Create an ODBC connection to a database (ODBC data sources)

The Database Engine 3.0 is built on ODBC and is able to handle 32-bit and 64-bit drivers.

Consider ODBC driver limitations

The Database Engine 3.0 supports all data sources that provide an ODBC driver. However, the Database Engine 3.0 is then limited to what these drivers support. What exactly ODBC drivers support varies between database vendors.

For example, if you work with ODBC drivers for Oracle, you might experience the following limitations:

• Oracle ODBC drivers can't interpret PL/SQL commands and, therefore, don't support them.

• Oracle ODBC drivers don't support more than one SQL statement in one call.

Set up an ODBC data source

In order to access databases you have to set up a corresponding ODBC data source.

1. Open the ODBC Data Source Administrator via Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Data Sources (ODBC).

   To establish a 32-bit data source on a 64-bit system, the application odbcad32.exe must be started from the directory C:\Windows\SysWOW64.

2. Switch to the System DSN tab.

3. Click on the Add button to open the Create New Data Source window.

4. Select the driver suitable for your database type. In this example, the driver Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) or Microsoft Access Treiber (*.mdb) required for a Microsoft Access database is selected.

5. Click on the Finish button.

6. Enter the necessary configuration for your database driver into the driver setup window.

   In this example the data source name DB_TBox_Test is entered under Data Source Name in the ODBC Microsoft® Access Setup window. The Select button is used to select the required database. The path to this database is shown in the Database field.

7. The System-DSN tab now contains a new entry with the following values: Name=DB_TBox_Test and Driver=Microsoft Acess Driver (*.mdb). Click OK to exit the dialog box.