Create Generic ODBC Connections

You can create generic ODBC connections to databases and use the connections to access data sources. For example, to connect to databases and database versions that aren’t listed with the default connection types.

You can only use generic ODBC connections to connect on Windows systems.

1. Confirm that the appropriate database driver is installed on your computer.

   You must have the required database driver installed on your computer to create an ODBC Data Source Name (DSN). If you need to install a database driver, use installation instructions provided by the organization that supplies the database driver.

2. Create the new ODBC data source in Windows.
   1. In Windows, locate and open the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog.
   2. Click the System DSN tab, and then click Add to display the Create New Data Source dialog.
   3. Select the driver appropriate for your data source, and then click Finish.
   4. The remaining configuration steps are specific to the data source you want to configure.

      Refer to the documentation for your data source.

3. Create the generic ODBC data source.
   1. On the Data or Home page, click Create, then click Connection.
   2. In the Create Connection dialog, locate and click the ODBC icon.
   3. Enter the connection criteria. Note the following:
      • Name - Any name that uniquely identifies the connection.
      • DSN - The name of the system DSN that you set up on your computer.
   4. Click Save.
      You can now create datasets from the connection.

If you import a workbook containing an ODBC connection into an Oracle Analytics Desktop installation where the ODBC DSN doesn’t exist, and the ODBC driver isn’t installed, the import still works. However, the connection doesn’t work when you try to run the workbook or Data Flow. You must recreate the ODBC connection, and recreate the ODBC DSN, and ODBC driver to a suitable data source.