ODBC Content Bridge

The ODBC Content Bridge builds NXT 4 content collections from content residing in an Open Database Connectivity compliant database, and is one of three "Collection Builder" options (File System and LotusNotes® Content Bridges are the others) NXT 4 supports. The Rocket Library Manager is the tool, or interface, you use to build a content collection with this content bridge.

During the build process, the ODBC Content Bridge retrieves the database content, creates a hierarchical structure (table of contents), and indexes the content according to configuration information that you provide. You provide SQL statements to retrieve content and build a table of content structure. You can create higher level table of content structure (external to your content collection) with folders directly within the Library Manager content tree pane.

You will need to have a basic knowledge of SQL and in particular the SQL Select statement before you use the ODBC Content Bridge. If you are not familiar with SQL, you can consult the numerous books and public reference sources of SQL documentation. On the Web, Google™ and Yahoo® provide links to many sites offering online SQL tutorials and FAQs.

Similar to the other content bridges, the ODBC Content Bridge depends on you to provide the appropriate information to build a content collection from content in an ODBC database. The Library Manager provides you with an interface to enter the necessary information. The following summarizes the information that you need to provide so the Library Manager and ODBC Content Bridge can build your content collection:

Content Collection Properties - Identification and indexing properties
Content Bridge Properties - Database identification and access information
Content Rules - Document-type based rules that determine publishing scope within your content collection
Levels - SQL query statements to build a table of contents and retrieve database content
Style Sheets - Style sheet references that enable you to format the display of transformed-to-XML results

You can also find more information about configuring and using the ODBC Content Bridge in the ODBC Content Bridge Help file that is installed with the content bridge.