ACC: SQL Data Sources Dialog Box Lists No Servers

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

When you are trying to attach, import from, or export to a Microsoft SQL Server table, the SQL Data Sources dialog box is displayed, but no data sources (SQL Server computers) are listed.

CAUSE

The following are the most likely causes:

• You did not use the Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Administration application to set up connections to SQL Server machines.
• The [ODBC Data Sources] section of your ODBC.INI file is missing or blank, or you have multiple copies of the ODBC.INI file and Microsoft Access is using a file in which the [ODBC Data Sources] section is missing.

RESOLUTION

Verify that you have a single copy of the ODBC.INI file on your computer, located in your Windows directory. Also, make sure there is an [ODBC Data Sources] section in your ODBC.INI file containing correct entries for the SQL Server computers you want to use.

MORE INFORMATION

To correct the problem, rename your ODBC.INI file and use the ODBC Administration application to complete the following tasks:

• Connect to the SQL Server computers you want to use.
• Create a new ODBC.INI file.

   [ODBC Data Sources]
   MYSERVER=SQL Server
   YOURSRVR=SQL Server

   [MYSERVER]
   Driver=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SQLSRVR.DLL
   Description=SQL Server on server MYSERVER
   OemToAnsi=No
   Network=dbnmp3
   Address=\\MYSERVER\PIPE\SQL\QUERY

   [YOURSRVR]
   Driver=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SQLSRVR.DLL
   Description=SQL Server on server YOURSRVR
   OemToAnsi=No
   Network=dbnmp3
   Address=\\YOURSRVR\PIPE\SQL\QUERY