R – Informix ODBC Connection Help

If you run:

strings $INFORMIXDIR/lib/cli/libifdmr.so | grep _OdbcSetTrace

do you get to see any references. If not, then the library is without the support functions. If you do see that, the mechanism outlined should work. If it doesn't, you probably have a reportable bug.

What level are you trying to trace the issues? And, since unixODBC works, why not use the driver manager that does work?

I've taken the example distsel.c from $INFORMIXDIR/demo/cli and compiled it on Solaris 10 using CSDK 3.50.FC3. I got it to the point where the connection succeeds, but the table 'item' is missing in the database I'm using, so the program stops SQLExecDirect(). When I run it under 'truss' (equivalent of 'strace' on Linux), then I see no evidence of the code even trying to open the trace file.

I compiled using:

gcc -I$INFORMIXDIR/incl/cli distsel.c -DNO_WIN32 \
    -L$INFORMIXDIR/lib/cli -lifdmr -lifcli -o distsel

I used the following .odbc.ini file:

;
;  odbc.ini
;
[ODBC Data Sources]
odbc_demo = IDS 11.50.FC3 stores on black

[ODBC]
Trace           = yes
TraceFile       = /tmp/odbc.trace

[odbc_demo]
Driver          = /usr/informix/11.50.FC1/lib/cli/libifcli.so
Description     = IBM Informix CLI 3.50
Server          = black_19
FetchBufferSize = 99
UserName        = jleffler
Password        = XXXXXXXX
Database        = stores
ServerOptions   =
ConnectOptions  =
Options         =
ReadOnly        = no

And this one:

;
;  odbc.ini
;
[ODBC Data Sources]
odbc_demo = IDS 11.50.FC3 stores on black

[odbc_demo]
Driver          = /usr/informix/11.50.FC1/lib/cli/libifcli.so
Description     = IBM Informix CLI 3.50
Server          = black_19
FetchBufferSize = 99
UserName        = jleffler
Password        = XXXXXXXX
Database        = stores
ServerOptions   =
ConnectOptions  =
Options         =
ReadOnly        = no
Trace           = yes
TraceFile       = /tmp/odbc.trace

Consequently, I believe you have found a bug. I'm not sure whether the bug is in the FAQ you referenced or in the product - I'm inclined to think the latter. You should report the issue to IBM Technical Support. (I've not checked the Informix CLI (ODBC) manual; it might be worth checking that before trying to file a product bug; if the manual indicates that Trace doesn't work, and perhaps if it doesn't indicate that it does work, then there is a bug in the FAQ page you listed.)

If you are looking to see the SQL data, the SQLIDEBUG part of the FAQ works:

SQLIDEBUG=2:distsel ./distsel

That generated a file distsel_6004_0_102d40 for me - it will be different for you. You can then use the 'sqliprint' utility to see the data flowing between client and server.

If you cannot find 'sqliprint', get back to me.