Connect Property

Applies To

Connection object, Database object, QueryDef object, TableDef object.

Description

Sets or returns a value that provides information about the source of an open connection, an open database, a database used in a pass-through query, or a linked table. For Database objects, new Connection objects, linked tables, and TableDef objects not yet appended to a collection, this property setting is read/write. For QueryDef objects and base tables, this property is read-only.

Syntax

object.Connect = databasetype;parameters;

The Connect property syntax has these parts.

Part

Description

object

An object expression that evaluates to an object in the Applies To list.

databasetype

Optional. A String that specifies a database type. For Microsoft Jet databases, exclude this argument; if you specify parameters, use a semicolon (;) as a placeholder.

parameters

Optional. A String that specifies additional parameters to pass to ODBC or installable ISAM drivers. Use semicolons to separate parameters.


Settings

The Connect property setting is a String composed of a database type specifier and zero or more parameters separated by semicolons. The Connect property passes additional information to ODBC and certain ISAM drivers as needed.

To perform an SQL pass-through query on a table linked to your Microsoft Jet database (.mdb) file, you must first set the Connect property of the linked table's database to a valid ODBC connection string.

For a TableDef object that represents a linked table, the Connect property setting consists of one or two parts (a database type specifier and a path to the database), each of which ends with a semicolon.

The path as shown in the following table is the full path for the directory containing the database files and must be preceded by the identifier DATABASE=. In some cases (as with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Jet databases), you should include a specific file name in the database path argument.

The following table shows possible database types and their corresponding database specifiers and paths for the Connect property setting. You can also specify "FTP://path/etc." or "HTTP://path/etc." for the path. In an ODBCDirect workspace, only the "ODBC" specifier can be used.

Database type

Specifier

Example

Microsoft Jet Database

[database];

drive:\path\filename.mdb

dBASE III

dBASE III;

drive:\path

dBASE IV

dBASE IV;

drive:\path

dBASE 5

dBASE 5.0;

drive:\path

Paradox 3.x

Paradox 3.x;

drive:\path

Paradox 4.x

Paradox 4.x;

drive:\path

Paradox 5.x

Paradox 5.x;

drive:\path

FoxPro 2.0

FoxPro 2.0;

drive:\path

FoxPro 2.5

FoxPro 2.5;

drive:\path

FoxPro 2.6

FoxPro 2.6;

drive:\path

Excel 3.0

Excel 3.0;

drive:\path\filename.xls

Excel 4.0

Excel 4.0;

drive:\path\filename.xls

Excel 5.0 or Excel 95

Excel 5.0;

drive:\path\filename.xls

Excel 97

Excel 97;

drive:\path\filename.xls

HTML Import

HTML Import;

drive:\path\filename

HTML Export

HTML Export;

drive:\path

Text

Text;

drive:\path


(continued)

ODBC

ODBC;
DATABASE=database;
UID=user;
PWD=password;
DSN= datasourcename;
[LOGINTIMEOUT=seconds;]

None

Exchange

Exchange;
MAPILEVEL=folderpath; [TABLETYPE={ 0 | 1 }];[PROFILE=profile;]
[PWD=password;]
[DATABASE=database;]

drive:\path\filename.mdb


Remarks

If the specifier is only "ODBC;", the ODBC driver displays a dialog box listing all registered ODBC data source names so that the user can select a database.

If a password is required but not provided in the Connect property setting, a login dialog box is displayed the first time a table is accessed by the ODBC driver and again if the connection is closed and reopened.

For data in Microsoft Exchange, the required MAPILEVEL key should be set to a fully-resolved folder path (for example, "Mailbox - Pat SmithIAlpha/Today"). The path does not include the name of the folder that will be opened as a table; that folder's name should instead be specified as the name argument to the CreateTable method. The TABLETYPE key should be set to "0" to open a folder (default) or "1" to open an address book. The PROFILE key defaults to the profile currently in use.

For base tables in a Microsoft Jet database (.mdb), the Connect property setting is a zero-length string (" ").

You can set the Connect property for a Database object by providing a source argument to the OpenDatabase method. You can check the setting to determine the type, path, user ID, password, or ODBC data source of the database.

On a QueryDef object in a Microsoft Jet workspace, you can use the Connect property with the ReturnsRecords property to create an ODBC SQL pass-through query. The databasetype of the connection string is "ODBC;", and the remainder of the string contains information specific to the ODBC driver used to access the remote data. For more information, see the documentation for the specific driver.

Notes

  • You must set the Connect property before you set the ReturnsRecords property.
  • You must have access permissions to the computer that contains the database server you're trying to access.
See Also

OpenDatabase method, ReturnsRecords property.

Example

This example uses the Connect and SourceTableName properties to link various external tables to a Microsoft Jet database. The ConnectOutput procedure is required for this procedure to run.

Sub ConnectX()

    Dim dbsTemp As Database
    Dim strMenu As String
    Dim strInput As String

    ' Open a Microsoft Jet database to which you will link
    ' a table.
    Set dbsTemp = OpenDatabase("DB1.mdb")

    ' Build menu text.
    strMenu = "Enter number for data source:" & vbCr
    strMenu = strMenu & _
        "   1. Microsoft Jet database" & vbCr
    strMenu = strMenu & _
        "   2. Microsoft FoxPro 3.0 table" & vbCr
    strMenu = strMenu & _
        "   3. dBASE table" & vbCr
    strMenu = strMenu & _
        "   4. Paradox table" & vbCr
    strMenu = strMenu & _
        "   M. (see choices 5-9)"

    ' Get user's choice.
    strInput = InputBox(strMenu)

    If UCase(strInput) = "M" Then

        ' Build menu text.
        strMenu = "Enter number for data source:" & vbCr
        strMenu = strMenu & _
            "   5. Microsoft Excel spreadsheet" & vbCr
        strMenu = strMenu & _
            "   6. Lotus spreadsheet" & vbCr
        strMenu = strMenu & _
            "   7. Comma-delimited text (CSV)" & vbCr
        strMenu = strMenu & _
            "   8. HTML table" & vbCr
        strMenu = strMenu & _
            "   9. Microsoft Exchange folder"

        ' Get user's choice.
        strInput = InputBox(strMenu)

    End If
    ' Call the ConnectOutput procedure. The third argument
    ' will be used as the Connect string, and the fourth
    ' argument will be used as the SourceTableName.
    Select Case Val(strInput)
        Case 1
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "JetTable", _
                ";DATABASE=C:\My Documents\Northwind.mdb", _
                "Employees"
        Case 2
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "FoxProTable", _
                "FoxPro 3.0;DATABASE=C:\FoxPro30\Samples", _
                "Q1Sales"
        Case 3
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "dBASETable", _
                "dBase IV;DATABASE=C:\dBASE\Samples", _
                "Accounts"
        Case 4
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "ParadoxTable", _
                "Paradox 3.X;DATABASE=C:\Paradox\Samples", _
                "Accounts"
        Case 5
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "ExcelTable", _
                "Excel 5.0;" & _
                    "DATABASE=C:\Excel\Samples\Q1Sales.xls", _
                "January Sales"
        Case 6
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "LotusTable", _
                "Lotus WK3;" & _
                    "DATABASE=C:\Lotus\Samples\Sales.xls", _
                "THIRDQTR"
        Case 7
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "CSVTable", _
                "Text;DATABASE=C:\Samples", _
                "Sample.txt"
        Case 8
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "HTMLTable", _
                "HTML Import;DATABASE=http://" & _
                    "www.server1.com/samples/page1.html", _
                "Q1SalesData"
        Case 9
            ConnectOutput dbsTemp, _
                "ExchangeTable", _
                "Exchange 4.0;MAPILEVEL=" & _
                    "Mailbox - Michelle Wortman (Exchange)" & _
                    "|People\Important;", _
                "Jerry Wheeler"
    End Select

    dbsTemp.Close

End Sub

Sub ConnectOutput(dbsTemp As Database, _
    strTable As String, strConnect As String, _
    strSourceTable As String)

    Dim tdfLinked As TableDef
    Dim rstLinked As Recordset
    Dim intTemp As Integer

    ' Create a new TableDef, set its Connect and
    ' SourceTableName properties based on the passed
    ' arguments, and append it to the TableDefs collection.
    Set tdfLinked = dbsTemp.CreateTableDef(strTable)

    tdfLinked.Connect = strConnect
    tdfLinked.SourceTableName = strSourceTable
    dbsTemp.TableDefs.Append tdfLinked

    Set rstLinked = dbsTemp.OpenRecordset(strTable)

    Debug.Print "Data from linked table:"

    ' Display the first three records of the linked table.
    intTemp = 1
    With rstLinked
        Do While Not .EOF And intTemp <= 3
            Debug.Print , .Fields(0), .Fields(1)
            intTemp = intTemp + 1
            .MoveNext
        Loop
        If Not .EOF Then Debug.Print , "[additional records]"
        .Close
    End With

    ' Delete the linked table because this is a demonstration.
    dbsTemp.TableDefs.Delete strTable

End Sub
Example (Microsoft Access)

The following example creates a TableDef object in the specified database. The procedure then sets its Connect and SourceTableName properties and appends the object to the TableDefs collection.

Sub ConnectSource()
    Dim dbs As Database, tdf As TableDef

    ' Return reference to current database.
    Set dbs = CurrentDb
    ' Create new TableDef object.
    Set tdf = dbs.CreateTableDef("PDXAuthor")
    ' Attach Paradox table Author in database C:\PDX\Publish.
    tdf.Connect = "Paradox 4.X;Database=C:\PDX\Publish"
    tdf.SourceTableName = "Author"
    dbs.TableDefs.Append tdf
    Set dbs = Nothing
End Sub
Example (Microsoft Excel)

This example attaches the table Product.dbf (a dBASE IV table located in the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSquery folder) to the Nwindex.mdb database. (In Windows NT, Product.dbf is located in the C:\Windows\Msapps\Msquery folder.)

To create the Nwindex.mdb database, run the Microsoft Excel example for the CreateDatabase method.

Dim nWindEx As Database, tDef As TableDef
Dim dataSource As String
dataSource = _
    "dBASE IV;DATABASE=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft _
        Shared\MSquery"
Set nWindEx = Workspaces(0).OpenDatabase(Application.Path _
    & "\NWINDEX.MDB")
Set tDef = nWindEx.CreateTableDef("Product")
tDef.Connect = dataSource
tDef.SourceTableName = "Product"
nWindEx.TableDefs.Append tDef
nWindEx.Close