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Progress .pf Connection Parameter File Generator for QAD

A Progress parameter file tells a client session which database to connect to and how. This tool writes the standard network connection lines for a QAD database so you do not have to remember the options.

Fill in

Database name

Database server host

Broker service or port

Logical database name

Code page (optional)

Temp directory

Generated code

Download:

Client connection file (qad_client.pf)

-db qaddb
-H qadserver.example.com
-S 20000
-N TCP
-ld qaddb

Client session file with code page and temp files

# Session parameters for qaddb
-pf qad_client.pf
-cpinternal utf-8
-cpstream utf-8
-T /tmp
-s 128
-mmax 8192

Command line equivalent

_progres -pf qad_client.pf -p myreport.p

Parameter names are standard OpenEdge client startup options. Port, host and code page must match what your DBA configured on the database broker. Values for -s and -mmax are examples only; follow your QAD installation guide. A .pf file can contain a user id and password with -U and -P, but avoid storing credentials in plain text.

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How to use it

Enter the database name, the host the broker runs on, and the service name or port from your database configuration. Copy the first block into a file called something like qad_client.pf and save it where the client launch script can find it. The second block adds a code page, temp directory and memory options, and refers to the first file with -pf, so connection details stay in one place. Launch a session with the command line shown in the third block and replace the procedure name with yours.

What each option means

-db names the database and -H the host that runs the broker. -S is the service name from the services file or a port number, and -N TCP selects the network protocol. -ld sets a logical name that your code refers to, which may differ from the physical database name. -cpinternal and -cpstream control the code page used in memory and for file streams, which matters when item descriptions contain accented or non-Latin characters.

Troubleshooting connection errors

If the connection fails, check that the broker is running and the port is open between client and server. A mismatch in service name is the most common cause, followed by firewall rules and a wrong host name. Code page warnings show up as strange characters in exports rather than failed connects. When several databases are needed, create one .pf per database and chain them with extra -pf lines.

Common mistakes

Do not put production passwords into a shared parameter file. Do not point reporting jobs at the production broker when a replica exists. Keep a separate file per environment with a clear name such as qad_test.pf. Finally, keep comments at the start of a line with a hash so they are ignored.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .pf file?

A parameter file is a plain text file of Progress startup options, one per line. It lets you reuse database connection and session settings without typing them each time on the command line.

Do I need -ld?

Only if your code refers to the database under a different name than its physical name, or you connect to several databases. Otherwise the physical name works as the logical name.

Can I comment a .pf file?

Yes. Lines starting with a hash are treated as comments in OpenEdge parameter files. Use them to document the purpose of each environment file.

Is this safe for production?

The file itself only contains connection details. Safety depends on the user account you connect with, so use a read-only account for reporting and never share administrator credentials.

If you want read-only reporting or AI access to QAD data without scattering connection files, we can design a safe access layer.

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