Accessing Data From External Database Management Systems

If you want to access the data from an external database management system, you can use Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers. For example, if you have a program that accesses data in a SQL database, ODBC will let you use the same program to access data in a Visual FoxPro database.

Before you use ODBC for accessing data from a specific database management system, you must create an ODBC connection.

To add a new ODBC connection:

1. Click ODBC Settings in the Services group.
2. Click Add New ODBC DSN.
3. Specify the ODBC connection name and description.
4. Select a required driver in the Driver field.
5. Click OK.
6. Choose the appropriate options on the driver configuration screen. Typically, you should specify the path to the database, user credentials and other connection options. Note that the actual options are dependant on the driver.
7. Click Test to test the connection you created. Click Finish to complete the creation.

To change settings of existing ODBC connection:

1. Click ODBC Settings in the Services group.
2. Click the required connection name in the list
3. Change the settings as necessary
4. Click Test to test the connection. Click Finish to save changes.

To remove redundant ODBC connection:

1. Click ODBC Settings in the Services group.
2. Select the checkbox corresponding to a connection you want to remove.
3. Click Remove Selected, confirm the removal and click OK.