After an ODBC data source has been defined, you can connect to Microsoft® SQL Server™ from ODBC applications using the data source. Some ODBC applications are written to connect through data sources and typically open a dialog box or accept a parameter for the ODBC data source with which you want to connect. Other ODBC applications are written to connect without a data source. These applications can display their own dialog box to get the information needed to connect, or they can have the ODBC driver display its dialog box to get the connection information. SQL Server Query Analyzer is an example of an ODBC application that does not use a data source; Microsoft Excel is an example of an ODBC application that does use a data source.