How can I query a MS SQL Compact Server 3.5 database in C++ not using the OLE DB API?

Question

I have the dlls and the include files of MS SQL Compact Server 3.5. How can I use it without OLE DB? I just want to load the dlls and invoke the necessary methods myself, no COM

Answer 1

I just noticed you mentioned no COM. If it weren't for that I would have suggested ADO. Recently I posted some OLEDB code for Raw C++ code to display the names of tables in an SQL compact server using OLE DB that you may find useful.

Otherwise, if you wish want to see my ADODB in C++ answer (that involves COM), I've worked through converting a ADODB VBScript example:

Dim con, rs
Set con = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
REM con.Provider = "Microsoft.SQLLITE.MOBILE.OLEDB.3.0"
con.Provider = "Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.OLEDB.3.5"
con.Open "InsertYourDatabase.sdf"
Set rs = con.Execute("SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES")
While not rs.EOF
  WScript.Echo rs.Fields.Item(0).Value
  rs.MoveNext
Wend

To use ADODB in C++ is somewhat arduous, but, it is possible. The following C++ console application shows how to do this by using #import on the ADODB library:

#include 
#include 
#include 
#include 
#include 
#import "c:\Program Files\Common Files\System\ADO\msado15.dll" raw_interfaces_only, raw_native_types, no_namespace, named_guids

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    HRESULT hr = S_OK;

    hr = CoInitializeEx(NULL, COINIT_MULTITHREADED);

    // Open a SQL Server CE 3.5 database.
    CComPtr<_Connection> spConnection;
    hr = spConnection.CoCreateInstance(CLSID_Connection);
    //hr = spConnection->put_Provider(CComBSTR(L"Microsoft.SQLLITE.MOBILE.OLEDB.3.0"));
    hr = spConnection->put_Provider(CComBSTR(L"Microsoft.SQLSERVER.CE.OLEDB.3.5"));
    hr = spConnection->Open(CComBSTR(L"InsertYourDatabase.sdf"), CComBSTR(L""), CComBSTR(L""), -1);

    // Execute a query.
    CComPtr<_Recordset> spRecordset;
    CComVariant varRecordsAffected;
    hr = spConnection->Execute(CComBSTR(L"SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES"), &varRecordsAffected, -1, &spRecordset);

    // Fetch the results.
    VARIANT_BOOL bEOF = VARIANT_TRUE;
    hr = spRecordset->get_EOF(&bEOF);
    while (SUCCEEDED(hr) && bEOF != VARIANT_TRUE)
    {
        // Fetch the TABLE_NAME.
        CComPtr spFields;
        hr = spRecordset->get_Fields(&spFields);
        CComPtr spField;
        hr = spFields->get_Item(CComVariant((int) 0), &spField);
        CComVariant varTableName;
        hr = spField->get_Value(&varTableName);

        // Display the record.
        if (varTableName.vt == VT_BSTR)
        {
            wprintf(L"%s\n", V_BSTR(&varTableName));
        }

        // Move to the next record.
        hr = spRecordset->MoveNext();
        bEOF = VARIANT_TRUE;
        hr = spRecordset->get_EOF(&bEOF);
    }

    // Release smart pointers.
    spRecordset = NULL;
    spConnection = NULL;

    CoUninitialize();
    return 0;
}

You can extract the IDL of ADODB by using OleView (on my PC it was installed with Visual Studio under C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0\Bin\OleView.exe). Once you have OleView running:

• File > View TypeLib ...
• Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\ADO\msado15.dll
• Click Open

This will give you a full syntax of the ADODB library which will help you use it in C++. You can also refer to Microsoft MSDN's ADO API Reference.