From: msfrancisusa@netscape.net
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 11:54 AM
To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
Subject: Re: Problems Creating ODBC Connections to RDB databases on vms

oracle technet has the driver download available...:
http://otn.oracle.com/software/products/rdbodbc/content.html

and release notes..:
http://technet.oracle.com/products/rdbodbc/htdocs/odbc_rn_3012.htm

check the client and server that they are setup for connectivity.

1. rdb server...:
Check the server to determine that sqlservices is running

$ sqlsrv_manage   :== $SYS$SYSTEM:sqlsrv_manage
$ sqlsrv_manage
SQLSRV> connect to server;
Connecting to server ...
Connected

-- what services are running
SQLSRV> show services;

-- check a specific service
SQLSRV> show service user_defined_service_name full;

-- check service attributes that access is granted to the user via
identifier(role) or username
Access to service USER_DEFINED_SERVICE_NAME_HERE
    Granted to users:
 	 PRIVILEGED_USER 'FRANCIS_M' 'TESTX'
.
.
.

2. windows client ...:
    use odbc driver manager to view details of the rdb dsn  
    configured to access the rdb driver 
    should specify the server/service[or use the service 
   'generic' to access any database the user has access to].

if using a named/database service, verify on the 
server that the service is running and that the said user has 
access to the same.

for a universal/generic service the database is accessed 
by specifying the file/path and the logical/location in the dsn
configuration.

3. check that the configuration is valid by performing a test
connection
through the oracle test app or ms-access(duck).

4. lastly, just a warning, this scenario could wreak havoc on the db 
where unintentional dml can take place, (a keystroke in ms-access 
along with an up or down arrowkey combination can accidentally change 
lookup values to gibberish)

if there are no db constraints or dbroles/identifiers
to exert business rules then using apps such as Access/Excel 
allow writes that are as easy as typing and the db is only as good
as the data that goes in...

sorry bout the long answer. a lot more than you ever wanted to 
know bout odbc connections,eh?
parting words, check out technet, it's tops for just this type of
info.

cheers,
mary