Sybase 12.4.2 manual DSNs and FILEDSNs, Working with Odbc data sources

Working with ODBC data sources

DSNs and FILEDSNs

Where DSNs and FileDSNs are stored

File data sources can be distributed

How you create DSNs and FILEDSNs

You specify a data source either as a DSN (data source name) or as a FileDSN (file data source name).

You can reference a data source in the Windows NT registry using the DSN connection parameter:

DSN=my data source

You can reference a data source held in a file using the FileDSN connection parameter:

FileDSN=mysource.dsn

DSNs and FileDSNs differ only in how they are stored, and how you create them. With the exception of encrypted passwords, you can put identical connection information in them. You can use both DSNs and FileDSNs on any platform.

A DSN, or Data Source Name, is stored in the file odbc.ini and in the registry on Windows NT systems. On UNIX platforms it is stored in the odbc.ini file only.

A FileDSN, or File Data Source Name, is always stored on a file on all platforms.

File data sources can easily be distributed to end users, so that connection information does not have to be reconstructed on each machine. It can be sent via email, for example, but is not stored automatically in any public place. If the file is placed in the default location for file data sources, it is picked up automatically by ODBC. In this way, managing connections for many users can be made simpler.

Note Because DSNs are stored in the NT registry, they are public information. For this reason you should not put a password in a DSN, unless you encrypt it. If you want to store your password in your data source, use a File DSN.

To create DSNs on NT systems, use the ODBC Administrator; do not edit odbc.ini directly. See “Creating and editing ODBC data sources” for details.

To create File DSNs on Windows NT systems, use the ODBC Administrator. See “Creating and editing ODBC data sources”.

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