ODBC Problems

Brian,
Here is an EraNet article
(link: http://eranet.epicor.com/ansbook/vantage/public/4/49/494/494mps.htm) covering Access and Part Description Lengths. Notice the last sentence says there is a way to shorten the Part Description. Epicor gave me the instructions on this (which I don't have any longer) and I believe this would solve your problem if the other suggestions below don't.

Troy

---------------Beginning of EraNet Article------------------

Page: 494MPS
Summary: Active link between Access and Prog 9.0 DB, Invalid field de
AnswerBook: Vantage ChangeRequests

I am able to setup an active link to my Progress 9.0 DB with Access 97, but when I try to set an active link to the Part table, I receive an invalid field description error.

This may be able to be fixed with a minor settings change for the ODBC driver. On the workstation where ODBC was installed, open up control panel, then the ODBC applet. Find the Progress driver under the user dsn tab, highlight it and click on the configure tab. Next click on the advanced tab, locate a check box for ANSI SQL COMPLIANCE and place a check in the box. You should now be able to create an active link to the Part table.

If you are still unable to create an active link, there may be other factors involved. The part description field contains a possible 1000 characters which may cause some conflicts listed below

Issue 1).Access 97 works on Jet engine which can only handle so many characters in an indexed field.

Issue 2).The Merant 3.5 driver doubles the number of characters when it grabs them from the Progress database.

Possible solutions

1).Access 2000 does not use the Jet engine and could handle the many character indexed field.

2).Merant 3.6 driver does not double the number of characters when it grabs them from the Progress databse.

Another possible solution may be to change the number of characters exported to ODBC within the data dictionary (changing the character format). Between Access and the Merant 3.5 driver, there may be a problem linking to a field with more than 24 characters. Further information on how to change a description fields charcter size should be directed to tech support.

------------------END of EraNet Article -------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: Troy Funte
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


There is a separate utility from Epicor you have to run to actually shorten the PartDescription for Part. Again, you would be best off to call Epicor about this. In 5.0 the PartDescription got lengthened to 1000(x) and changed to a memo field instead of text. Truncating it allows it to be used in Crystal Groups and Formula's as well.

Troy Funte
Liberty Electronics

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Boyes
To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 2:34 PM
Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


Darn. I spoke too soon. I can now access two of the four tables that my
Access application needs. WrkCenter and LaborDtl now function, but when I
try to access JobHead or Part, I get an error "Invalid field definition
'PartDescription' in definition of index or relationship."

We have not modified the tables in any way, which would have been my first
thought. So anyway, I'm still looking for ideas.

Thanks!
Brian

Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Yahoo! Groups Sponsor



Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
It seems the problems just keep cropping up since we went to 5.0. I'm trying
to convert a user's Access application so it works with Vantage 5.0. Epicor
sent me some instructions and a patch so I can connect to the database using
the Merant 3.6 driver. I establish a link table in Access 97 and link it to
the jobhead table in Vantage. This works, but when I try to open the table
or perform query operations on it, I get an error "ODBC Call Failed" and
then "[MERANT][ODBC Progress Driver][Progress]Access Denied[authorization
failed][7512].

Epicor support didn't know what to do about this, so I'm hoping somebody on
the list might have an idea?

Thanks
Brian Boyes,
Systems Administrator,
Precision Resource Canada Ltd.
<http://www.precisionresource.com>
<mailto:brianb@...>
Have you run the userfix.r and odbcfix.r programs on your database?

Troy
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Boyes
To: Vantage List (E-mail)
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 1:26 PM
Subject: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


It seems the problems just keep cropping up since we went to 5.0. I'm trying
to convert a user's Access application so it works with Vantage 5.0. Epicor
sent me some instructions and a patch so I can connect to the database using
the Merant 3.6 driver. I establish a link table in Access 97 and link it to
the jobhead table in Vantage. This works, but when I try to open the table
or perform query operations on it, I get an error "ODBC Call Failed" and
then "[MERANT][ODBC Progress Driver][Progress]Access Denied[authorization
failed][7512].

Epicor support didn't know what to do about this, so I'm hoping somebody on
the list might have an idea?

Thanks
Brian Boyes,
Systems Administrator,
Precision Resource Canada Ltd.
<http://www.precisionresource.com>
<mailto:brianb@...>



Yahoo! Groups Sponsor



Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
They sent me odbcfix.r, but not userfix.r. Is that something that can be
downloaded from their website?

Brian

> Have you run the userfix.r and odbcfix.r programs on your database?
>
> Troy
I got it from Virginia at Epicor - Tech Support.
I don't have it in front of me or I would send it now. Let me know if you can't get it.

Troy Funte
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Boyes
To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 1:42 PM
Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


They sent me odbcfix.r, but not userfix.r. Is that something that can be
downloaded from their website?

Brian

> Have you run the userfix.r and odbcfix.r programs on your database?
>
> Troy

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor



Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Okay, I think I got it working. Ryan gave me the two .r files from the ODBC
patch and reapplying them seems to have done the trick. Thanks to Troy, Ryan
and Lee. Also to Matt at Epicor support.

Brian Boyes,
Systems Administrator,
Precision Resource Canada Ltd.
<http://www.precisionresource.com>
<mailto:brianb@...>
Brian,

I have a current ZIP with both the ODBCFix.r and ODBCUser.r
fixes, along with directions. Important note: be exactly
sure that all ODBC users are using the same driver and have
their DSNs configured exactly the same. I'll attach a copy
of my setup sheet. Once you run ODBCUser.r, the login ID
and password will both be "sysprogress".

We are having similar ODBC problems since doing a dump-and-
load on an existing 5.0 installation, except we blow out
ODBC once a day. Restarting the Vantage db (between shifts
at 3:30 AM) seems to provide temporary relief.

Look for separate attachment in your mailbox.

have fun,
John


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Boyes
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 10:43 AM
> To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
> Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems
darn, they beat me.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Boyes [mailto:brianb@...]
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 11:13 AM
> To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
> Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems
>
>
> Okay, I think I got it working. Ryan gave me the two .r files
Darn. I spoke too soon. I can now access two of the four tables that my
Access application needs. WrkCenter and LaborDtl now function, but when I
try to access JobHead or Part, I get an error "Invalid field definition
'PartDescription' in definition of index or relationship."

We have not modified the tables in any way, which would have been my first
thought. So anyway, I'm still looking for ideas.

Thanks!
Brian
Brian,

ODBCFix.r is "supposed" to truncate the index descriptions to
length acceptable to the ODBC broker. That said, it doesn't
work all that well for me either.

have fun,
john


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Boyes
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 11:35 AM
> To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
> Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems
John,
How about posting your ZIP file to the Yahoo web site? Please?!
======================
Steve Sanders
Vantage List Moderator


-----Original Message-----
From: John Sage [mailto:jsage@...]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 1:19 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


Brian,

I have a current ZIP with both the ODBCFix.r and ODBCUser.r
fixes, along with directions. Important note: be exactly
sure that all ODBC users are using the same driver and have
their DSNs configured exactly the same. I'll attach a copy
of my setup sheet. Once you run ODBCUser.r, the login ID
and password will both be "sysprogress".

We are having similar ODBC problems since doing a dump-and-
load on an existing 5.0 installation, except we blow out
ODBC once a day. Restarting the Vantage db (between shifts
at 3:30 AM) seems to provide temporary relief.

Look for separate attachment in your mailbox.

have fun,
John


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Boyes
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 10:43 AM
> To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
> Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


Yahoo! Groups Sponsor



Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
There is a separate utility from Epicor you have to run to actually shorten the PartDescription for Part. Again, you would be best off to call Epicor about this. In 5.0 the PartDescription got lengthened to 1000(x) and changed to a memo field instead of text. Truncating it allows it to be used in Crystal Groups and Formula's as well.

Troy Funte
Liberty Electronics

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Boyes
To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 2:34 PM
Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


Darn. I spoke too soon. I can now access two of the four tables that my
Access application needs. WrkCenter and LaborDtl now function, but when I
try to access JobHead or Part, I get an error "Invalid field definition
'PartDescription' in definition of index or relationship."

We have not modified the tables in any way, which would have been my first
thought. So anyway, I'm still looking for ideas.

Thanks!
Brian

Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
My experience with ODBC drivers provided with 5.0-9.1A is that I need to use
Access 2000 or higher to be able to connect to all the tables I need. Access
97 does not work well with this driver.

In Addition, I need to refresh all ODBC links at start up with Access so I
can avoid the "OBCD call failed" error message in Access when I try to
query/read a table. So far, 9.1A Progress Explorer ODBC and the Merant
Driver works fine in Access 2000. I have not be able to make Access 97 work
with this driver, even after applying the patch from Epicor. As a matter of
fact, I get more error messages such as LineDesc is invalid.

Mario Aguirre
Lakin General


-----Original Message-----
From: Troy Funte [mailto:tfunte@...]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 4:43 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Vantage] ODBC Problems

There is a separate utility from Epicor you have to run to actually shorten
the PartDescription for Part. Again, you would be best off to call Epicor
about this. In 5.0 the PartDescription got lengthened to 1000(x) and changed
to a memo field instead of text. Truncating it allows it to be used in
Crystal Groups and Formula's as well.

Troy Funte
Liberty Electronics

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Boyes
To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 2:34 PM
Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems


Darn. I spoke too soon. I can now access two of the four tables that my
Access application needs. WrkCenter and LaborDtl now function, but when I
try to access JobHead or Part, I get an error "Invalid field definition
'PartDescription' in definition of index or relationship."

We have not modified the tables in any way, which would have been my first
thought. So anyway, I'm still looking for ideas.

Thanks!
Brian

Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have
already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
For what its worth, I just spoke to Vantage support again and they agree
with you.

However, I went to Merant's site and they have a patch that was posted on
Oct 1 that seems to address this issue. The problem is that you have to be a
registered user to get the patch, and I can't register because I don't have
any serial numbers for my Merant 3.6 ODBC driver (I suppose its because it
came with Vantage, I don't know).

http://knowledgebase.merant.com/cgi-bin/webcgi.exe/,/?Session=604148,U=1,ST=
80,N=0013,K=16587,SXI=7,Case=obj(24151),Note=24151,VARSET=CASEID:24151

Has anyone tried this patch? Epicor hasn't heard about it.

Brian

> My experience with ODBC drivers provided with 5.0-9.1A is
> that I need to use
> Access 2000 or higher to be able to connect to all the tables
> I need. Access
> 97 does not work well with this driver.
Brian,

I will forward your message to Virginia at Epicor tech support
and see if she can help us with this. She and David Weiseth
have been helping me with our ODBC issues.

have fun,
John


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Boyes [mailto:brianb@...]
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 8:54 AM
> To: 'vantage@yahoogroups.com'
> Subject: RE: [Vantage] ODBC Problems
>