[Filipe] | I've done some searching and settled for pymssql, but it's | not too late to change yet.
Indeed, the good thing about the DBAPI-compatibility of such libraries is that you can often switch and switch about with no cost to you at all. (Believe me, I've done it). Sometimes there is a cost because... well, see the notes below. | I've found these options to connect to a MSSqlServer database: | | SQLServer for Python (discontinued?) | http://www.object-craft.com.au/projects/mssql/ | Pymssql | http://pymssql.sourceforge.net/ These two are broadly equivalent, wrapping the ntwdblib.dll library which -- as someone else has pointed out -- is going the way of all mortal libs. Advantage: + pretty much to-the-metal access to the database. + Both will work on Linux via FreeTDS Disadvantage: + the object-craft one, which I've been using for years, isn't supplied for 2.4+. I compiled it with the MingW compiler but the result didn't work (in some way which I now can't remember). I still use it for 2.3 work. + the pymssql one works in (indeed requires) 2.4 but doesn't allow for passthrough authentication, as far as I can determine. Worked around by having our DBA create named logons, but still a bit of a pain. As noted, doesn't seem to handle unicode especially well, which surprises me since the author is obviously from a non-Western character set nation. (I'm ashamed to say I've never tried to contact the pymssql developer to point out its shortcomings). | mxODBC (commercial license) | http://www.egenix.com/files/python/mxODBC.html This works fine, but requires a commercial license for non-personal use. Since I was happily using an opensource library, I've never looked into this too much. Also, doesn't support .nextset on cursors, which was a bit of a pain for me. Should work on Linux via iODBC or UnixODBC and FreeTDS | ADODB for Python (windows only) | http://phplens.com/lens/adodb/adodb-py-docs.htm This is a non-DBAPI extension, which is no problem if that's what you're after. It also requires mxODBC for MSSQL access (cf above). | ASPN Recipe | http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/144183 There seems to be quite enough discussion on the comments on this recipe! Personally, I felt that, unless I had no other options open to me, this would be an unwieldy solution. I can add: Adodbapi http://adodbapi.sourceforge.net/ which I also use for 2.4 work. Advantages: + Works wherever you have pywin32 (or ctypes, I suppose) and COM available. + DBAPI-compliant, wrapping standard(ish) Win32 functionality. Disadvantages: + The module developer has had to work with different behaviours among different drivers, and the results can be unwieldy, especially when looking at tracebacks. + I never quite worked out the transactional behaviour (altho' that probably says more about me than about the module). Basically, you generally have to commit with this module where you don't with the others. + There are one or two small bugs to do with, IIRC, empty row returns. There was some talk on the DBAPI-SIG (which I don't follow closely) about someone picking up the module as the original developer didn't seem to be around, but I'm not aware that anyone's done that. + Won't work on Linux ( In summary + Depends on what your requirements are, but... + Go for ADODBAPI for the widest spread of versions and licenses, but the least cross-platformability + Go for Object Craft MSSQL for <= 2.3 and best overall behaviour + Go for pymssql for >= 2.4 with some small limitations + Go for mxODBC for general purpose databasing, cross-platform, but without .nextset and possibly Commercial licensing + If all else fails, and you've got the SQL Server command line tools, use the ASPN Recipe TJG ________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: http://www.star.net.uk ________________________________________________________________________ -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
