Link to a sybase database: do I need special files?

[Weebairnes]

I use Access all the time and don't know anything about Sybase. Would someone be so kind as to tell me how to link to Sybase tables? If I don't have Sybase installed, am I missing the necessary files to create an ODBC link?

History:
I was working at a site where Sybase was installed, and I stumbled around blindly and was able to eventually connect to the tables by the following.

1) From access, selected link tables
2) when given dialogue box for file name and path I chose file type : odbc
3) Select Data source displayed allowing me to select a file data source or machine data source.
4) sorry I don't recall the rest.

Now I'm working at a place where Sybase is not installed, thus no drivers or other ancillary files.

I have the Sybase file, but how can I link to the tables? Do I need to download drivers or dlls or what?

Thanks a milllion

 

[willir]

Weebairnes

Sybase is a database engine, usually used as a backend database. Well done on connecting to the database using ODBC.

However, you can not use ODBC from the client unless the Sybase engine is running. Typically, Sybase would run from a server, and then you would use ODBC to connect to the database from your workstation. This is a client / server application.

Is your Sybase file loaded and running with Sybase engine on a server?

Unless you can get the Sybase database engine running, this will be a tough task. If you can get it working, then you can use your previous method of using ODBC. Usually, the ODBC drivers will be installed on the server in their own directory, or are including in the application install CD. If not, you should be able to get it from the vender.

Richard

 

[Weebairnes]

thanks for your help, Richard.

When I connected before, I believe it was the client server set up you mentioned, where sybase was running.

Now, the Sybase file is not loaded and is not running with Sybase engine on a server. All I have is the file sitting in a folder. Is this now impossible? Can Access bring it to life to get data out? (sounds like a commercial break - Will our hero succeed?)

john

 

[oisnds]

You need two things to connect.
1) The Sybase Open Client configured for your database.
2) The Sybase ODBC driver.

Once you get the client to connect to the database and the driver loaded you will need to create the ODBC DataSource entry. Then you should be able to link from Access.

Hope this helps.