When you create a Data Source Name (DSN) from the User DSN tab, it is created under a particular account that is not accessible from other accounts. In other words, if you are logged in as Administrator and you create a DSN called Sample_DB, then only processes running under the Administrator account can access Sample_DB.
Left-click the Configure… button to open the ODBC Data Source Administrator window. From here you can configure the Data Sources to fit your unique specifications.
The System DSN tab allows the user to add, to delete, or to configure data sources with system DSNs. These data sources are local to a computer, rather than dedicated to a user. The system, or any user having the correct privileges, can use a data source set up with a system DSN.
From the System DSN tab, the following data elements can be defined:
Field or button |
Description |
|---|---|
System Data Sources List |
A list of all system DSNs that includes the name of each DSN and the driver associated with the DSN. Double-click a system DSN to display the driver-specific data source setup dialog box. |
Add |
Adds a new system data source. If you choose this button, the Create New Data Source dialog box is displayed with a list of drivers. Choose the driver for which you are adding a system data source. After you choose Finish, a driver-specific setup dialog box is displayed. |
Remove |
Removes an existing system data source. You must select the name of the system data source you want to remove from the list before clicking Remove. |
Configure... |
Displays the driver-specific data source setup dialog box that enables you to change the configuration of an existing system data source. You must select the name of a system data source from the list before clicking the Configure… button. |
The File DSN tab allows the user to add, delete, or configure data sources with file DSNs. These are file-based data sources that may be shared between all users that have the same drivers installed. These data sources need not be dedicated to a user or local to a computer.
From the File DSN tab, the following data elements can be defined:
Field or button |
Description |
|---|---|
File Data Source list |
Displays all file DSNs and subdirectories contained within the directory displayed in the Look In box. Double-click a File DSN to display the driver-specific data source setup dialog box. |
Look In |
Displays the current directory for which the subdirectories and file DSNs are displayed in the window below. Left-click the down arrow to the right of the text box to display the entire path to that directory. The default directory that is initially displayed when the ODBC Administrator is first executed is contained in the system information, but can be changed with the Set Directory button. |
Add |
Adds a new file data source. If you choose this button, the Create New Data Source dialog box is displayed with a list of drivers. Choose the driver for which you are adding a file DSN. After you choose Next, you may specify the keywords for the file DSN. |
Remove |
Removes an existing file data source. You must select the file data source you want to remove from the list before clicking Remove. |
Configure... |
Displays the driver-specific data source setup dialog box that enables you to change the configuration of an existing file data source. You must select the name of a file data source from the list before clicking the Configure… button. |
Set Directory |
Establishes the displayed directory as the default directory to be displayed when the ODBC Administrator is executed. |
Up (up folder icon) |
Changes the directory displayed in the Look In box to be the directory directly above the current directory. |
The Drivers tab displays information about the installed ODBC drivers. The ODBC Drivers list shows you which drivers are already installed on your computer. The ODBC Drivers tab lists the Name, Version, Company, File name and file creation Date of each ODBC driver installed on the computer.
From the Tracing tab, the following data elements can be defined.
Field or button |
Description |
|---|---|
When to trace |
Enables tracing and determines when tracing is initiated. These controls can be set only while there is no connection. If Don’t trace is selected, tracing is disabled. If All the time is selected, tracing is automatically performed at all times, for all connections on the machine. If One-time only is selected, tracing is performed only for the next connection, and is disabled after that connection is disconnected. |
Start Tracing Now |
Enables dynamic tracing that is performed as long as the ODBC Administrator dialog box is displayed. Dynamic tracing can be enabled whether a connection has been made or not. After it is clicked, the Start Tracing Now button is toggled to a Stop Tracing Now button. When the Stop Tracing Now button is clicked, or the ODBC Administrator dialog box is closed, dynamic tracing is disabled. |
Log file Path |
This field displays the path and file name for the file in which the tracing information will be stored. The default path and file name (sql.log) are taken from the system information, but you can specify a new file by either entering a new path and file name, or by clicking the Browse button and selecting a directory and file. |
Browse |
Allows you to select the path and file name for the log file by browsing the computer’s directories. |
Custom Trace DLL |
This control allows the user to select a trace DLL other than odbctrac.dll to perform tracing. The odbctrac.dll file that is shipped with the ODBC Software Developer Kit (SDK) can be replaced by a custom DLL of the user’s choice. Enter the path and file name of the custom DLL, or left-click the Select DLL button to browse the directories for the custom DLL. |
Select DLL |
Allows the user to browse the directory structure for a custom trace DLL. When a DLL has been chosen, the path and file name of the DLL are entered in the Custom Trace DLL text box. |
The Connection Pooling tab allows the application to reuse open connection handles.
From the About tab, you can view the information about the ODBC core components. You can view the Description, Version and File information concerning the Administrator, the Control Panel Device, the Control Panel Startup, the Cursor Library, the Driver Manager, and the Localized Resource DLL.
