The Mimer Data Provider is used to access a Mimer SQL database server on the same machine or across a network. The Mimer Data Provider is developed in a number of stages:
- The first version, 9.2, uses ODBC to access the database. This version can work with all the older (and newer) Mimer SQL servers that support ODBC. By doing this, it is possible to use the Mimer Data Provider against versions beginning with 7.2. The functionality of this version is limited by what is possible to do via ODBC.
- The second version, 9.3, is 100% managed code. I.e. the entire provider is written for .NET. No dependencies will exist on ODBC or any software outside of the .NET Framework. This provider takes advantage of new functionality in the database server and therefore requires at least version 9.2.3 on the server.
- The second version is also adapted for the .NET Compact Framework allowing native Mimer SQL Mobile access on small devices. This provider is called Mimer Smart Provider.
Mimer SQL under the .NET Framework will allow several versions to be installed concurrently. I.e. the two first versions can, for example, be installed on the same machine and be used by different applications.
The general architecture is as shown below:
The 9.3 provider uses database server functionality that was introduced in version 9.2.3. It will therefore not allow connections to older servers.
As the 9.2 provider works with ODBC it can actually work with any version of the Mimer SQL Database server. However, it is recommended that you use the 9.3 provider when the server is version 9.2.3 or later.
The application interface is forward compatible for both providers. The second generation supports more features. For example, the interval data types are available in the MimerDbType enumeration.
See Also
Introducing the Mimer Data Provider | How to convert an application to the Mimer Data Provider