Library

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This is the standard access method of a MySQL server for years. Your application will be dependent on the availability of the MySQL client library, libmysql.dll (windows) or libmysqlclient.so (linux). The library is small though and readily available in source or binary format from MySQL's site and usually gets installed with the server as well. For convenience SciBit has the latest library available for free download from our site as well. There is only one property to set in the DriverProperties and that is the library filename.

NOTE:

The library specified libmysql.dll (windows) / libmysqlclient.so (linux) should be available to your application and installed on the system where you intend your application to run. Also, you should make sure Delphi/Kylix can find the library as well. Best place is usually to put it in the in your program's directory or the "windows\system32" directory or somewhere along your PATH on windows and in your program's directory or alternatively in system folder which are included in LD_LIBRARY_PATH on linux.

Advantages

•	Always compatible with the old and new MySQL Servers

•	Easy distribution of application

•	The library has a smaller footprint than the embedded library, around ~250kB

•	Multi user access to your database via the MySQL server

Disadvantages

•	Depending on your product's distribution and opensource status, you might be liable to buy MySQL client licenses for each application you distribute.