Chapter 3
Using ODBC to share FileMaker data
Use the ODBC client driver to connect to a FileMaker data source from another application. The application
that uses the ODBC client driver can directly access the data in a FileMaker database file.
1 Windows: The FileMaker ODBC client driver is DataDirect 32-BIT SequeLink 5.5.
1 Mac OS: The FileMaker ODBC client driver is ivslk20.dylib.
Note You can also use FileMaker Pro as a client application, interacting with records from another data
source via ODBC using SQL. See FileMaker
Pro Help for details about accessing an external data source
via ODBC.
About ODBC
ODBC is an API that enables applications to access data from many database management systems. ODBC
gives client applications a common language for interacting with data sources and database services.
All applications that support ODBC recognize a common subset of statements. SQL lets you use other
applications (like spreadsheets, word processors, and reporting tools) to view, analyze, and modify
FileMaker data. See
chapter 5, “Supported standards,” for the SQL statements, functions, and expressions
that the ODBC client driver supports.
Your application can talk directly to a FileMaker database file by using the ODBC client driver. Your SQL
statements are delivered to the FileMaker host of the database file and the results of those statements are sent
back to you. If you use FileMaker
Server Advanced to host a FileMaker database file as a data source, the
database file can be located on another machine (the server machine) connected to the network, while your
client application is located on your machine (the client machine). This is referred to as a client/server
configuration.
Driver
Manager
Client
Application
Oracle
ODBC Driver
ODBC Client
Driver
SQL Server
ODBC Driver
Microsoft
SQL Server
FileMakerOracle