Configuring a Data Source in the System Information File

The default odbc.ini file installed in the installation directory is a template in which you create data source definitions. You enter your site-specific database connection information using a text editor. Each data source definition must include the keyword Driver=, which is the full path to the driver.

The following examples show the minimum connection string options that must be set to complete a test connection, where xx represents iv for 32-bit or dd for 64-bit drivers, yy represents the driver level number, and zz represents the extension. The values for the options are samples and are not necessarily the ones you would use.

Connection Option Descriptions:

EditionName: Oracle 11g R2 and higher only. The name of the Oracle edition the driver uses when establishing a connection. Oracle 11g R2 and higher allows your database administrator to create multiple editions of schema objects so that your application can still use those objects while the database is being upgraded. This option is only valid for Oracle 11g R2 and higher databases and tells the driver which edition of the schema objects to use.

HostName: The name or the IP address of the server to which you want to connect.

PortNumber: The port number of your Oracle listener. Check with your database administrator for the number.

ServiceName:The Oracle service name that specifies the database used for the connection. The service name is a string that is the global database name—a name that is comprised of the database name and domain name, for example: sales.us.acme.com.

SID:The Oracle System Identifier that refers to the instance of Oracle running on the server.