Programming Visual Basic for the Palm OS

AppForge PDB Library

The Palm database provides a straightforward and efficient mechanism to store application data. In fact, it is the only way to store large amounts of data on the device because the Palm OS lacks a true filesystem.

AppForge provides the PDB library to encapsulate and extend the Palm database manager. Because the PDB library is implemented as a Microsoft COM component, you use it by adding a reference to afPDBLib.dll to your VB project. The PDB library is simple to use. Its methods can be broken into the following groups, which we will explain in turn:

Database management

Performs functions such as creating new databases dynamically, with or without schemas, opening and closing existing databases, and deleting databases

Record management

Handles most record operations, such as creating, editing, and deleting, as well as record categories

Navigation

Covers moving between records in the database, as well as finding and sorting functions

Other functions

Handles reporting or changing the state of a database or record via specified attributes, as well as record counts and database error information

Database Management

It is easy to create a database, either programmatically, with code, or by converting from an existing database into a Palm database, with the following techniques:

• Use the AppForge PDB library in a Palm VB application to create an empty database directly on the Palm device

• Use the AppForge PDB converter utility that converts Microsoft Access databases ...