FIX: You receive an error message when you try to configure a Text DSN in MDAC 2.8 SP1: "Ini File is corrupt" (884038)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 Service Pack 1 (SP1), when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows Server 2003
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to configure a Text Data Source Name (DSN) by using the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator tool on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Microsoft Windows 2003, you may receive the following error message:
Ini File (or Registry) FilePath\schema.ini is corrupt.
Note FilePath is a placeholder for the path of the folder that contains the Schema.ini file on your computer.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.
   Date         Time    Version     Size     File name     
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   23-Jul-2004  05:45   5.2.9354.0  26,112   _sfx_.dll        
   24-Aug-2004  09:32   4.0.6305.0  278,559  Odbcjt32.dll

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, specify the column type, as shown in the following Schema.ini file: 
[Sample.txt] 
ColNameHeader=False 
Format=CSVDelimited 
MaxScanRows=25 
CharacterSet=OEM 
Col1=F1 Integer 
Col2=F2 Char width 255 
Col3=F3 Integer

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the problem

  1. Create a text file by using Notepad.
    1. On a computer that is running Windows XP SP2, paste the following code in Notepad.

      1, hello, 23

    2. Save the text file as Sample.txt.
  2. Create a Text DSN, and then point the Text DSN to the folder that contains the Sample.txt file.
    1. In Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Data Sources (ODBC). The ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box appears.
    2. On the System DSN tab, click Add. The Create New Data Source dialog box appears.
    3. Click Microsoft Text Driver (*.txt; *.csv) in the Select a driver for which you want to set up a data source list, and then click Finish. The ODBC Text Setup dialog box appears.
    4. Type testds in the Data Source Name box.
    5. Type Test data source in the Description box.
    6. Click to clear the Use Current Directory check box, and then click to select the Select Directory check box. The Select Directory dialog box appears.
    7. Locate the folder where you saved the Sample.txt file on your computer, and then click OK.
    8. In the ODBC Text Setup dialog box, click OK.
  3. Configure the Text DSN by using the ODBC Data Source Administrator tool.
    1. Create a text file in the same folder as the Sample.txt file.
    2. Add the following text to the text file:
      [Sample.txt]
ColNameHeader=False
Format=TabDelimited
MaxScanRows=25
CharacterSet=OEM
Col1=F1 Integer
Col2=F2
Col3=F3 Integer
    3. Save the text file as Schema.ini.
    4. In the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box, click testds in the System Data Sources list, and then click Configure. The ODBC Text Setup dialog box appears.
    5. Click Options, and then click Define Format. You receive the error that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.
    6. In the Error dialog box, click OK.
    7. In the Define Text Format dialog box, click Cancel.
    8. In the ODBC Text Setup dialog box, click Cancel.
    9. In the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box, click OK.

REFERENCES

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

For more information about the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator tool, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/odbc/htm/dasdkodbcdatasourceadmin.asp

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/30/2006
Keywords:kbQFE KBHotfixServer kbcorrupt kbSchema kbfix kbBug KB884038 kbAudDeveloper
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