[KLUG Members] datafile format unknown

[Ralph M. Deal]

As usual, Adam Williams, you provided an extremely helpful response!


> unixODBC comes with an application called "DataManger" that lets one 
> browse ODBC data sources and execute SQL statements, view results, etc...


I'll look. I suspect I'm looking for DataManager but I'll check 
DataManger first.


> ODBCConfig is the application to setup an ODBC data source.  Only 'root' 
> cna install drivers.  Users can define their own data sources,  or root 
> can define global data sources.

I believe I did install the text driver but I did not specify a local 
domain name nor a system domain name which may be required.

 
>>I presume that with the text driver, one need not have any 
>>   regular database such as postgreSQL set up but can work directly 
>>with text files.  
>>
> 
> True.  Of course "just text file" does imply some limitations.


Right.


>>If you can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.
>>
> 
> ftp://kalamazoolinux.org/pub/pdf/dbaccess.pdf


I believe that is a Williams presentation file - one that I've looked at 
but forgot that ODBC was included!

>>After I recover from my frustration with ODBC, I expect to make a stab 
>>at awk.
>>
> 
> The file
> yoyo|mama|swims|4.5|troop|ships|etc...
> Run through 
> awk -f display.awk < file
> displays
>       yoyo                 mama      swims    4.500  - XX     ships :    troop
> where display.awk is
> BEGIN {
>   FS="|"
>  } 
> {
>   printf "%10s %20s %10s %8.3f  - XX%10s : %9s", $1, $2, $3, $4, $6, $5;
> }
> END {}


Now I'll HAVE to work on awk!  Great inspiration as well as helpful script.

Thanks, Ralph