ConnectString

Description

Specifies the parameters required to connect to an ODBC data source. DataWindow Designer uses these parameters to connect to the database.

Applies to

Syntax

The ConnectString syntax displays on a single line. You must enclose the entire ConnectString in single quotes and separate parameters within the ConnectString with semicolons.

ConnectString = 'DSN = data_source_name; {UID = user_ID;
	PWD = password; driver_specific_parameters}'

Parameter

Description

data_source_name

A name that identifies the data source.

user_ID

(Optional) The user ID required to connect to the data source.

password

(Optional) The password required by user_ID to connect to the data source.

driver_specific_parameters

(Optional) Any other driver-specific parameters required to connect.

For example, some ODBC drivers specify the data source directory here. If you are using the PB DataDirect Btrieve ODBC driver, you can specify the value CDB = 1 here to create a new Scalable SQL (formerly NetWare SQL) data dictionary if one does not already exist.

The PB DataDirect Text ODBC driver uses this parameter to specify the century date. You can specify the value CB = 50 here to indicate that years from 00 to 49 be prefixed with '20' and years from 50 to 99 be prefixed with '19'.

Default

None

Usage

DataWindow Designer generates the ConnectString automatically when you define an ODBC data source and copies it to the Preview box in the Database Profile Setup dialog box. This happens before you connect to the data source in DataWindow Designer.

Therefore, you do not have to enter the ConnectString yourself when defining an ODBC data source. However, you might need to edit the ConnectString value in the Database Profile Setup dialog box.

You can change the ConnectString parameter if necessary by editing it in the Database Profile Setup dialog box. For example, if you change the name of an existing ODBC data source, edit its database profile to update the connect string with the new DSN (data source name) value.

Examples

Example 1

This example shows a connect string for an ODBC data source that contains the data source name (DSN=Sales), user ID (UID=dba), and password (PWD=sql). Parameters within the connect string are separated by semicolons.

Example 2

This example shows a connect string for a Btrieve data source accessed with the PB DataDirect Btrieve ODBC driver. The connect string consists of two parameters: DSN and CDB (to create a new Scalable SQL data dictionary). Parameters within the connect string are separated by semicolons.