Define a Data Source

A Data Source is a named object that contains criteria that ODBC requires to connect to the Archive ODBC driver and locate an Archive File.

Note: Before you can define an ODBC Data Source, you must install ODBC Application Programming Interface (API) software on your workstation, and enable the ODBC Optim Archive File Driver (see the Installation and Configuration Guide for details). This driver is not available for a Linux or UNIX environment.

To create a Data Source for accessing an Archive File, open the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog. The method you use to open this dialog varies according to the version of Windows on your workstation. For Windows 2000, click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC).

ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog (in Microsoft Windows) with Drivers as the active tab. The Optim Archive File Driver is available.

Select the Drivers tab on the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog to confirm that the Optim Archive File Driver is available.

Next, click the User DSN or System DSN tab to create a Data Source. (A User Data Source can only be used by the specific user, on the current machine; a System Data Source can be shared. Refer to Windows Help for further information on each type.)

ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog (in Microsoft Windows) with User DSN as the active tab

Click Add on the selected tab to display the Create New Data Source dialog.

Create New Data Source dialog

Create New Data Source dialog (in Microsoft Windows). The Optim Archive File Driver is selected.

Select the Optim Archive File Driver and click Finish to display the ODBC Source Data Default Specification dialog.

ODBC Source Data Default Specification dialog

Use the ODBC Source Data Default Specification dialog to define specifications for the ODBC Data Source.

ODBC Source Data Default Specification dialog (in Microsoft Windows)

You can enter values to select a single Archive File, or enter wildcard patterns so that a set of Archive Files are referenced. Use the % (percent) symbol to represent any number of characters, or the _ (underscore) to represent a single character. A wildcard pattern must match the naming convention appropriate for the object referenced by the value (for example, %.% for the two-part Archive File name).

The processing protocol for merging parameters in a file or passed on the ODBC connection call with those in the Data Source is: Parameter file specifications override connection call parameters, which override Data Source specifications.

Processing cannot proceed until a single Archive File is selected. If the parameters identify a single Archive File, processing proceeds. If more than one Archive File meets the criteria, you are prompted to select the Archive File to be processed. If the connection call does not permit prompting, the process terminates.

Enter specific or generic criteria on the ODBC Source Data Default Specification dialog to define a Data Source, as follows:

Data Source Name
Enter a 1-32 character name for the Data Source.
Description
Enter an optional description of the Data Source (1-255 characters).
Directory Name
Select an entry in the drop-down list, or enter a wildcard pattern. If not overridden, a pattern may cause the Optim™ Directory dialog to open, allowing a user to select from Optim Directories with names that match the pattern.
Archive File Name
Enter an exact file name or a wildcard pattern.
Server Name
Enter an explicit server name or wildcard pattern.
Group
Enter an explicit group or wildcard pattern.
Creator
Enter an explicit creator ID or wildcard pattern.
Parameter File Name
Specify the name of a file used to provide qualifying criteria for selecting an Archive File. If a parameter file is not used, leave this control blank. You cannot specify a wildcard pattern.
Note: If the criteria match more than one Archive File, you may be prompted at run time for additional information, depending on the application connection type (for example, Always Prompt, Never Prompt).