This current BDE 5.1.0 can be downloaded from the web page www.borland.com/devsupport/bde/bdeupdate.html. The file size amounts to about 12 MB.

According to the tests I did, this BDE version does not point errors out. All my programs operate without errors with BDE 5.1.0.

For dBASE and Paradox local data bases, no innovations were apparent implemented. With the new BDE 5.1.0 came new SQL-Links. Here some improvements were made.

What to consider with the BDE 5.1.0 updates?

The BDE 5.1.0 updates can be correctly installed only if BDE 4.5.1 or BDE 5.01 is already installed on the computer. In other words, you can't install the Borland Database Engine with the update files if BDE is not already installed on a computer.

If you do not know which version of the BDE is installed, in the Control Panel call the BDEAdministrator and click the “About...” item in the Help menu: the installed version will be displayed.  Or you can click the “Version Information...” in the Object menu (the first from left).

After the installation of the BDE 5.1.0 you must call the BDEAdministrator again. The configuration file of the BDE provides dBASE level 7 and the default language driver. If you are working with other defaults you must change this.

BDE 5.1.0 and InstallShield Express

With the Professional version of Visual dBASE, no further updates are necessary.

If you already created an InstallShield setup including BDE 5.01 and you would like to use this setup with the new BDE 5.1.0, you must follow these steps.

First, open this project (File/Open project...). Then from the Build menu, select “Create Install Program.../Open” to access the typical yellow form of IS Express.  Select the General Options.  Deactivate the BDE checkbox and save the new settings: they shouldn't contain the BDE.

Then you follow the same steps but this time you must activate the BDE and save your setup again (as in the image below).  Now the BDE 5.1.0 is integrated in your Setup.

Visual dBASE Client/Server

If you have the Client/Server version of Visual dBASE, you must upgrade the SQL-Links configuration files (*.CNF) for InstallShield express.

Enclosed is a ZIP file called  bu05bdsq.zip.

In this file you will find the appropriate new configuration files for the SQL Links.  Just extract these files into the InstallShield/IS Express for Visual dBASE/redist directory

If you already created an InstallShield setup including BDE 5.01 and you would like to use this setup with the new BDE 5.1.0, you must follow these steps.

First, open this project (File/Open project...). Then from the Build menu, select “Create Install Program.../Open” to access the typical yellow form of IS Express.  Select the General Options.  Deactivate both the BDE and the SQL Links checkboxes, then save the new settings: they shouldn't contain the BDE nor the SQL Links.

Then you follow the same steps but this time you must activate both the BDE and the SQL Links, then save your setup again.  Now the BDE 5.1.0 is integrated in your Setup.

Update from BDE 4.5.1 to BDE 5.1.0

The update from BDE 4.5.1 to BDE 5.1.0 can be done without problems if you update some files for InstallShield express. For more information about what you should do, follow the instructions in the article published in the third issue of the dBASE Developers Bulletin.

Visual dBASE 7 Client/Server

If you have to update from BDE 4.5.1 to BDE 5.1.0, one thing to consider is the SQL links (native driver) for Oracle8 and DB/2 version 5.  These drivers are not in the 5.1.0 update but in the 5.01 update.  This means you must update in two steps: first from BDE 4.5.1 to BDE 5.01, then from the latter to BDE 5.1.0.

Oracle 8

On the same site where you can download the BDE 5.1.0 update, there is also the updated Oracle8 Links driver (197 Kb). This update applies to the BDE 5.1.0 only (status 09/28/1999).

For Visual dBASE and InterBase, he offers training, support and consulting.

Michael Rotteck
EDV-Beratung
63329 Egelsbach
Tel. / Fax: 06103 / 49181
100277.441@CompuServe.com