Delphi TDatabase parameters for Firebird confusion

Question

I've created a Data Source through the control panel successfully and used it with TTable and TQuery and TDBGrid, now I want to learn how to use TDatabase to connect to my Firebird DB, I have selected the Firebird Interbase Driver and selected "defaults". Do I have to complete all the parameters that pop up? Can I delete those I don't want to interfere with (don't understand)? In fact the only ones I have tried to set are

DATABASE NAME=localhost:c:\fbdb\abook.fdb
USERNAME=SYSDBA
PASSWORD=masterkey

Can someone help me with the rest, I keep getting

invalid configuration parameter

The company I am joining has existing apps using the BDE and require me to train myself in Delphi 7, Firebird, BDE, Report Builder before I join.

Answer 1

You can create a BDE alias (in BDE Administrator under Control Panel or from some Delphi menu).

In your application double-click on the TDatabase. Here you give a Name, you pick your newly created Alias name from the list and you add these Parameter overrides:

USER NAME=SYSDBA
PASSWORD=masterkey
SQLDIALECT=3

Click OK and try to set Connected property to True, under TDatabase properties.