How do I... Replace a complex connection string with a DSN?

Technically speaking, a Data Source Name (DSN) is an identifier to a data source for an Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC) driver (library). ODBC is a function library that interfaces between the Application Programming Interface (API) and compliant database systems. Anybody who's interacted with foreign data programmatically knows that getting the connection code right can be frustrating. If you support yourself, you might find a DSN easier to create than a traditional connection string. Susan Sales Harkins shows how it could work for you.

This download is also available as an entry in the TechRepublic Windows blog.