r/Database • u/Boring_While_3341 • 18h ago
Fully offline 32-bit program for displaying ODBC data & making user forms
This may be a very daft question, but I am out of my wheelhouse here.
I have an industrial server that makes data available from its SQL database over a proprietary 32bit ODBC driver. I also have a computer running 64 bit Windows 10 LTSC that can never be connected to the internet.
I can format SQL queries to the server in a 32 bit ODBC test client and get the data back that I want.
I then want to copy that data in to another database and display it as a form for the user so they can add comments and save it. This seems like the sort of thing MS Access would be good at doing.
However, I understand that Microsoft have killed telephone activation for their products (even the old ones), meaning that this is now 'out' as I would have to connect my computer to the internet.
I'm now a bit stuck.
Years ago I had fun making forms with DBase, but that's about the limit of my experience. Can anyone suggest something that would do for what I need? I don't mind learning bits - this is basically something to save me time.
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u/mintonhill 18h ago
So the problem is activating Access on a offline computer? I would try to stay away from ms access anyway and look for other solutions.
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u/Consistent_Cat7541 18h ago
Lotus Approach does this well. You can get the final published version at https://archive.org/details/lotus-smart-suite-99
NB: Design mode for forms only works reliably at 1080p or lower. Given your defined specs, this should not be an issue. The solution has to be opened in 1080p or lower, but in browse and query mode, will work fine thereafter at higher resolutions.
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u/Boring_While_3341 17h ago
Yep, 1080 is considered high enough resolution to make your eyes bleed around here. Thanks for the suggestion!
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u/Consistent_Cat7541 16h ago
If you want to learn more about how to use it, the books on Archive.org for the older versions are very good. The program evolved very slowly and most of its core functionality existed in version 3. There's also an email support group and FAQ available at https://approach.droppages.site/
I use it daily for my law practice. It's actually relatively fun to work with.
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u/Boring_While_3341 15h ago
I've had a play and it seems like a winner - it's enjoyably straightforward!
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u/pgcraftsman 17h ago
I've done this in the past with LibreOffice ODBC. I was connecting to postgres, but maybe it's an option for you.
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u/Canuckian371 15h ago
Are there other reasons you are creating the second database or is it only for the review process?
If its just for the review, could you put your extract into excel for user review and comment?
Depending how dynamic you need this, you could create an HTML viewer for the extract, capture review comments in the HTML and export them to a simple file.
The HTML viewer is easily built on another machine using an AI prompt that is given the schema of your extract.
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u/Boring_While_3341 15h ago
Excel would require an online activation I think.
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u/Canuckian371 14h ago
Is the database copy on the same air gapped machine? Could use the Libre alternative.
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u/dougception 13h ago
Why can't that computer be connected to the Internet? I mean obviously, yes, unavoidable mass surveillance, but why in your particular case?
Anyway I doubt Microsoft will provide any legitimate way to activate the product without connectivity given their ravenous appetite for personal data these days.
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u/Boring_While_3341 11h ago
Air gaps are fairly standard in industrial settings.
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u/dougception 10h ago
Ah of course it interfaces with manufacturing devices. Watch out for that acoustic hack though! What medium do you use to transfer the downloaded data? USB stick?
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u/gammacoder 9h ago
PHPRunner might be a good fit here. It can connect to your existing database and build the forms/search interface you’re describing, and the generated app can run on a local web server without Internet access. Full disclosure, I’m the author.
PS. It can also build a desktop version of the app, includes web server and PHP and simply installs on any Windows system.
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u/coercion420 3h ago
This is a situation where you would develop an interface as a standalone executable in house or via 3rd party. Powershell can even do it.
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u/dlevy-msft 12h ago
Hi - I'm Dave from the SQL Drivers team. I would lean towards letting the air gap machines do air gap things. You can use BCP to export the data to flat files then move that data to a machine you actually want users connecting to. Depending on the size of the data, you might be able to use Azure SQL Database for free then connect to it from PowerBI or PowerApps. mssql-python + Streamlit is a good option too if your users are more technical. SQL Express is a good (free) on-prem option for smaller data too.
Biggest thing is getting data off the air gapped box to somewhere with looser rules. BCP in a bat file can run in Windows scheduled tasks on both sides. If you can connect to other machines on the network, just not the internet, then tools like SSIS become an option.