InterBase ToGo

Go Up to Developing Database Applications

InterBase ToGo is a database engine that can be embedded in an application directly by using the InterBase database engine library. InterBase ToGo does not have to be installed on any server or end-user workstation, and does not require that InterBase be installed on a machine before it is used (as InterBase Server and InterBase Desktop do).

InterBase ToGo has two licensing options for deployment: ToGo and IBLite.

Developers targeting database application deployment to Desktop (Windows and macOS) and Mobile (iOS and Android) OS platforms can deploy either with a "ToGo" license (for cost), or "IBLite" license (no cost). ToGo mobile licenses are included with some high end SKUs of the product for free. ToGo and IBLite have the same development model; both are embedded applications using the InterBase ToGo library.

• For a closer look at the new InterBase ToGo, please see InterBase ToGo Quick Start guide.

• For a comparison between IBLite, ToGo and InterBase Server Edition, see: Comparing IBLite, ToGo, and InterBase Server Edition.

Deploying ToGo and IBLite applications to PAServer

If you want to test InterBase ToGo or IBLite applications you should deploy to a PAServer even on the local machine. Doing this, the application is bundled completely including all required InterBase feature files.

Note: When installing InterBase ToGo, the MSVC 2013 runtime is required. This is not available by default on Windows 7 and earlier versions of Windows, and will need to be installed prior to using InterBase ToGo. The required files are available at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784, or, by searching the web for "Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013"

You need to install PAServer on the machine where you want to run ToGo and IBLite applications. The installation files for both Windows and macOS can be found at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\23.0\PAServer\

How to Install and start PAServer

To install and start PAServer on Windows or macOS, please follow these instructions: Platform Assistant Server Topics.

Note: On Windows, you should run PAServer as Administrator.

Developing InterBase ToGo Applications on Windows Platforms

The InterBase ToGo edition is available on the following Windows platforms and can access any InterBase database created by InterBase Desktop or Server editions from the same InterBase version.

System Requirements for Windows

• Windows 10
• Windows 8.1
• Windows 7 (SP1+)
• Windows Server 2016
• Windows Server 2012 R2

Example

For a description of the basic steps to browse data managed by InterBase ToGo on your mobile device:

• If you use FireDAC framework, see Mobile Tutorial: Using InterBase ToGo with FireDAC (iOS and Android).
• If you use dbExpress, see Mobile Tutorial: Using InterBase ToGo with dbExpress (iOS and Android).

Developing InterBase ToGo Applications for the macOS Platform

System Requirements for Mac

• The Mac should be running either:
  • Catalina (10.15)
  • Mojave (10.14)
  • High Sierra (10.13)
  • Sierra (10.12)

Sandboxing Interbase ToGo Applications for Mac

Building sandboxed applications with RAD Studio in Delphi/C++ is enabled in Interbase 2020. For more information, see App Sandboxing with InterBase ToGo for macOS.

Note: In case you want to deploy non-sandboxed applications to macOS, please see Non-sandboxed InterBase applications for macOS.

Example

For more information on how to develop InterBase ToGo applications for macOS, see the macOS Platform

Developing InterBase ToGo Applications for Mobile Devices

System Requirements for iOS

Supported iOS devices:

• iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad
• iOS 10 and later

For macOS and iOS application development, you need to have installed on the Mac:

• Xcode 7 or later
• Platform Assitant server (PAServer)
  • Installing the Platform Assistant on a Mac

System Requirements for Android

Android devices that run the following versions of the operating system are supported:

• Android (10)
• Pie (9)
• Oreo (8)
• Nougat (7)
• Marshmallow (6)
• Lollipop (5.1)

Example

For a description of the basic steps to browse data managed by InterBase ToGo on your mobile device:

• If you use FireDAC framework, see Mobile Tutorial: Using InterBase ToGo with FireDAC (iOS and Android).
• If you use dbExpress, see Mobile Tutorial: Using InterBase ToGo with dbExpress (iOS and Android).

Troubleshooting Deploying InterBase ToGo Applications in Mobile Devices

InterBase License Issues

If you get an error ("unavailable database") when you connect to the database in the development environment, this means you forgot to deploy the Interbase ToGo license.

• To execute your application on mobile, deploy the reg_ibtogo.txt or reg_iblite.txt license files.
• The license files are located in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Embarcadero\InterBase\redist\InterBase2020 directory.

Typical Errors and Resolutions

Following are typical errors that you might encounter when you connect to the database, and suggestions for resolving the issues:

Error on mobile	Suggestion
	Check whether the dataBase file (dbdemos.gdb) is delivered to 'StartUp\Documents\' (for iOS) or 'assets\internal\' (for Android).
	Provide a valid user and password to access the InterBase ToGo database.
	Check whether the license file is delivered for InterBase ToGo.
	Check whether you pointed to the local file: add an event handler for the OnBeforeConnect event of the connection component (SQLConnection component for dbExpress or FDConnection component for FireDAC).

See Also

• FireDAC database solution

• InterBase ToGo with dbExpress
• IBLite and IBToGo Licensing in RAD Studio
• InterBase ToGo Quick Start guide
• Comparing IBLite, ToGo, and InterBase Server Edition

• Mobile Tutorial: Using InterBase ToGo with dbExpress (iOS and Android)
• Mobile Tutorial: Using InterBase ToGo (iOS and Android)

• Mobile Tutorial: Using FireDAC in Mobile Applications (iOS and Android)
• Mobile Code Snippets