedded Data Table Editor.

A text file consists of text that is organized in such a way that programs such as BarTender can read each section of text as an individual database field and then retrieve data from the database fields accordingly. Supported text file types include delimited text, fixed-width text, and name/value pairs.

Extensible Markup Language (XML) defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. XML is often used to exchange data over the Internet.

When you connect to an XML file by using the Database Setup wizard, the wizard requires that you select the master element. You can also select the child elements and any parent elements that you want to include. After you have successfully connected to an XML file, the data is converted into a table that uses a consistent field name syntax.

The Database Setup wizard scans for an XML schema, which can be referenced in the XML file itself or in an XSD or DTD file. If the XML schema cannot be found, you are prompted to provide the schema file. The XML schema is not required, but without it, you cannot use any optional fields that are not present in your sample XML.

Data Builder is an application in the BarTender Suite that you can use to create and manage databases that include one or more tables. You can connect to these databases in BarTender Designer when you want to import the data into a BarTender document.

Data Builder supports assigning data types for the fields in your tables, including auto-incrementing ID, text, number, date, time, check box, picture, and multiple choice. You can specify that fields are required or unique within the table, and you can specify the fields that you want to be indexed within the database. You can also create validation rules for the fields in your tables to ensure that valid data is entered. By using Data Builder to create your database tables, you can replace external applications such as a text editor, Access, Excel, and so on.

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application that features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. BarTender supports all versions of Excel, including *.xls and *.xlsx files.

Microsoft Access is a database management system that combines the Microsoft Database Engine with a user interface and software development tools. BarTender supports all versions of Access, including *.mdb and *.accdb files.

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system. As a database server, its primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications. If SQL Server is already configured on your computer or network, you can connect to it from the Database Setup wizard. When you use the wizard to connect, you can choose your authentication method: either use your current credentials (Windows authentication) or specify the user name and password that were created with the database (database authentication).

BarTender supports Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and later versions.

Oracle is an object-relational database management system. An Oracle database system includes at least one instance of the application along with data storage. BarTender supports Oracle 10g and later versions.

Firebird is an open-source, relational database management system. Its primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications. When you use the Database Setup wizard to connect, you can choose your authentication method: either use your current credentials (Windows authentication) or specify the user name and password that were created with the database (database authentication).

Database (DB)2 is a group of relational database products that are offered by IBM. DB2 provides an open database environment that runs on a wide variety of computing platforms. By using Structured Query Language (SQL), users can obtain data simultaneously from DB2 and other databases. BarTender supports IBM DB2 10.50 and later versions.

IBM Informix is a product family within the IBM Information Management division that includes several relational database management system (RDBMS) types. The Informix server supports the object-relational model, which enables IBM to offer extensions that support data types that are not SQL-standard. BarTender supports IBM Informix 11.10 and later versions.

Microsoft Azure SQL Database is a cloud database service that is based on SQL Server database technology and built on the Microsoft Windows Azure cloud computing platform. It is used to store relational data in the cloud, and it uses dynamic scalability and integrated optimization features to minimize database administration.

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system. Its primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications. It is most often used in small-to-medium scale single-server deployments, either as a component in a LAMP-based web application or as a stand-alone database server.

When you use the Database Setup wizard to connect, you can choose your authentication method: either use your current credentials (Windows authentication) or specify the user name and password that were created with the database (database authentication). BarTender supports MySQL 4.1 and later.

MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system that provides an SQL interface for accessing data. Its primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications. MariaDB is a branch of MySQL, and it remains highly compatible with MySQL, with the main differences between the two being the advanced back-end features of MariaDB. BarTender supports MariaDB 5.5 and later versions.

PostgreSQL is an open-source, object-relational database system. Its primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications. When you use the Database Setup wizard to connect, you can choose your authentication method: either use your current credentials (Windows authentication) or specify the user name and password that were created with the database (database authentication).

An Intermediate Document (IDoc) is a transactional message, in the form of a text file, that is sent from an SAP-connected program to other programs. Most of an IDoc message consists of fields of data that are grouped into segments. The segments themselves have a hierarchical relation to each other.

An Object Linking and Embedding Database (OLE DB) provider is a program that can retrieve information from a database and then pass it to a requesting application, such as BarTender. Each type of database (such as Oracle or Access) requires its own provider program. OLE DB technology is similar in its purposes to ODBC, but it is newer and is compatible with a wider range of proprietary databases and data types.

A number of OLE DB providers are installed with Windows, and you can obtain others from database manufacturers. BarTender can connect to any database type that has an internal OLE DB driver.

To see what OLE DB data sources are available on your computer, create an empty text file, and then give it the file name extension ".udl". Double-click the file to open the Windows Data Link Properties dialog, and then click the Providers tab to see the list of providers.

An Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC) data source is a set of configuration information that specifies at least the following:

• An ODBC driver that is designed to read from a particular database format

• Depending on the database format, the name of either a directory or file that contains one or more tables

• A name for this set of information

ODBC is a technology that programs use to read information from different data sources without having to process the specific details of the particular database format. This is done through the use of ODBC drivers. Because of the large number of available ODBC drivers, BarTender can read data from a wide variety of data sources. These include every major database and spreadsheet format and text files that are other than standard delimited text files or fixed-width field text files.

When you select ODBC Connection in the Database Setup wizard, BarTender can import data from any data source for which you have an ODBC driver. Although advanced knowledge of ODBC or the ODBC Administrator is not needed to use a named ODBC data source, it may be helpful to understand the basics of ODBC.

ODBC drivers exist for all major database management systems, for many other data sources such as address book systems and Excel, and even for text or *.csv files. To add, modify, or remove ODBC data sources, use the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog.

BarTender can connect to any database type that has an internal ODBC driver.