Database: ODBC: Defining Data Source
ODBC
ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) is a protocol for communicating SQL commands with
databases. Most database systems support ODBC in addition to their
their own, native, interface. While ODBC is usually the lowest
common denominator, it is adequate for most database operations.
Client Interfaces
The database engine may be located on one machine, and the
client interface may be located on another. Microsoft Access
has both a database engine and a client interface, and either
can be used independently. For example, the Access client interface
can be connected to other database engines (eg, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, ...) over the Internet,
and other clients can be connected to the Access database engine.
Defining a Data Source Name (DSN) for other clients
If you want to use an Access database from another client on the same machine, eg WinSQL,
you need to create a new data source name for the client to make
an ODBC connection to.
- Open the ODBC control panel (Start > Settings > ODBC).
- In the User DSN tab, click Add.
- In the dialog that comes up, create a name for the data source,
and select the database you want to make available,
and click OK.
- Close the ODBC dialog box with OK.
There are lots of other data source options, but it's simple to make
a data source that can be used on your machine.
Using the Data Source from another client
To use this from WinSQL:
- Start WinSQL.
- Choose the Data Source you want to use.
You can now inspect the tables and issue SQL commands from
WinSQL for your Access database. Note that Access doesn't
even have to be running. The Access ODBC drivers were
specified with the DSN, so these are used to start the Access
database engine.