MORE INFORMATION
When you install Microsoft Office, an ODBC icon, which represents the ODBC
Manager, is installed in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. The ODBC
Manager allows you to set up and configure ODBC data sources. In the ODBC
Manager, you can set up and configure the following three types of DSNs:
User DSN
System DSN
File DSN
User DSN
The User DSN is a data source that is user specific. A User DSN is stored
locally but is available only to the user who creates it. User DSNs are not
used by Microsoft Query 97. If you use Microsoft Jet, ODBC, or Structured
Query Language (SQL) commands and bypass Microsoft Query, User DSNs are
required. User DSNs are stored in the Windows registry under the following
key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Odbc\Odbc.ini\Odbc Data sources
System DSN
Unlike a User DSN, a System DSN is not user specific. A System DSN is
stored locally and is not dedicated to a particular user. Any user who logs
on to a computer that has permission to access the data source can use a
System DSN. Some programs, such as Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft
Internet Information Server (IIS), require a System DSN. This DSN must be
created on the server where the program is located. System DSNs are stored
in the Windows registry under the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Odbc\Odbc.ini\Odbc Data sources
File DSN
The File DSN is created locally and may be shared with other users. The
File DSN is file based, which means that the .dsn file contains all the
information required to connect to the data source. Note that you must
install the ODBC driver locally to use a File DSN. Microsoft Query uses
File DSNs but Microsoft Jet and ODBC do not use File DSNs.
The File DSNs are stored by default in the Program Files\Common
Files\Odbc\Data Sources folder. File DSNs are not stored in the Windows
registry. The .dsn file is a text file that you can view in any text
editor, such as Microsoft Notepad.
NOTE: When you connect to an existing data source using Microsoft Query,
only the available File DSNs that are stored on that computer are
displayed. Microsoft Query does not display User or System DSNs. However,
you can create a File DSN that points to a System DSN.
To create a File DSN that points to a System DSN, use the following steps:
- In a text editor, such a Notepad, type the following two lines in a new
document
where <MySysDSN> is the name of an existing System DSN that you
installed in the ODBC icon in the Control Panel.
- Click Save on the File menu and type a name that includes a .dsn file
name extension for the File DSN; for example, "DBase4.dsn" is a valid
name. Include the quotation marks to ensure that the .dsn file name
extension is added correctly.
You can also share a File DSN with other users. To do this, share the
folder in which the .dsn file is stored using the following steps:
- Under Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, right-click
the Start menu and click Explore.
- Open the folder that contains the .dsn files. By default, this is the
Program Files\Common Files\Odbc\Data Sources folder.
- Right-click the folder and click Sharing. On the Sharing tab, click
Shared As and type the name to use for the folder in the Share Name
box. Click OK.
Note: Each user must install the appropriate ODBC driver (the driver that
the File DSN refers to) on the computer in order for the File DSN to
function properly.
Sample Macro to Return External Data to Microsoft Excel
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes
that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the
tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can
help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not
modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to
meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may
want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based
consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified
Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
The following Microsoft Excel Visual Basic for Applications macro can use
an existing User or System DSN to retrieve data from a database and store
the data in a worksheet. The sample DSN that is used in this macro is
MyDSN. It references the Microsoft Access 97 sample database Northwind.mdb
in the Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Samples folder. You can use
MyDSN as a User or System DSN but you cannot use it as a File DSN.
Sub Get_Data()
'Define SQL query string to get the CategoryName field from
'the Category table.
sqlstring = "SELECT CategoryName FROM Categories"
'Define connection string and reference File DSN.
connstring = "ODBC;DSN=MyDSN"
'Create QueryTable in worksheet beginning with cell C1.
With ActiveSheet.QueryTables.Add(Connection:=connstring, _
Destination:=Range("C1"), Sql:=sqlstring)
.Refresh
End With
End Sub
REFERENCES
For more information about retrieving data, click the Office Assistant,
type
data sources, click Search, and then click to view "Ways to retrieve
data from an external database."
NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the
Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Excel Help is not installed on your
computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
120802
Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or
Component