Compiling psqlODBC on Windows

This page describes how to build the PostgreSQL ODBC Driver on Windows. There are three methods to build: from command line using nmake makefiles, from Powershell using MSBuild files, and from Visual Studio IDE.

The following 3rd party software are required for the build:

• Microsoft Windows SDK 7.0 (or later), or Microsoft Visual Studio C++ 2005 Edition (or later). Other compilers may work but have not been tested. Download the latest version from Microsoft's download page
• PostgreSQL Client library (libpq.dll) and headers. Download the latest version from the PostgreSQL Binaries Download page.
• WiX Toolset. Required for building the installer. Download the latest version from the WiX Toolset website

Building with Powershell and MSBuild

  Using Powershell and MSBuild is recommended. 
  In fact the binaries of official release are built using this mothod.

  Currently 4 Windows Powershell scripts are provided for developers.

  winbuild/BuildAll.ps1          - build all dlls for psqlodbc drivers using
				   MSBuild.
  winbuild/editConfiguration.ps1 - a GUI tool to set Build environment
  winbuild/regress.ps1           - build regression test programs and run
  installer/buildInstallers.ps1  - build installers(.msi and setup.exe)

  Use Powershell console or Command Prompt to invoke scripts:

  For example, to build the driver:

  C:\psqlodbc\winbuild\> (Powershell) ./BuildAll.ps1 <options>
 
    or you can use the same functionality from Command Prompt using Windows
    helper batch at the parent folder (..\). See ..\readme_winbuild.txt.
 
  C:\psqlodbc\> (Command Prompt) .\BuildAll.bat <options>

  1. Please start a powershell console and set the ExecutionPolicy of
     Powershell to RemoteSigned or Unrestricted.

     You can get the ExecutionPolicy by typing

	Get-ExecutionPolicy

     When the ExecutionPolicy is "Restricted" or "AllSigned" then type e.g.

	Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

     To see details about ExecutionPolicy, type

	Get-Help about_Execution_Policies

  2. You have to install one of the following.

   . Visual Studio 2015 non-Express edtion or Express 2015 for Windows
	Desktop
   . Visual Studio 2013 non-Express edtion or Express 2013 for Windows
	Desktop
   . Visual Studio 2012 non-Express edtion or Express 2012 for Windows
	Desktop
   . Full Microsoft Visual C++ 2010
   . Windows SDK 7.1

     You have to include x64 development tools (bin, lib, include) as
     well as x86 ones for the installation.

     You can install multiple versions of VC++ and use them.
     You can easily switch by specifying VCVersion parameter.

  3. Setup Build environment

     Please type

	.\editConfiguration(.ps1)

     and edit the setting of your environment especially the folders
     you placed libpq related include/lib/bin files.

		

  4. Build

     Please type

	.\BuildAll(.ps1)

     to invoke build operations.

     If you installed both VC10 and VC12 and you'd like to compile
     under VC10 environment, type

        .\BuildAll(.ps1) -V(CVersion) 10.0

     or set the value 10.0 to vcversion using ./editConfiguration.

     To see details about the use of BuildAll, type

	Get-Help .\BuildAll(.ps1) [-Detailed | -Examples | -Full]

  5. Outputs of Build

     The build can produce output in up to four directories for each of
     the debug and release configurations:

     - x64_Unicode_Release     the Unicode driver, 64-bit
     - x86_ANSI_Release        the ANSI driver, 64-bit
     - x86_Unicode_Release     the ANSI driver, 32-bit
     - x86_ANSI_Release        the Unicode driver, 32-bit

     For debug builds (-Configuration Debug) the directories are named with
     Debug instead of Release but otherwise the same.

     pgxalib.dll is only built for the multibyte/unicode version, as it is
     the same for both unicode and ansi drivers.
  
  6. How to use drivers.

     You can't use psqlodbc drivers at once you build the drivers.
     Usually you have to install drivers using installers made by
     installer/buildInstallers.ps1. buildInstallers.ps1 bundles
     libpq and related libraries like ssleay32, libeay32 from the
     PostgreSQL bin directory and MSVC runtime libraries compiled with.

     However, it is painful for developers to build binaries, build
     installers and install each time the source files are changed. 
     It is recommended to use a special installation-less driver
     (postgres_devw) registered by regress.ps1

  7. Regression test in place

     After BuildAll(.ps1), please type

	.\regress(.ps1)

     You have to neither install nor copy binaries.
     By default, build 32-bit binaries from test sources and run the tests.
     If you'd like to test 64-bit version, please type

	.\regress(.ps1) -p(latform) x64

     Please note the outputs(obj, exe etc) generated by build operations and
     results of tests are placed in the directory winbuild/test_x86(test_x64
     in case of 64-bit).

  8. Installer
     
     To build the .msi installer file:

     C:\psqlodbc\installer\> (Powershell) ./buildInstallers.ps1 <options>
        or
     C:\psqlodbc\> (Command Prompt) .\buildInstallers.bat <options>

     By default, buildInstallers.ps1 builds bootstrapper program
     psqlodbc-setup.exe together.

     See ../installer/readme.txt in the source directory for details.

Troubleshooting:

     Some documentation on dealing with Windows SDK installation issues
     can be found on the related pg_build_win page:
     https://github.com/2ndQuadrant/pg_build_win#troubleshooting

Building with nmake.exe

Despite the name, win64.mak is used to build both 32-bit and 64-bit binaries. With the Microsoft Windows SDK Command Prompt, you can switch between 32-bit and 64-bit target architectures with setenv /x86 and setenv /x64 commands. If using a Visual Studio Command Prompt you can start the x86 or x64 versions from the Start menu, or run vcvarsall.bat with appropriate options to switch architectures.

To build the .msi installer file:

C:\psqlodbc\> nmake /f win64.mak installer

The resulting installer file goes to installer/x64 or installer/x86 directory.

To build both 32-bit and 64-bit versions in one command:

C:\psqlodbc\> nmake /f win64.mak world

The following build options may be used, either on the command line, or by creating a file called "windows-local.mak".

Variable	Values
CFG	Release(default), or Debug
PG_INC	$(PROGRAMFILES)\PostgreSQL\9.3\include
PG_LIB	$(PROGRAMFILES)\PostgreSQL\9.3\lib
SSL_INC	C:\OpenSSL-Win32\include
SSL_LIB	C:\OpenSSL-Win32\lib
ANSI_VERSION	no (If set to "yes", output dll name to psqlodbc30a.dll)
MSDTC	yes

1. UNICODE is the default (psqlodbc35w.dll), unless ANSI_VERSION is selected (psqlodbc30a.dll)
2. libpq.dll is mandatory.
3. If MSDTC == Yes, "pgxalib.dll" is created.
4. If MSDTC is enabled, ANSI_VERSION also creates "pgenlista.dll", or UNICODE creates "pgenlist.dll".

IDE Method

A Microsoft Visual Studio project file (and workspace) is included in the source tree.

psqlodbc.dsp can be used with Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0.

psqlodbc.proj and psqlodbc.sln can be used with Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Edition (including the Express edition which can be downloaded free of charge from http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/usingpsdk/default.aspx)

Preparation before the build:

1. The Windows distribution of PostgreSQL will install the required headers and libraries into C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.2
2. OpenSSL should be installed into C:\OpenSSL (OpenSSL binaries can be downloaded from http://www.slproweb.com/products/Win32OpenSSL.html)

If you want to change the installation arrangement, it is necessary to edit the project settings.

Note:

The default build settings will create the following driver:

1. UNICODE support.
2. libpq is mandatory.
3. The driver filename is "psqlodbc35w.dll".