Recommended OleDB driver for MySQL?

[Patrick Questembert]

I am accessing MySQL from VS 2003, C# and ADO.NET, using the OleDb
interfaces (not ODBC) and have been using (successfully) an OLE DB driver
on:
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/download.php?file=Downloads/Win32/MyOLEDB3.exe&pick=mirror

This driver is called "My OLEDB 3.0, OLE Provider for MySQL, February 20,
2001".

I am actually amazed that anything written in 2001 still works with the
recent MySQL 4.1 ... amazed - and worried that some of the issues I am
working through may be caused by some incompatibilies ...

Should I be using a more recent driver?

I see mysql-connector-net-1.0.0-beta.zip on www.MySQL.com but this package
doesn't contain any EXE (and I don't whether one can be built from the
included file or how). I am not even sure this is an OLE DB provider, it may
be an ODBC provider.

In fact, considering how new I am to MySQL, I am not even sure that *any*
MySQL OLE DB provider is required: the Windows System Requirements page
(http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql/en/Windows_system_requirements.html) does
not even mention the need to install anything before proceeding with the
MySQL installation (except for those planning to connect via ODBC).


Thanks!
Patrick

 

[Paul Clement]

¤ I am accessing MySQL from VS 2003, C# and ADO.NET, using the OleDb
¤ interfaces (not ODBC) and have been using (successfully) an OLE DB driver
¤ on:
¤ http://www.mysql.com/downloads/download.php?file=Downloads/Win32/MyOLEDB3.exe&pick=mirror
¤
¤ This driver is called "My OLEDB 3.0, OLE Provider for MySQL, February 20,
¤ 2001".
¤
¤ I am actually amazed that anything written in 2001 still works with the
¤ recent MySQL 4.1 ... amazed - and worried that some of the issues I am
¤ working through may be caused by some incompatibilies ...
¤
¤ Should I be using a more recent driver?
¤
¤ I see mysql-connector-net-1.0.0-beta.zip on www.MySQL.com but this package
¤ doesn't contain any EXE (and I don't whether one can be built from the
¤ included file or how). I am not even sure this is an OLE DB provider, it may
¤ be an ODBC provider.
¤
¤ In fact, considering how new I am to MySQL, I am not even sure that *any*
¤ MySQL OLE DB provider is required: the Windows System Requirements page
¤ (http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql/en/Windows_system_requirements.html) does
¤ not even mention the need to install anything before proceeding with the
¤ MySQL installation (except for those planning to connect via ODBC).

There are a few options here but I can't really recommend a specific driver since I don't use MySQL
frequently. The OLEDB Provider is probably stable although you may want to look into native .NET
alternatives. The ByteFX component was apparently purchased by the MySQL folks. I don't know much
about the SevenObjects client. The CoreLab provider costs money but is fully supported.

http://www.bytefx.com/dotdata.aspx
http://www.sevenobjects.com/MySqlClient.aspx
http://crlab.com/mysqlnet/


Paul ~~~ (e-mail address removed)
Microsoft MVP (Visual Basic)