The ODBC PERL Module
To install Hyperthread using an ODBC connector to a database
system installed on your server you must first have done the following
before running the installer (install-NT.pl):
1) You must first install the Win32::ODBC Perl module. This can
be found at your nearest CPAN repository (check www.perl.com for
CPAN locations).
2) Use your database software to create a new database named 'Hyper'.
The hyperthread software expects a database to be defined with this
name and we do not recommend straying from this convention.
3) Next, use the ODBC controls (found in the control panel) to
create a System DSN for the 'Hyper' database. The ODBC DSN should
also be named Hyper.
Once this is done you are ready to run the installer. When the installer
starts up it will test for a valid ODBC data source named 'Hyper'. If
this is not found an error will be displayed, otherwise the database
handle that was retrieved will be displayed. This will look similar to
Win32::ODBC=HASH(0x1006400) - though your exact handle will differ.
You will be prompted for the database software used on your server.
If your database software is not included in the list, choose the option
for 'Other' and complete the installation. Ignore any database error
messages that appear, the installer will ignore them also and continue.
Once the installation is completed you will need to create the tables needed for HyperThread to run. The instructions for that follow:
Creating the Database Tables
Hyperthread 3.xNT for ODBC comes configured to handle the following
database systems by default:
MsSQL
Oracle version 7
Oracle version 8
Msql (mini-SQL)
If you are using a database system not listed above there are certain
steps you will need to take to create the tables for Hyperthread to use.
Your database software should come with a front-end utility for creating
these tables, if you are unsure about this please contact the vendor.
Table Types used by Hyperthread:
There are 3 types of tables used by Hyperthread. These are:
- Access - This table stores the administrator login information
for accessing the administrator control panel. This
table should be created by the Hyperthread installer
with no expected problems. The table should be named
'access'. If for some reason the installer had problems
creating the access table use your database software to
create the table with the following fields:
- userid - char w/ length 15 (not null)
- password - char w/ length 15 (not null)
After creating the above table use your software to create
a unique index for the table with name 'idx' and the primary
key as 'userid'. This will prevent multiple records from being
created for the admin access information.
- Areas - The areas table will need to be created with your database
software. The table should be named 'areas' and the following
fields should be defined:
- area - char w/ length 25 (not null)
- name - char w/ length 100
- adate - char w/ length 25
- atotal - integer
- descr - char w/ length 1000 (If your char type does not support
length 1000 use an equivalent char data type.
After creating the above table use your software to create
a unique index for the table with name 'idx' and the primary
key as 'area'. This will prevent multiple records from being
created with the same area keyword.
- Message - The message table type defines a structure for storing
messages within 1 discussion area (as defined in the areas
table). To create a message table you must first have the areas
table created and using your Hyperthread Administrator control
panel use the 'Add' button to insert the information about
the new area into the areas table. The text you enter to the
left of the 'Add' button is called the area 'keyword' and this
is also the name you must give when you create the table for
the discussion area. For example, if you want to create a
discussion area called 'General Discussions' you should 'Add'
the area with keyword 'general' and then use your database
software to create a table named 'general' with the following
fields:
- num - integer (not null)
- status - char w/ length 20
- start - integer
- parent - char w/ length 10
- adate - char w/ length 25
- name - char w/ length 100
- email - char w/ length 100
- subject - char w/ length 100
- message - char type with a minimum size of 10000 characters if
possible. If your database software does not support
a char type with the specified length you will need to use
an alternative character data type.
After creating the above table use your software to create
a unique index for the table with name 'idx' and the primary
key as 'num'. This will prevent multiple records from being
created with the same message number.
To prevent messages from being posted which exceeed the maximum length of the
'message' field defined above you must edit 1 line of the 'radthread-headers.pl'
file. Open the file in a text editor and search for the string $MAX_MESG_LEN -
then define this value to be the length you specified when you created the
message table. For example, if you created a message table successfully with
the 'message' field set to length 5000 then set the $MAX_MESG_LEN value as:
$MAX_MESG_LEN = 5000;
(Be sure to include a semicolon ';' at the end of the line).
Once you have created the minimum required setup to run Hyperthread (this
consists of the tables 'access', 'areas', and one message table) and tested
the software please notify Radiation so we can update future releases of the
software to include support for your database system. Please send email to
support@radiation.com and include the following information:
- The name and version of the database software you use
- The alternative character type you used for the large char fields
needed in the 'areas' table and in message tables.
- The char size used with the data types described above.
