Connecting to an Access database

To connect to a Microsoft Access database:

  1. Select File > New to display the Provider page of the Data Link Properties dialog.
  2. Select Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider from the list of OLE DB Providers and click Next.
  3. Enter the location and name of your Access database.
  4. Optional: Test you connection to the database by entering credentials and clicking Test Connection.
    Note: If you do not wish the analysts to be prompted for a user name and password, turn on Allow saving password. However this has security implications because the user name and password are saved in the configuration file. When this check box is turned off, you will also be prompted for a user name and password so you may want to work with the check box turned on and then turn it off before releasing the configuration file to the analysts.

    The user name you use when defining the configuration must have the same access rights as the user name the analysts use when opening the configuration file in the Analyst's Notebook. This will ensure that you see exactly the same tables and fields as the analysts.

  5. If you have a database password for your Microsoft Access database, you can specify the password during connection. To do this:
    1. Click on the All tab to display the property values.
    2. Select Jet OLEDB: Database Password from the list of properties and click Edit Value.
    3. Enter the database password in the Property Value box and click OK.
    4. Click on the Connection tab to move back to the Connection page.
  6. Optional: If you have a secure Access database, you must specify your MS Access workgroup file. To specify your MS Access workgroup file:
    1. Click on the All tab to display the property values.
    2. Select Jet OLEDB:System database from the list of properties and click Edit Value.
    3. Enter the full path of your MS Access workgroup file (.mda or .mdw) in the Property Value box and click OK.
    4. Click on the Connection tab to move back to the Connection page.
  7. Optional: If you have entered a user name and password in this dialog, you can test the connection by clicking Test Connection.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Enter a location and name for the configuration file when the New Configuration File dialog appears and click Save.
  10. If you have not turned on Allow saving password, you will be prompted for your user name and password. Enter these. If there is a database password set up, you should also enter this here. Click OK.

Once you have set up your initial connection, iBridge Designer also allows you to define a parameterized connection using the Edit Connection command on the Tools menu.

If you encounter any problems connecting to your Access database, contact your System Administrator.