ASP database connections

An ASP application must connect to a database through an open database connectivity (ODBC) driver or an object linking and embedding database (OLE DB) provider. The driver or provider acts as an interpreter that lets the web application communicate with the database. For more information on the role of database drivers, see Communicating with the database. The following table shows some drivers you can use with Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle databases:

You can use a data source name (DSN) or a connection string to connect to the database.

A DSN is a one-word identifier, such as myConnection, that points to the database and contains all the information needed to connect to it. You define a DSN in Windows. You can use a DSN if you’re connecting through an ODBC driver installed on a Windows system. For detailed instructions, see Creating a DSN connection.

A connection string is a hand-coded expression that identifies the database and lists the information needed to connect to it. The following is an example:

Driver={SQL Server};Server=Socrates;Database=AcmeMktg;
UID=wiley;PWD=roadrunner

You must use a connection string if you’re connecting through one of the following:

• An OLE DB provider
• An ODBC driver not installed on a Windows system

For detailed instructions, see the following sections:

• Creating a DSN-less connection
• Connecting to a database on an ISP

  NOTE

  You can also use a connection string if you’re connecting through an ODBC driver installed on a Windows system, but using a DSN is easier.

Related topics

• OLE DB connections