To add a data source name

To add a data source name

To add a DSN to the ODBC Administrator, follow these steps:

1. From the Windows control panel, double-click the ODBC icon. (Select the Settings menu under "Start" to locate the control panel.)

A list of data source drivers displays.

2. Click the "Add" button. A dialog box displays.

3. In the list box labeled "Installed ODBC Drivers," select "AcuODBC Client Server" or "AcuODBC Stand Alone," depending on your needs, and click the "OK" button.

Another dialog box displays.

4. Enter the data source name and data dictionary directory as instructed below.

Data Source Name

Enter a name that represents the type of data in this group of data files or the type of query that will be made against these files. Since this name will be used every time a user opens this data source, select a name that is meaningful.

(For example, "ACME Payroll" might be used for payroll files for the ACME Corporation.) There are no limits on length or the type of characters allowed. Spaces are okay. The name you choose must be unique.

Data Dictionary Directory

Enter the full pathname of the directory or directories containing the data dictionary files (XFD files) that must be accessed. Remember, each Vision or relative file requires a corresponding XFD. XFDs are discussed in Section 7.2 XFD Files.

If you specify multiple directories, separate the directory names by a space or semi-colon, as in the following example:

c:\acuodbc\data1 c:\acuodbc\data2

In this field, you can specify a local directory or a remote directory. If you specify a local data dictionary directory, AcuODBC looks for all the XFD files present in this directory, and lets you open the tables that relate to the XFDs.

To specify a remote directory, use the following syntax:

@server-name:directory-path

where server-name is the name of the UNIX or NT server on which the data dictionaries reside.

If you specify a remote directory, you must add a sequential ASCII file called "xfdrmt.dir" (lowercase) to that remote directory. This file must list the names of the XFD files that have to be accessed by this DSN. These XFD filenames must match the actual names of the XFD files exactly, including the case on UNIX systems. The XFD files included in the "xfdrmt.dir" file must reside in the same directory as the "xfdrmt.dir" file itself.

Note: AcuODBC assumes that the Vision or relative files that correspond to these XFDs have uppercase names. If your data files have lowercase names and you are on a UNIX system, you must set the "File Case" option in the Advanced Options window, as described in the next section. Case does not matter on Windows systems.

If the data dictionaries are remote, you can open tables only for the files that are listed in this "xfdrmt.dir" file. Storing data dictionary files on the server can help decrease the maintenance of these files. That is because modification of data dictionary files on the server directory will make any changes immediately available to all the clients.

Here is an example of an "xfdrmt.dir" file:

CUSTOMERS.XFD

COMPANY.XFD

PAYROLL.XFD

ACCOUNTING.XFD

etc.

After you specify the data dictionary directory, the DSN is fully defined, provided that the data files are stored in the same directory as the data dictionary files.

If the data files are stored elsewhere, or if you want to specify special compile or read/write options, click the button labeled "Advanced. . ."

If you maintain data files for many different customers/companies and would like to set up an easy file management system for them, click the "Multi Companies. . ." button.

If you want to set Vision file parameters or trace file options, click the button labeled "Vision options. . ."

Tip: For performance reasons, you should keep your data files together with the XFD files only if you have a few data files to work with. If you have many files, we recommend that you create several directories containing only the XFD files necessary for a particular DSN or query type. You can then keep the data files together and use the Advanced Options "File Prefix" field to specify the location of the data files.