Data Source Name Component Type

A component of this component type represents ODBC settings for connecting to a database. You can modify these settings through the Data Source Administrator control panel on the system. The actual settings are stored in specific places in the registry. As a result, the Data Source Name (DSN) resource type is built on top of the Registry Keys resource type. The DSN installation, export, and uninstallation functions directly use the facilities provided by the Registry Key resource handler. The DSN browser mimics the Registry browser to provide an experience closer to the “Data Source Administrator” control panel.

Browsing for a DSN File

When you browse for a DSN component, the browser provides a list of DSN files from the main registry roots on the target system. The DSN roots include User and System. DSN files are displayed in alphabetical order.

You can select an individual DSN file for check in. Double-click on the System and User roots to list the contained DSN entries.

Exported/Internal File Format

On export, the browser exports the key that contains all the DSN settings, as well as the value of the same name in the “ODBC Data Sources” key at the same level in the registry hierarchy.

Uninstalling a DSN File

The DSN uninstallation is based on the registry uninstallation, with the caveat that the path being deleted is the key that contains the DSN settings but not the key that the DSN user interface uses to display the available DSN settings. Special logic exists to delete this key as well. The semantics of this process differ slightly from the registry uninstallation semantics, although both processes use the same executor.

Error Conditions

The DSN system component directly calls the Install method of the registry system component. See Registry Keys Component TypeRegistry Keys Component Type for further information on implementation and possible errors.