Sirius ODBC Data Export gives you the ability to create special reports and export data from Sirius GT Construction Accounting.
Use it for quick inquiry into your accounting or job cost. Export customer names to your word processor and use the mail merge to send letters. Create reports with breaks, subtotals and totals to give management the information they need.
Sirius ODBC allows you to use the applications you have become accustomed to such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and MS Query. Also, any other ODBC compliant application can now be used to produce the output you desire.
Use Sirius ODBC to perform further analysis and special sorts. Import general ledger information directly to your spreadsheet, or analyze sales in your database. Import accounts receivable information directly into Word to produce custom labels and letters. Sirius ODBC is distributed and supported by Sirius.
 | Allows Sirius GT Construction Accounting data to be used in ODBC-enabled Windows applications |
| Supports the most popular Microsoft products: Excel, Word for Windows, Access, and MS Query |
| Takes advantage of Microsoft ODBC standards for data access |
| Automatically translates ODBC SQL calls into Sirius Vision I/O commands |
| Operates in stand-alone, networked, or client/server environments |
| Supports common Structured Query Language (SQL) commands |
What is ODBC?
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is a library of data access functions designed to give applications standardized access to a variety of data sources. It offers a standard application programming interface (API) that can be used to bridge the applications and data, regardless of where the data resides. In today's market, application vendors who want to serve the Windows community are conforming to the ODBC standard.
High Performance
Sirius GT Construction Accounting using AcuODBC is designed to optimize data access. By analyzing the type of query and the data dictionary map, it can decide whether to use an existing index, create a temporary one, or read sequentially for the requested record. By optimizing data access, it can dramatically reduce response time.
Isn't ODBC a Windows standard? Why does Sirius charge extra for ODBC access?
ODBC is commonly provided in Windows applications because many Windows-only products provide only one data format and the common Windows format is ODBC. Since our software is mission-critical we chose to use the Vision data format as the default structure in our system so that you get:
| Lower cost - You don't pay the licensing fees for the ODBC drivers or related database unless you want to get the benefits. |
| Speed - The default data format for Sirius GT files is an indexed structure that is typically faster than the ODBC format. The performance difference increases as the size of your data files increases, and we chose optimal performance as the default format. |
| Data Integrity - ODBC has some weaknesses/challenges that you must carefully consider in a business mission-critical application: |
| Security - ODBC was designed for access and circumvents all security in the application that originally created the data. When you use ODBC you are exposing your data to the risk of uncontrolled access and changes. |
| Validation of Data! - If you write to your data files with ODBC technology any normal validation done by your application is not done. We strongly suggest that you don't write to mission-critical Sirius GT files using ODBC!!!! |
| Unpredictable compatibility - Different products (even those within the Microsoft suite) have different problems and success with ODBC access. |
| No pre-defined relationships between files - Relationships between files is not known by ODBC technology. |
| No automatic formatting of data - Fields like account numbers and job numbers that have formatting within Sirius GT won't have any formatting when used within ODBC. |
Installing the AcuODBC Driver
The following describes how to set up the AcuODBC driver for use with Sirius GT. Make sure to select the AcuODBC from the list during installation. This should be the only product selected to install.
After you get the ODBC driver installed open the ODBC Data Source Administrator and select ADD see screen below.
Now select the AcuODBC driver (5.02.01...) from the list and select the Finish button see below.
Now in the General Panel enter the path to the XFD files. This would normally be C:\Sirius\Data but if you are on a network or have changed the default folder name replace the "C:\Sirius" with your network drive and folder name. The "Data" folder name is required. For the "Data Directory" enter the "C:\Sirius\user-login-name" in the box and tap the ADD button. See below:
Your screen should now look like this completed screen shot. Your names will be different but the "Data Directory" must have a valid path.
