Find and open the ODBC Control in the Control Panel. You should see a list of current DSNs (Data Source Names). If you do not have an ODBC icon in the Control Panel, ODBC is not installed.

Different versions of ODBC and Windows will have different DSN configuration screens. (Shown is an example of Windows NT 4.0 using ODBC 3.0.)

Windows NT distinguishes between System DSNs (which are available to all local users) and User DSNs (which are only available to the user who is currently logged on). Windows 95 DSNs are available to all local users.

To add a new DSN select [Add]. You will be presented with a list of currently installed ODBC drivers. If there is no driver listed for the database you want to connect to, you will need to acquire a driver from the database vendor.

Select the driver for the database you want to connect to. You will be presented with a screen with database-specific inputs.

For Microsoft Access

You will be able to enter in the new DSN you will use to access your Microsoft Access database as well as a description.

Select or create a database (*.MDB file)

You may specify a number of optional parameters, including which System database to use (the System database stores user login and security information for a MS Access database).

For MS SQL Server

You will be able to enter in the new DSN you will use to access your MS SQL Server as well as a description.

Specify the name of the MS SQL Server you will connect to. You may specify the network address and library, or leave them with their defaults.

Specify whether to use trusted connections or normal authentication.

You may optionally specify the database name and other options.

To Test Your DSN

Microsoft includes MS Query with most of their ODBC-compatible products, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft SQL. It can be used to verify your ODBC setup as well as prepare SQL statements for cutting and pasting into your Java code.

If you can connect to your DSN and run a query in MS Query, you will in all likelihood be able to use that DSN with the JDBC-ODBC bridge.

For More Information

  • The ODBC Online Help is an excellent resource, as are the ODBC installation instructions included with most ODBC drivers and ODBC compatible products.

On the Net ...

  • Microsoft Support Website:
    Links to a number of Microsoft support options, including drivers, patches, articles, and newsgroup information.
  • Many database vendors with ODBC drivers distribute drivers and updates from their websites. Check your database vendor's website.
©1997 YoYo Publications
This document is provided as a public service by YoYo Publications.
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Last Updated 23-Feb-97:TKP