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It is the name that applications use to request a connection to an ODBC Data Source. In other words, it is a symbolic name that represents the ODBC connection. It stores the connection details like database name, directory, database driver, UserID, password, etc. when making a connection to the ODBC.
Here are the various types of ODBC Data Source Types: 1. System DSN: This is the DSN used throughout the system, any with proper rights may log in. This DSN must be created on the machine where the program is located. The System DSN are stored in the Windows registry under the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Odbc\Odbc.ini\Odbc Data sources 2. User DSN: This is a DSN created for a specific user. Only the user who created the DSN can see this and use it. Like the System DSN, the information is stored in the Windows registry under the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Odbc\Odbc.ini\Odbc Data sources 3. File DSN: This is a DSN that is stored in a text file with a .DSN extension (not in the Windows registry). To use a File DSN, it must contain the information required to connect to the desired data source. The ODBC driver must be installed locally. The .dsn file is a text file that you can view in any text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad. The File DSNs are stored by default in the following location:Program Files\Common Files\Odbc\Data Sources folder. The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of FRx Software Corporation. FRx Software Corporation makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products or regarding the applicability of any third-party article referenced above.