Using ODBC Applet in Network Environment

[Jaek]

I am trying to establish an ODBC connection from Access to a remote SQL
Server database. The database resides on a company-wide network, the actual
server itself is I think in a dark room in Texas. I've mapped to the drive
where the target SQL Server database resides.

Using the ODBC applet, I come to the screen labeled 'Create a New Data
Source to SQL Server' where I can specify Name, Description, and Server. The
Server line is a dropdown that is populating itself, by what mechanism I
don't know. It is showing a list of what may be SQL Server instances on some
part of the network (a small and relatively 'local' part from what I can
see), but the target database is not there.

I tried the applet both before and after mapping a drive to the location of
the target database, and the list in the dropdown did not appear to change.

If there are suggestions on something I could do to put that target 'on the
map', that'd be great. Next question would be, is there an alternative to
using the applet?

 

[Ron Hinds]

I am trying to establish an ODBC connection from Access to a remote SQL
Server database. The database resides on a company-wide network, the
actual
server itself is I think in a dark room in Texas. I've mapped to the drive
where the target SQL Server database resides.

Using the ODBC applet, I come to the screen labeled 'Create a New Data
Source to SQL Server' where I can specify Name, Description, and Server.
The
Server line is a dropdown that is populating itself, by what mechanism I
don't know. It is showing a list of what may be SQL Server instances on
some
part of the network (a small and relatively 'local' part from what I can
see), but the target database is not there.

I tried the applet both before and after mapping a drive to the location
of
the target database, and the list in the dropdown did not appear to
change.

If there are suggestions on something I could do to put that target 'on
the
map', that'd be great. Next question would be, is there an alternative to
using the applet?

Mapping a network drive has no effect on ODBC to SQL Server - you don't need
to do that. What you need to do is find out the IP address of the server and
type that in the dropdown, if in fact the name of the server you are trying
to connect to is not already in the dropdown. Alternatively, if you know the
name of the SQL Server you are trying to connect to, you can click the
button with the ellipsis (...) next to the dropdown and try to Browse for
the correct Server name.

 

[Jaek]

Ron, thanks for your response. I'm a bit confused by the suggestion about the
IP Address since the dropdown I'm referring to is looking for the instance of
SQL Server to connect to ( I believe ), not the actual box/server. The text
adjoining the dropdown reads "Which SQL Server do you want to connect to?".
Can an instance of SQL Server be referred to by an IP Address?

I'm also wondering if we're using different versions of the applet (I'm
running XP), since there is no ellipsis button next to the dropdown.

Thanks again for your help, and apologies if I'm slow on the uptake.

 

[Ron Hinds]

Ron, thanks for your response. I'm a bit confused by the suggestion about
the
IP Address since the dropdown I'm referring to is looking for the instance
of
SQL Server to connect to ( I believe ), not the actual box/server. The
text
adjoining the dropdown reads "Which SQL Server do you want to connect
to?".
Can an instance of SQL Server be referred to by an IP Address?

Yes, you can just type in the IP address of the server that is running SQL
Server into the dropdown. If more than one instance (not to be confused with
*database*) is running on that machine then you would need to know the
instance name as well, and enter it after the server IP address like so:

IP Address\Instance Name

If you mean there are multiple databases (as opposed to instances) on that
server, once you get past choosing the server you will have an opportunity
to select the default database for this connection.

I'm also wondering if we're using different versions of the applet (I'm
running XP), since there is no ellipsis button next to the dropdown.

Oops, sorry, I was thinking of the chooser for Query Analyzer ;-)

 

[Jaek]

Ron, thanks again, I'll try the IP address and go from there.
Cheers,
Jake