IDC Script Fails to Connect to Database (142681)

We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 6.0 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. IIS 6.0 significantly increases Web infrastructure security. For more information about IIS security-related topics, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/IIS.mspx

SUMMARY

When you try to run an Internet Database Connector (IDC) script file from a Web browser, the following error messages (or similar) occur:

In Internet Explorer 1.0:

The server considered the request for http://YourWebServer/YourScript.idc?' an invalid request.

In Internet Explorer 2.0:

Unable to open http://YourWebServer/YourScript.idc?. The site reported an invalid request.

The library Odbc32.dll could not be loaded to perform the query. Make sure ODBC has been properly installed on the server.

CAUSE

A possible cause for these error messages is insufficient Windows NT File System (NTFS) file permissions for Odbc32.dll.

ODBC32.DLL is located in the nt_root\System32 directory. By default, the group EVERYONE has Change permissions (RWXD) on this directory and the files created in this directory. If this default has been changed, there is a chance that when Odbc32.dll was copied into the System32 directory it did not receive the "eXecute" permission that Internet Information Server (IIS) needs to run the DLL for the Web browser.

RESOLUTION

To resolve the problem, either restore the Change permission for the domain group Everyone on Odbc32.dll, or grant the eXecute permission for any account that you expect to be used to run IDC scripts from a Web browser. Typically, this includes the anonymous logon account that IIS creates for you during installation (IUSR_machine_name).