Borland Database Engine
| Company type | Software component |
|---|---|
| Industry | Database management software |
| Predecessor | IDAPI (Integrated Database Application Program Interface) |
| Founder | Borland |
Area served | Software development, database connectivity |
| Products | Database engine and connectivity framework for Paradox, dBASE, FoxPro, Access, text databases, and SQL Links to various DBMS |
| Owner | Borland (later Embarcadero Technologies) |
Borland Database Engine (BDE) serves as the fundamental Windows-based database engine and connectivity framework utilized by products such as Borland Delphi, C++Builder, IntraBuilder, Paradox for Windows, and Visual dBASE for Windows.
History
The origins of Borland’s database connectivity trace back to the "database" Toolbox add-on within Turbo Pascal, which paved the way for compiler extensions that supported database integration. This development progressed into the Paradox Engine for Windows, known as PXENGWIN, enabling applications to interface with Paradox tables.
The initial DLL-driven connectivity solution was ODAPI (Open Database API), which unified database access across Borland tools including Paradox for Windows 4 and Quattro. This engine was later renamed IDAPI with the release of Paradox for Windows versions 4.5 and 5.0.
In 2000, Borland launched the SQL driver framework called dbExpress, designed to supersede the BDE's SQL links technology.
By 2014, Embarcadero discontinued bundling the BDE installer with Rad Studio XE7, instead offering it as a separate download to highlight its obsolescence. Developers have been advised to transition toward modern connectivity technologies such as Embarcadero's FireDAC or alternative third-party products.
Prominent alternatives to BDE include:
- DBISAM by Elevate Software
- Absolute Database from ComponentAce
- BDE eXpress by Dr. Erhard Regener, which offers an API compatible with dBase and Paradox
Design
BDE provides drivers that enable uniform access to common data formats like Paradox, dBASE, FoxPro, Access, and text-based databases. Integration with Microsoft ODBC drivers is possible through its built-in ODBC socket. Additionally, Borland’s SQL Links expands connectivity to various DBMS platforms including Informix, IBM Db2, InterBase, Oracle, and Sybase.
Built on an object-oriented foundation, BDE allows developers to instantiate runtime objects that handle database components such as tables and queries. The API supports direct access optimized for C and C++, along with embedded drivers tailored for dBASE, Paradox, FoxPro, Access, and text file databases.
At its core, the engine comprises re-entrant, thread-safe DLLs complemented by utility tools and example source code. Configuration tasks are performed via the BDE Administrator utility (BDEADMIN.EXE).
The BDE incorporates Borland's Local SQL—a tailored subset of the ANSI-92 SQL standard—enhanced to accommodate naming conventions specific to Paradox and dBASE. Local SQL facilitates querying both local standard tables and remote DBMS servers, enabling multi-table operations across diverse data sources.
Originally, the BDE API was identified as "Integrated Database Application Program Interface" or "IDAPI."