Making an ODBC connection from Access to Interbase tables?

[geralf]

Hi

I'm trying to access data from an Interbase database (.gdb file)from MS Access XP. I've downloaded the InterBase, and ibstalled the package (Tial version till this works!). I can add the Intebase ODBC connection driver to ODBC datasources, but don't know what to insert into each configuration field. I'm new to this, and I don't find the brief Help very helpful.

I would be very grateful for any information regarding this.

Thanks in advance.

Regards
GerhardA

 

[psemianonymous]

There are a few ways to use the ODBC driver:

1. Go to File->Get External Data->Link Tables, and go down to "files of type: ODBC Databases". You can thus link to VIEWs and TABLEs this way. This is not the most efficient method for manipulating data, so we move on to:

2. Go to Queries. Select "New", go to the query design view, and from there (don't add any "tables&quot go to the Query menu item: Query->SQL Specific->Pass-through. Using this "passthrough" query allows you to run (any) SQL on the Interbase server. You will have to specifically select the Interbase ODBC driver, as theoretically, your single Access frontend could be dealing with any number of backends, be they Oracle or Interbase or whatever.

3. The last option: ADODB.Recordsets and ADODB.Connections - this is no different from using these objects in any other programming environment like VB6. You can connect to the Interbase server via ODBC, and then execute SQL statements over that connection.

 

[geralf]

foolio, thank you very much for your thourough answer. I downloaded Borland InterBase 7.1 as a trial version , and got stuck when I tried to add the ODBC driver. I don't know how to configure the connection (DNS, UserName, Password etc.) As already said - the helpfile is very poor. It's much better with 'real examples'. Aldo, I have a sample of an Interbase (*.gdb file), does the username, password apply to the db or something else? How would I extract data from the db when I don't know the table names? (I only have some experience using 'Access SQL'). I know I'm asking a lot here, but I would really appreciate your or someones help on this.

Thanks in advance

Regards
GerhardA

 

[psemianonymous]

Sorry, I have no direct knowledge of Interbase. All my knowledge is more on the meta-level--not directly related to fixing your problem. If anyone has a better answer, please do chime in. I'm clueless.


Pete

 

[blom0344]

Gerhard,

We experimented a lot with accessing Interbase last year.
Do you still need a hand?
If so, drop me an email and we can communicate directly on this.....

T. Blom
Information analyst
tbl@shimano-eu.com