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ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) is a Windows “strategic interface” for accessing data from a variety of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) across a variety of networks and platforms.
The ODBC standard was developed and is maintained by Microsoft, which publishes an ODBC Software Development Kit (SDK), geared for use with its Visual C++ product. ODBC support is another way in which Clarion provides an extensible platform for you to create applications.
Over the years Microsoft has modified what they call ODBC. It used to be that you would first download their ODBC manager. Next, you would download and install any database specific ODBC drivers that you need.
Recently, many different layers of database software have surfaced. You can find ADO, RDO, OLE DB, and many more. Microsoft has merged all of these technologies into one complete installation package called MDAC (Microsoft Data Access Components). Basically it consists of several components that provide various database technologies; including ODBC. MDAC is a royalty-free redistributable package that you can install on any Windows machine without cost.