Rule of Thumb

You need to set up ODBC data source to do any serious number crunching, so here it is.

You can set up data source either directly from Microsoft Excel or through ODBC Data Source Administrator. Eventually you will reach the same dialog boxes, so I’ll explain the later approach. It is more intuitive to administrate data sources from there.

To open the ODBC Data Source Administrator in Windows XP Professional:

1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel (Category View), click Performance and Maintenance, and then click Administrative Tools, or in Control Panel (Classic View), click Administrative Tools.
3. In Administrative Tools, click Data Sources (ODBC).

1. You can either create User DSN, System DSN or File DSN. System DSN can be used by anyone who has access to the system. System DSN info is stored in the registry. User DSN can only be used by you. It is also stored in the registry. File DSN is stored in a text file with .dsn extension and can be copied around. Choose appropriate pane, depending on your requirements or go with User DSN if you’re not sure.
2. Select Microsoft Access Database and click Add.

1. Select Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) and click Finish.
2. Click Select and browse for your Microsoft Access Database (*.mdb) file.
3. Name the newly created data source in Data Source Name

1. Click OK.

1. Newly created data source is now available in the ODBC Data Source Administrator.