Locates the interface library

Assembles a list of connection parameters

Locates a server

Locates the database

Starts a personal server when the database server is not located

Any ODBC application using the SQLDriverConnect function, which is the common connection method for ODBC applications. Many application development systems, such as Sybase PowerBuilder, belong to this class of application. The SQLConnect function is also available to ODBC applications.

Any client application using embedded SQL and using the recommended function for connecting to a database (db_string_connect). In addition, the SQL CONNECT statement is available for embedded SQL applications and in Interactive SQL. It has two forms: CONNECT AS ... and CONNECT USING. All the database administration tools, including Interactive SQL, use db_string_connect.

Any ADO application using the ADODB Connection object. The Provider property is used to locate the OLE DB driver. The Connection String property may use DataSource as an alternative to DataSourceName and User ID as an alternative to UserID.

Any application using the SQL Anywhere JDBC driver to pass the URL jdbc:sqlanywhere: followed by a standard connection string as a parameter to the Driver Manager.GetConnection method.