gASQL, 1999,2000 (c)  Vivien Malerba <malerba@linuxave.net>
___________________________________________________________


****  WARNING  ****
*    
*    This program is still considered as beta software, and thus it might
*    corrupt your data. So do not use this software for production
*    purposes. See the BUGS and TODO files for more information.
*
*******************



gASQL is a program which helps administer a DBMS database using the gnome-db
framework (see http://www.gnome.org/gnome-db/ for more information about
gnome-db). Basically, it memorizes all the structure of the database, and some
queries, and does the SQL queries instead of the user (not having to type all
over again those SQL commands, although it is still possible to do so). 

The program requires the Gnome libraries, gnome-db and Gtk to be installed 
correctly. You will also need a working DBMS installation (with some DB you can
access with gASQL).

gASQL is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License V2.0
(read the COPYING file provided with this package).



****  DISCLAIMER  ****

    gASQL comes with NO WARRANTY AT ALL!!! Take a look at
    the COPYING file for more info. Basically, if it breaks something
    (for example your beloved DB), or whatever you are not happy with,
    IT'S NOT MY FAULT!



**** Compiling and Installing is easy ****

    Before trying to compile or use gASQL, make sure you have a fully 
    configured and working gnome-db installation.    

    Configuring gASQL is a simple matter or runing the "configure" script. The
    option --with-gnome-db=/path/to/gnome-db can be used if the script cannot
    find where gnome-db is installed (see configure --help for more information
    on all the options)

    Bonobo usage:
    From version 0.5.3, gASQL uses bonobo. However, if you don't want to use
    it, you can disable it by giving configure --disable-bonobo. In that case
    you will not be able to use specific functions that rely on bonobo.

    So to configure and build gASQL, do something like: 
    ./configure 
		OR
    ./configure --disable-bonobo
		AND 
    make 
    make install   <-- probably as ROOT



**** Bonobo, gnome-db and gASQL ****

    gASQL can use Bonobo to display and allow the user to modify some 
    information which are heavily dependant on the DBMS accessed (like users
    list, users access control, etc). Some DBMS do not yet implement those 
    possibilities, so you may get some errors from gASQL. If you wnat to help,
    have a look at the gnome-db homepage (http://www.gnome.org/gnome-db/).



**** Using the program ****

- Calling the program with the --help argument will give you all the possible
  options. You can call gASQL with an optionnal XML file (to avoid having to
  open it with the file/open menu...)
- If you want the additional information given to the program (links, queries)
  to be saved, you must either open an existing file (XML format) or ask to 
  SAVE AS the current session, BEFORE YOU DISCONNECT from the backend 
  (otherwise all the informations of the previous session will be lost). 
- The program will automatically store your last connection parameters and load
  them back the next time you launch it (except for your password). 
- The first time you connect to a DBMS, gASQL will have to fetch all the 
  information needed, and this will take some time. If you save your work, the
  next time you connect to the same DBMS (and open the file in which you saved
  your work), you will be asked if you want to update these informations. 
  If nothing has changed since, you can say NO and start to work. 



**** Example ****

This a PostgreSQL example. If you are using another DBMS, feel free to 
port it to your DBMS. However, DO NOT use the COMP.xml file since it contains
some data types and functions specific to Postgres. Rather create a new one
from gASQL.

There is one example under the directory examples. To use it, proceed as:
- create a db to hold that example (named computers for example):
	> createdb computers
- create the structure and insert some data:
	> psql computers
		> \i COMP.sql
- configure your ~/.gnome/gdalib (if your username is not guest, change it).
  Here is an example:

[Datasources]
Postgres Example=Pexample

[Pexample]
Provider=gda-postgres
DSN=DATABASE=computers;HOST=localhost
Description=Postgres Example for gASQL
Configurator=None
Username=guest

- launch gASQL with the COMP.xml file:
	> gasql COMP.xml

- if your username is not "guest", click on the "Preferences" button, and 
  replace "guest" with your username.

- start enjoying...




Do not hesitate to mail me some comments (bugs, features you would like to
see,...) 
