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1 Downloading and Installing Exodus

Snow Leopard, Leopard, Tiger.


2 C++ Compiler

If you want to write or compile Exodus programs you must install the XCODE gcc C++ compiler. You don't need a C++ compiler to just use the Exodus command line to access the database or run prepackaged Exodus programs.

XCODE is available in the "Mac OS X Install DVD" in the "Optional Installs" folder.

  1. Insert Mac OSX Install DVD
  2. Open Optional Installs folder
  3. Open Xcode.mpkg
  4. Follow instructions
  5. Check ALL options including Mac OSX 10.4 Support if you might develop programs to be installed on previous versions of Mac OSX.

3 Postgresql

If you want to use Exodus to provide multivalue database functionality then you must already have or install a PostgreSQL database.

Postgres does not have to be on the same server as Exodus, however, if it is not, dictionary entries cannot call Exodus subroutines. If you install Postgres on another server then you will have to manually copy the plugin file to the Postgres bin folder.

3.1 Installing

Install with all the defaults except uncheck "Stack Builder" towards the end. Take a note of the password that you give for the postgres admin user.

3.2 Configuring

The following Exodus command creates the default database and password. It also configures postgres to use the exodus plugin which is required for sort/select on dictionary entries. You need the postgres admin username and password to do so.


By default, Exodus assumes the following postgres configuration. This is very convenient for quick setups but of course is not secure.

host= port=5432 dbname=exodus user=exodus password=somesillysecret connect_timeout=10

4 Using Exodus

Look your Applications folder for Exodus or just use the unix console.

Try the following commands.

Command Comment
edic hello edic=edit+compile+catalog. Creates a skeleton hello.cpp file using nano editor. edic will only compile on exit if saved, so make some change before you exit.
hello Run it
compile hello compile without editing
edic testsort Browse a sample exodus program showing all fundamental database operations including dictionaries and list.
compile testsort compile the preinstalled test program
testsort Run it to generate some data and inspect the output
listfiles quick tool avoiding need to use any database client
list myclients text output - no page/column headers just yet sorry
list myclients {H} html output (port of a fully blown LIST replacement in heavy production use since 2000)
list dict_myclients NB the underscore after "dict" is *required*. "dict(SPACE)myclients" wont work
list dict_voc if you understand this then you understand your pick
edir myclients SB001 you can edit data or dictionaries directly. edir="edit record"
delete myclients SB001 useful command line tool
createfile tempfile ditto
deletefile tempfile ditto
createindex myclients CLIENT_TYPE speeds up select commands on the indexed fields in the traditional way
deleteindex myclients CLIENT_TYPE filenames are case insensitive, keys and fieldnames are CASE SENSITIVE

If you get the following error then you have not completed the installation of the Exodus plugin for Postgres.

PGRES_FATAL_ERROR: ERROR: function exodus_extract_text(bytea, integer, integer, integer) does not exist