XL: OpenDatabase Method Prompts for User Input

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you run a macro that uses the OpenDatabase method to open a database, you may be prompted for information even though the Source argument includes a complete connection string to the data source you are using.

CAUSE

If either the Exclusive (called to Options in version 97) and Read-only arguments are omitted, and the Source argument is included, you will be prompted for any information needed to connect to a data source. The following example illustrates this behavior.

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Before you run the macro, you must create a reference to the DAO Object Library. To do this, activate a module sheet, click References on the Tools menu and select Microsoft DAO 3.5 Object Library (3.0 Object Library in version 7.0).

Sub OpenDB()
    Dim db As Database

    ' Open a connection to the SQL Server data source called

    Set db = OpenDatabase("", , , "ODBC;DSN=MySQLServer;" _
             & "UID=user1;PWD=pass;DATABASE=Master")
End Sub

RESOLUTION

When you use the Source argument of the OpenDatabase method, specify a value of True or False for both the Exclusive (Options) and Read-only arguments.

The example above would then read as:

Sub OpenDB()
    Dim db As Database

    ' Open a connection to the SQL Server data source called MySQLServer
    Set db = OpenDatabase("",False ,False , "ODBC;DSN=MySQLServer;" _
             & "UID=user1;PWD=pass;DATABASE=Master")
End Sub

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Excel Help for the OpenDatabase method states the following for the Source argument:

   You must supply the exclusive and read-only arguments to supply a
   source string.

REFERENCES

For more information about the OpenDatabase method, click Index tab in Help, type the following text

   OpenDatabase method