PDMS Server

All data access by SQL Direct to and from PDMS is handled by a program called the PDMS Server. This program is started up automatically as required by the PDMS Provider, and also Table Designer.

PDMS Server uses the connection details defined in SQL Direct Configuration to link to named projects and MDBs.

Login to PDMS uses normal user names and passwords, and access levels are determined by the access levels granted to that user.

When a client first connects to PDMS Server, these three pieces of connection information must be established:

• the connection identity (connection string)

• the user name

• the password

For convenience you can store this information in a client application's cache or save file. Microsoft Office clients, for example, offer the opportunity to store this information for future access. If a client application supplies this information, operation of PDMS Server is completely invisible.

Note: You should be aware that retaining passwords in client caches weakens data security.

If security is important then you should not retain passwords in client caches. When a client connects to PDMS Server without full connection information, PDMS Server will invite you to provide the missing information on a login form:

After login, the operation of PDMS Server is normally automatic and requires no user intervention. PDMS Server will run until you log out of Windows, or shut down your machine. However, you can also start and stop PDMS Server manually through the Tools menu of SQL Direct Configuration.

You can also start PDMS Server through the shortcut on the SQL Direct program menu. In this case, a Command window is displayed once PDMS has been connected to, providing diagnostic output of commands as they are executed by PDMS Server.