DataLink

Description

Specifies that you want to create a file or use an existing file containing your connection information to connect to your data source.

When to specify DataLink You must specify the DataLink parameter before connecting to the database.

Applies to

ADO.NET
OLE DB

Syntax

DataLink = 'file_name'

Default

None

Usage

The Data Link option allows you to access Microsoft’s Data Link API. The Data Link API allows you to define a file or use an existing file that contains your OLE DB connection information. A Data Link file is identified with the suffix .udl.

To launch the API, double-click on Manage Data Links under OLE DB Utilities in the Installed Database Interfaces list or select the File Name check box on the Connection tab in the Database Profile Setup dialog box and double-click on the button next to the File Name box.

For more information on using the Data Link API, see Microsoft’s Universal Data Access Web site.

Using a Data Link file versus setting the database parameters If you use a Data Link file to connect to your data source, all other settings you make in the Database Profile Setup dialog box are ignored.

Examples

Example 1

To use the file oledb.udl to connect to an OLE DB data provider:

Database profile Select the File Name check box on the Connection tab in the Database Profile Setup dialog box and enter a name for a new file or select an existing file.
Application Type the following in code:
```
SQLCA.DBParm = "DataLink='oledb.udl'"
```