Commented by: @hvlad

Why not use Service API ?

Commented by: PizzaProgram Ltd. (szakilaci)

On remote db? What do you mean?

Commented by: PizzaProgram Ltd. (szakilaci)

... for example this would make life much easier for application developers: (especially for beginners)

try
path := 'myserver:default';
// connect to database...
// > if fails >> Showmessage('The server is not awailable') > exit;

// test version number,
// > if fails >> Showmessage('Your Firebird version is not good on "myserver", please install the ...32bit version ') > exit;

// test user (maybe SYSDBA should not be allowed for security reasons)
// > if fails >> remember to make new users after connecting to real database
except
// any other not handled errors ...
exit;
end;

// ... and NOW you can try to connect to the REAL database, and you'll know, if something wrong with that > the service, connection, engine version, etc must be fine !
// >> so you can shrink the error possibilities to :
- "non-existing",
- corrupted\damaged,
- wrong ODS version of db,
- user-access-denied error types.

Commented by: @dyemanov

Please follow Vlad's advice and learn the documentation about Services API. It allows you to connect to the server rather than to the particular database. And you can ask for its version, etc.

Commented by: PizzaProgram Ltd. (szakilaci)

<OFF>
Dear Dmitry and Vlad, ;)
Sorry for the late answer, it took me a month to collect enough info about the subject.

1. I've phoned several programmers using Firebird actively, but NOBODY knew about how to use Firebird Services APIs directly.
> so I have proof now than 9 of 10 programmers do not now how ... (incuding me and I'm not a beginner)

2. Asked on hungarian Firebird forum > took 1 week somebody gave me any answer:
"TIBServerProperties can be used to that purpose".
3. Later, as I've tested that, and had to realize > it's not working well, for example :
.isServiceRunning gives always False :( ... so precompiled components are useless !

4. Spent 3 days to learn more about Interbase ApiGuide.pdf (442 pages)
>> conclusion : tooo difficult and inpraktical to use (and I'm using/learning FB since 9 years!)
There are a very few advanced "gurus" could write complete database-components like UIB.

5. Told everyone about my idea, and ALL of them found it great and easy to use ;)
(even a "PHP-starter" could use it in 3 lines)

So please consider my recommendation, how to make every programmers life easier and turn FB to an easy-to-start-and-test tool.
I'm REALLY just wanna help to mention a problem, everyone agrees with.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Commented by: PizzaProgram Ltd. (szakilaci)

... of course we can change the keyword "default" to something else too, like: "test_database".