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BDE Download
Download or don't download the BDE?
The BDE has large number of weaknesses, so you might have a big reason to migrate from the BDE.
BDE is dead
The BDE is not supported by Borland anymore.
Deployment problems
- BDE versions conflict. If a user has another BDE-based application which uses another version of BDE, it can conflict with your application.
- Large size of software distribution. Deployment of the BDE leads to a multi-megabyte installation file. This is especially important when software is expected to be downloaded by customers.
- Special installation and configuration. The BDE drivers require installation and aliases configuration before your application can use it.
- DLLs. You may need deployment without DLLs, while the BDE requires driver DLLs.
Performance penalty
The BDE is a layer in between your application and the underlying database and performance will never be as high as with direct database access.
BLOB problems
Several of the SQL Links drivers do not work well with BLOB data types.
High cost
The Enterprise version of Delphi, which includes the BDE SQL Links, costs $3000+. Database sever used with BDE typically requires royalty fees and its support cost may also be high.
Why migrate from BDE to Absolute Database?
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Absolute Database lets you forget the Borland Database Engine (BDE). This BDE replacement is the compact, high-speed, robust and easy-to-use database engine.
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Delpoyment
With Absolute Database you will not need special installation and configuration, it compiles right into your EXE, so no DLLs or external drivers are required. Absolute Database units add only about 800Kb to your application.
Performance
Absolute Database provides direct access to the database, so the speed is really high.
BLOBs
Absolute Database completely supports BLOB data types and moreover it allows to compress BLOB fields in a database file.
Cost
Single developer license for Absolute Database starts from $95. Absolute Database is 100% royalty-free and its Personal edition is free for personal use.
Advanced features
Absolute Database has some advanced features such as strong encryption, single-file database, Unicode support. Learn more about Absolute Database features.
How to migrate from BDE to Absolute Database
Absolute Database has fully compatible replacements for TTable, TQuery, TDatabase and TSession components, so typically you just need to replace BDE components to their analogues from Absolute Database.
Absolute Database includes DBImportExport utility allowing easily transfer your data from existing application to the Absolute Database format.
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