Every example I've seen for accessing databases in C++ Builder uses visual components. What I'd like to do is work with dBase files (*.dbf) in a non-GUI way one record at a time, field by field. Is this doable?
:o
For example, I have several *.dbf's all have the same name and structure, but are stored in separate city directories, C:\Dallas, C:\Detroit, C:\NewYork, etc. I want to create a new database that has some of the fields from each city.dbf and a new CityName field to store the associated city name as I read thru each city.dbf one record at a time and copy the desired field subset. At a lost, any ideas.
:confused:
Yes, I am new to the db features of C++ Builder. So please be kind, Rick
:)

Okay, my problem was understanding what a TDataSet was. It's a parent class, from which TTable objects are derived. The methods Prior(), Next(), First(), and Last() are inherited from TDataSet and available for use in TTable objects.
I created a GUI form, but loaded it with data-ignorant objects ((other than a TDataSource & a TTable). Rick
Sample source code follows:

//-------------------------------------------------------------
void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)
{
Table1->DatabaseName = "C:\\dBase\\MailCenter\\";
Table1->TableName = "qwiklook.dbf";
Table1->Open();
lblRecordCount->Caption = IntToStr(Table1->RecordCount);
lblRecordNumb->Caption = IntToStr(Table1->RecNo);
Edit1->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PARTNO")->AsString;
Edit2->Text = Table1->FieldByName("NAME")->AsString;
Edit3->Text = Table1->FieldByName("DESCRP")->AsString;
Edit4->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PRICE")->AsString;
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------
void __fastcall TForm1::btnPriorRecordClick(TObject *Sender)
{
if (!Table1->Bof)
{
Table1->Prior();
lblRecordNumb->Caption = IntToStr(Table1->RecNo);
Edit1->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PARTNO")->AsString;
Edit2->Text = Table1->FieldByName("NAME")->AsString;
Edit3->Text = Table1->FieldByName("DESCRP")->AsString;
Edit4->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PRICE")->AsString;
}
}
//-------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnNextRecordClick(TObject *Sender)
{
if (!Table1->Eof)
{
Table1->Next();
lblRecordNumb->Caption = IntToStr(Table1->RecNo);
Edit1->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PARTNO")->AsString;
Edit2->Text = Table1->FieldByName("NAME")->AsString;
Edit3->Text = Table1->FieldByName("DESCRP")->AsString;
Edit4->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PRICE")->AsString;
}
}
//-----------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnFirstRecordClick(TObject *Sender)
{
if (!Table1->Bof)
{
Table1->First();
lblRecordNumb->Caption = IntToStr(Table1->RecNo);
Edit1->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PARTNO")->AsString;
Edit2->Text = Table1->FieldByName("NAME")->AsString;
Edit3->Text = Table1->FieldByName("DESCRP")->AsString;
Edit4->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PRICE")->AsString;
}
}
//-------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnLastRecordClick(TObject *Sender)
{
if (!Table1->Eof)
{
Table1->Last();
lblRecordNumb->Caption = IntToStr(Table1->RecNo);
Edit1->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PARTNO")->AsString;
Edit2->Text = Table1->FieldByName("NAME")->AsString;
Edit3->Text = Table1->FieldByName("DESCRP")->AsString;
Edit4->Text = Table1->FieldByName("PRICE")->AsString;
}
}
//-------------------------------------------------------------:D :D :D :D