UniDAC Overview

Universal Data Access Components (UniDAC) is a powerful library of nonvisual cross-database data access components for Delphi, C++Builder, and Lazarus (Free Pascal). The UniDAC library is designed to help programmers develop faster and cleaner cross-database applications. UniDAC is a complete replacement for standard database connectivity solutions and presents an efficient native alternative to the Borland Database Engine and dbExpress for access to Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, InterBase, Firebird, SQLite, DB2, Microsoft Access, Advantage Database Server, Adaptive Server Enterprise, DBF, NexusDB, and other databases (using ODBC provider), as well as various Cloud services.

UniDAC is based on the well-known Data Access Components from Devart such as ODAC, SDAC, MyDAC, IBDAC, PgDAC and LiteDAC. We have joined the experience of long-term successful development into one great product which provides unified access to popular databases such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, InterBase, Firebird, SQLite, DB2, Microsoft Access, Advantage Database Server, Adaptive Server Enterprise, DBF, NexusDB and other databases (using ODBC provider).

The UniDAC library is actively developed and supported by Devart Team. If you have questions about UniDAC, send us an email at [email protected] or visit our forum.

Advantages of UniDAC

UniDAC is very convenient in setup and usage. It provides transparent server-independent interface for working with different databases. Selected database provider ensures the best way to perform operations on the server.

Universal Data Access

UniDAC provides transparent server-independent interfaces for working with different databases, and lets you change the client engine for specific server type just by changing single connection option. It means that you can easily switch between database servers in your cross-database UniDAC-based application.

Server-Aware Providers

UniDAC chooses the best way specific to the server to perform most operations. Every UniDAC data provider uses server-specific native connectivity. All operations with data are performed by providers automatically considering peculiarities of the selected database server.

Access Cloud Services

UniDAC allows developing applications that work with data stored in such Cloud services as: BigCommerce, Dynamics CRM, FreshBooks, Google BigQuery, HubSpot, Magento, MailChimp, NetSuite, Salesforce, Salesforce MC, SugarCRM, QuickBooks, Zoho CRM. For this, it is enough to use UniDAC ODBC provider with any Devart ODBC drivers for Clouds.

Optimized Code

The goal of UniDAC is to enable developers to write efficient and flexible database applications. The UniDAC library is implemented using advanced data access algorithms and optimization techniques. Classes and components undergo comprehensive performance tests and are designed to help you write high-performance, lightweight data access layers.

Compatibility with Other Connectivity Methods

The UniDAC interface retains compatibility with standard VCL data access components like BDE. Existing BDE-based applications can be easily migrated to UniDAC and enhanced to take advantage of server-specific features.

Development and Support

UniDAC is a cross-database connectivity solution that has been actively developed and supported. UniDAC comes with full documentation, demo projects, and fast (usually within one business day) technical support by the UniDAC development team. Find out more about how to get help or submit feedback and suggestions to the UniDAC development team in Getting Support.

A description of the UniDAC components is provided in the Component List.

Key Features

• Universal access to different database servers
• Support for most popular databases
• Full support for the latest server versions
• Support for the latest IDE versions
• VCL, LCL and FMX versions of library available
• High performance
• Easy to deploy
• Support of all standard and third-party data-aware controls
• Advanced connection management
• Flexible data updating
• UniScript component to execute scripts
• UniSQL for writing server-independent queries
• Ability of monitoring commands execution
• Advanced connection pooling
• Unicode and national char sets support
• Includes database-independent data storage
• CachedUpdates operation mode
• Local sorting and filtering by calculated and lookup fields
• local master/detail relationship
• Ability to retrieve metadata information
• Support for using macros in SQL
• Customizable connection dialog
• Advanced design-time editors
• A large amount of helpful demo projects
• Annual UniDAC Subscription with Priority Support
• Licensed royalty-free per developer, per team, or per site

The full list of UniDAC features are available in Features.

How Does UniDAC Work?

UniDAC consists of two layers. The first layer is the general UniDAC Engine that provides the unified programming interface for the developer. The second layer is the data access layer, which consists of data access providers. These providers are intended for interacting between UniDAC Engine and database servers. Each data provider works with one specific database server. UniDAC structure overview is presented below:

UniDAC Structure Overview

There are two ways to install data access providers. The first way is to install the UniDAC Professional or UniDAC Standard edition. In this case all available providers are installed. The second way is to install UniDAC Engine with the UniDAC Express edition, and required data access providers with Data Access Components such as ODAC, SDAC, MyDAC, IBDAC, and PgDAC. Each DAC installs the corresponding data access provider for UniDAC. However, there is a slignt difference between providers installed with UniDAC Professional and providers installed with other DACs. Providers installed with UniDAC Professional include all server-specific functionality, while providers installed with DACs are just wrappers around DAC libraries. If both providers for a database server are installed, the provider installed with DAC will be used.