UniDirect .NET
UniDirect .NET offers universal access to data of different databases for the Microsoft .NET Framework. It supports most of major database servers, including Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Oracle, DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, InterBase, and Firebird. Other servers can be accessed through their ADO.NET, OLE DB and ODBC providers.
UniDirect .NET is based on ADO.NET technology and can be used in the same way as the SQL Server .NET Data Provider. The main feature of UniDirect .NET is an access to multiple database servers at the same code. With UniDirect .NET it is possible to avoid writing conditional code for different providers or using ADO.NET interfaces directly. UniDirect .NET implements full support of design-time development and integration with IDE, which allows to reduce development time greatly.
UniDirect .NET doesn't implement database specific access layer for all databases, it uses native ADO.NET providers and depends on their functionality. The Professional Edition of UniDirect .NET includes bundled data providers for Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL (see diagram below). For all other servers you need a native data provider.
UniDirect .NET provides functionality for connecting to a database, executing commands, and retrieving results. These results can be processed directly or placed in an ADO.NET DataSet for further processing in disconnected state. While in the DataSet, data can be exposed to the user, combined with other data from multiple sources, or passed remotely between tiers. Any processing performed on the data in the DataSet can then be reconciled with the database.
The following diagram illustrates UniDirect .NET architecture. The green area represents some of UniDirect .NET components. The lime area unites bundled providers in the Professional Edition. The rest of the diagram objects represent data access elements inside and outside of the .NET Framework.
There are core classes that make up UniDirect .NET. The following table describes those classes and their functions.
- UniConnection - Establishes a connection to the database server and begins a transaction.
- UniCommand - Executes SQL statements and stored procedures at database, and exposes parameters.
- UniDataReader - Exposes and reads a forward-only stream of data from the database.
- UniDataAdapter - Populates a DataSet and resolves updates with the database.
- UniTransaction - Manages database transactions.
- UniParameter - Defines input, output, and return value parameters for commands and stored procedures.
- UniException - Returned when an error is encountered on a database.
Along with the core classes listed in the preceding table, UniDirect .NET also contains the classes extending its base functionality and allowing to accomplish additional tasks.
- UniCommandBuilder - A helper object that will automatically generate command properties of UniDataAdapter and populate the UniParameter collection of UniCommand object.
- UniConnectionStringBuilder - Designed to construct a connection string by assigning values to appropriate properties.
- UniMonitor - Monitors dynamic SQL execution in applications that use UniDirect .NET.
- UniProvider - Represents a custom ADO .NET data provider which can be used with UniDirect .NET provider.
- UniScript - Executes series of SQL statements separated by special symbols.
Key features
The following list presents the main advantages of the UniDirect .NET.
- Universal access to data of different databases
- Supports all major databases
- Supports most of the popular ADO.NET providers
- 100% managed code
- High performance
- Bundled data providers for Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL
- UniSQL for writing server-independent queries
- Provider-specific types infrastructure
- Fill DataSet with several CURSOR for Oracle Database
- Asynchronous execution support
- DataSet Wizard to leverage design-time setup
- Generate DataSet Wizard
- Support for Data Access Application Block in Enterprise Library
- ASP.NET data providers: Membership provider, Role provider, Session State provider, Profile provider
- Easy to deploy
- Base-Class-Based provider model
- .NET Compact Framework support
- Advanced connection pooling
- UniScript component to execute scripts
- Ability to retrieve metadata information
- Ability of monitoring query and stored procedures execution
- Advanced design-time editors
- Easy migration from SQL Server, OLE DB, ODBC and Oracle Data Providers with Migration Wizard
- Help integrated into Visual Studio .NET and Borland Delphi
- Free support for registered users during 1 year
- Licensed per a developer without royalty fee
Supported providers
UniDirect .NET is shipped with support for set of ADO.NET providers.
The Standard Edition of UniDirect .NET doesn't include any of the supported providers. You need to install necessary providers separately. The Professional Edition of UniDirect .NET includes the dotConnect for Oracle, dotConnect for MySQL, and dotConnect for PostgreSQL data providers (run time of the Standard Edition of these providers).
Following table contains name and description of data providers natively supported by UniDirect .NET:
| Provider | Description |
|---|---|
| .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server | The .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server uses its own protocol to communicate with SQL Server. It is lightweight and performs well because it is optimized to access a SQL Server directly without adding an OLE DB or Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) layer. |
| .NET Framework Data Provider for OLE DB | The .NET Framework Data Provider for OLE DB uses native OLE DB through COM interop to enable data access. |
| .NET Framework Data Provider for ODBC | The .NET Framework Data Provider for ODBC uses native ODBC Driver Manager through COM interop to enable data access. |
| .NET Framework Data Provider for Oracle | The .NET Framework Data Provider for Oracle enables data access to Oracle data sources through Oracle client connectivity software. The data provider supports Oracle client software version 8.1.7 and later. |
| Microsoft Access Provider | The provider for MS Access enables data access to Microsoft Access data sources through OLE DB. Recommended for single-tier applications using Microsoft Access databases. |
| dotConnect for Oracle | dotConnect for Oracle provides direct access to Oracle database server with or without the Oracle Call Interface (OCI). The data provider supports Oracle Client software version 8.0 and later. |
| dotConnect for MySQL | dotConnect for MySQL is a data provider for direct access to MySQL database server for the Microsoft .NET Framework. The data provider can access MySQL server either using native MySQL network protocol directly or through MySQL client library. |
| dotConnect for PostgreSQL | dotConnect for PostgreSQL is a data provider for direct access to PostgreSQL database for the Microsoft .NET Framework. The data provider uses native message-based protocol for communication with PostgreSQL database server. |
| Oracle Data Provider for .NET | The Oracle Data Provider for .NET enables data access to Oracle data sources through Oracle client connectivity software. The data provider supports Oracle client software version 9.2 and later. |
| IBM DB2.NET Data Provider | The DB2 .NET Data Provider allows your .NET applications to access Version 8 DB2 Universal Database on Windows, UNIX, and Linux-based computers, and Version 6 and Version 7 of DB2 Universal Database for OS/390 and z/OS via DB2 Connect. |
| Firebird ADO.NET Provider | The .NET Data Provider for Firebird 1.x, 2.0, and InterBase 7.5 databases. Available for .NET Framework 2.0 only. |
Any provider not listed here still can be used with UniDirect .NET. Refer to UniDirect .NET and Arbitrary Data Providers topic in the documentation.
Editions
UniDirect .NET has four editions: Professional, Standard, Mobile, and Trial. Standard edition includes ADO.NET core classes and classes for native data types only. Professional edition includes additional classes, design-time extensions and wizards. Mobile edition is equivalent to Standard edition for .NET Compact Framework. Trial edition corresponds to Professional with trial limitation.
Note that Professional edition is shipped with built-in data providers for Oracle, MySQL and PostgreSQL.
| Feature | Professional | Standard | Mobile | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .NET Framework support | + | + | + | |
| .NET Compact Framework support | + | + | ||
| ADO.NET core classes | + | + | + | + |
| Native data types classes and structures | + | + | + | + |
| UniCommandBuilder class | + | + | + | + |
| UniScript class | + | + | + | + |
| UniMonitor class | + | + | + | + |
| Bundled data providers for Oracle, MySQL, and PostgreSQL | + | + | ||
| Enterprise Library support | + | + | ||
| ASP.NET 2.0 providers support | + | + | Design-time features, including component editors and property editors | + | + | + | + |
| Advanced Visual Studio .NET 2005 integration (Server Explorer and other features) |
+ | + | + | |
| Dataset Wizard | + | + | ||
| Migration Wizard | + | + | + | |
| DBMonitor support | + | + | ||
| Trial limitation* | + |
* Trial version of the provider is a fully working version during 30 days period.
Requirements
Prior to running Setup to install the UniDirect .NET, you must already have the .NET Framework 1.1 or 2.0 installed on the computer. If the .NET Framework is not installed, the Setup program for the provider will fail.
Compatibility
UniDirect .NET works with .NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, .NET Compact Framework 2.0, and can be used with the following development environments:
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