Having difficulty configuring a File data source.

[J]

Thursday eve

Having difficulty configuring a File data source.

I can add a file which is in a folder in the ProgramData folder. An error is
displayed but I can save the connection.

I then want to edit the connection. BUTTTT the ODBC interface does not
display the ProgramData folder in the list.

This is an oversite by someone.

[Pak-Ming Cheung - MSFT]

This is because C:\ProgramData is set to "hidden" by default. Therefore, the
ODBC Data Source Administrator will not display that folder.

So, to workaround the issue, you may try one of the following methods:
1. Move your file DSN to another non-hidden directory
2. Use "User DSN" or "System DSN", which uses registry internally (instead
of using file)
3. Make your C:\ProgramData non-hidden. (Not recommended)

Please note that the 3rd option is not recommended. This is because that
folder contains a lot of data from various applications. Users may
accidiently change something inside which may break some applications, if you
made it visible. Also, i believe most end users are not interested in the
content in that folder.

Thanks,
Ming.
WDAC Team, Microsoft.
P.S. We recommend customers to use the forum to ask questions in the future,
where you can obtain a faster response (Forum is at:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/sqldataaccess/threads/)

[J]

Thank you for your reply.

I understand the ProgramData folder is hidden.

I have always thought it should not be allowed to store data in the Program
Files folder. Data should be easier to backup.

And now we have a ProgramData folder. .

If I am not supposed to use the folder, I should not be able to browse to
it.

This folder should be available to ODBC applets of the Operating system.

And so on

J

"Pak-Ming Cheung - MSFT" <PakMingC...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
in message news:7707754C-FF5C-4B71...@microsoft.com...

[Pak-Ming Cheung - MSFT]

I tried myself. ODBC Data Source Administrator shouldn't display that folder
and therefore you shouldn't be able to browse to that folder in ODBC Data
Source Administrator, right?

For backup issue, i think that you can easily create another directory to
store all file DSNs, and include that directory in the backup configuration.
Is this workaround good for your?

Thanks,
Ming.
WDAC Team, Microsoft.