function GetNativeHandle(Database: TDatabase): Pointer; 
var 
  length: word; 
begin 
// This is how you get a native IB handle out of a TDatabase. 
  Result := nil; 
  if Assigned( Database ) and 
     Database.Connected and 
     ( Database.DriverName = 'INTRBASE' ) then 
    Check( DBIGetProp( HDBIOBJ( Database.Handle ), dbNATIVEHNDL, 
                                                   @Result, 
                                                   SizeOf( Pointer ), 
                                                   length )); 
end; 

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); 
begin 
// An IB_Connection can take a raw handle from a TDatabase 
  bdeDatabase.Connected := True; 
  iboDatabase.dbHandleShared := GetNativeHandle( bdeDatabase ); 
end; 

procedure TForm1.FormDestroy(Sender: TObject); 
begin 
// Before the TDatabase closes be sure to clear the dbHandle out of the 
// IB_Connection. Otherwise, it may attempt an operation after the handle has 
// become invalid. 
  iboDatabase.dbHandleShared := nil; 
  bdeDatabase.Connected := False; 
end;