Delphi Program on ThumbDrive ?

[BennyWong]

Hello All,
I am currently a Microsoft Access Programmer. However, I need to create a program that resides in a USB
ThumbDrive - 128mb. I understand that Microsoft Access can't do it and wondered if Borland Delphi can do it. What I need is two things:
1. Be able to create a database table and using API calls on the system and store the information in the created database table.
2. This program must reside only in the ThumbDrive and transparent to the target PC, so all resources needed by the program must be resident on the ThumbDrive.
When the process is done the data can be updated to the companies knowledgebase. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and your time.

 

[richardchaven]

It sounds like a single-user program.

If so, you can use the TClientDataSet and use its "native" format, or something like TEasyTable.

Cheers

 

[sggaunt]

I assume that the 'Thumb drive has it's own drivers and that it appears in explorer as a Drive letter.
The question (aside from the datbase stuff) may be.
Can you access the Thumb directly via the smalll set of HID windows API drivers?
or will you need Delphi specific drivers (or VBA drivers ?)

Simply saving the execuatable to the thumb wont be the answer to the running in the 'thumb' question I suspect.

Sorry this is just more questions and no answers, I also have an interest in Delphi USB device access, Just trying to start a debate.

Steve.

 

[TonHu]

Steve,

AFAIK most thumb-drives are natively supported from WinME and up, and need extra drivers (once) on 98. Forget about using them on Win95, as USB support is just about stable in the very last release, OSR 2.5 and USB-addons (both!) installed. Wouldn't trust my data on that combination :-(

HTH
TonHu

 

[BennyWong]

Hello All,
Thank you all for your time in responding to my request. I appreciate all you inputs and agree that it may not be a viable solution so I need to think it through more.
There are just too many variables and not predictable in a mixed environments. Thanks again for all your help and responses. Have a great day!

Benny

 

[TonHu]

Benny,

Reading back your message and all replies IMHO all your conditions are met. The only 'disadvantage' is you'll have to program in Delphi, but that's just big fun! (at least to us ;-) )

I'm only trying to encourage you to go ahead with the project, it's looking very good, so far. Good plan.

HTH
TonHu

 

[ahabichd]

A Delphi program runs like any other executable from a USB thumb drive. Database access is a wee bit more complicated. If you use BDE you can install it on the host computer the first time you use the USB thumb drive. There is an installer available on the net that only installs the BDE. (Don't remember where I found it.) Once this is done you only have to run the Delphi program for any subsequent access. Since the drive letter of the thumb drive might change you would have to set your aliases at run time.