White Papers: Accessing PSQL/Zen Data

By: Bill Bach

This page contains white papers created by Goldstar Software Inc. which discuss accessing data within your Actian Zen, Actian PSQL, or Pervasive PSQL environment.

These documents are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Can't open them? Get the Acrobat Reader.

Accessing Btrieve Data From ODBC or Other Applications
Many people want to access their Btrieve data via other applications or ODBC drivers as easily as they access SQL Server, Oracle, and MS Access databases. This paper explains why this task isn't so easy and provides a basis for getting started. (Updated February 2021)

Determining Your Pervasive, Actian, PSQL or Btrieve Engine Version
This article covers the various aspects of determining your database engine version, from Btrieve 5.x through the current versions. (Updated May 2023)

Setting up a Linked Server From SQL Server Management Studio v19
Here we provide step-by-step instructions on setting up a Linked Server from Microsoft SQL Server to the Actian Zen database. (Released August 2023)

Accessing the Btrieve API in Actian Zen v14 from Visual Studio C
The Btrieve API is the fastest way to access the database, with the least amount of overhead. However, getting started can be a bit daunting, especially when the sample code provided in the SDK doesn't compile readily. This paper walks through the process of getting a sample application built and running on Zen v14 and Visual Studio 2019. (Added January 2022)

Accessing Actian Zen v13 from C++ on Windows Using the Btrieve 2 API
The Btrieve 2 API offers a huge leap forward in usability for developers, shortening the learning curve considerably. This article explains how to build a sample Btrieve 2 application from Visual Studio. (Added January 2019)

Accessing Actian Zen v15 from C# on Windows Using the ADO.NET Provider
The ADO.NET Provider can provide rapid development capability to the SQL interface of the Zen database engine. This article explains how to build a sample ADO.NET application from Visual Studio 2019. (Added August 2022)

Accessing Actian Zen v15 from C# on Windows Using the Btrieve 2 API
The Btrieve 2 API provides a simplified method of accessing the high-speed Microkernel directly to read exactly the records you want. While a bit more complicated than the higher-level functions, it provides some of the fastest performance available to the Zen database engine. This article explains how to build a sample Btrieve 2 application from Visual Studio 2019 on Windows. (Added March 2023)

Accessing Actian Zen v13 from C on a Raspberry Pi Using the Btrieve API
If you are already a Btrieve developer and simply want to see some examples of C programming on the Raspberry Pi, you've come to the right place. This article explains how to build a sample Btrieve application that performs stress tests on the database. (Added June 2019)

Accessing Actian Zen v13 from Python on Windows Using the Btrieve 2 API
This article explains the somewhat complicated process of compiling the SWIG wrapper so that you can use the Btrieve 2 API from Python on Windows. (Added January 2018)

Accessing Actian Zen v15 from Python on Windows Using the Btrieve 2 API
This article explains the somewhat complicated process of compiling the SWIG wrapper so that you can use the Btrieve 2 API from Python on Windows. (Updated September 2022)

Accessing Actian Zen v16 from Python v3.12 on Windows Using the Btrieve 2 API
This article explains the somewhat complicated process of compiling the SWIG wrapper so that you can use the Btrieve 2 API from Python on Windows. (Updated August 2024)

Accessing Actian Zen v15 from Python on Windows Using the ODBC API
This article shows how easy it is to access Zen from Python via ODBC on Windows. (Updated January 2024)

Accessing Actian Zen v13 from Python on a Raspberry Pi Using the Btrieve 2 API
This article explains the somewhat complicated process of compiling the SWIG wrapper so that you can use the Btrieve 2 API from Python on a Raspberry Pi with Zen IoT Server. (Updated June 2019 for v13.30)

Accessing Actian Zen v14 from Node.JS Using the Btrieve 2 API
This paper from AGTech explains how to access Btrieve 2 API from Node.js.

Accessing Actian Zen from PowerShell on Windows Using the ODBC API
Need to read a simple CSV file and update data in a database from it? You can do this quite easily with PowerShell and the sample code in this white paper! (Released February 2021)

Accessing Actian Zen from VBScript on Windows Using the ADO API
This paper walks you through creating a simple VBScript application that queries the Zen database and returns data records. (Released February 2021)

Installing the Zen Client and ODBC DSN onto a Linux Computer
This paper goes step by step through the downlaod and install of the Zen v15 Client onto a Linux computer, including setting up and testing an ODBC DSN.