User`s guide

Once an ODBC driver is registered, you need to establish an ODBC data source using that driver. The
ODBC data source is the object that you connect to when accessing data from Crystal Reports through
ODBC. Data sources are recorded in the Odbc.ini file. The data source keeps track of the DBMS
translation files (ODBC drivers) and, sometimes, the database itself. An ODBC data source can specify
just a database format, such as Oracle, Sybase SQL, or MS SQL Server. Some users, however, prefer
to actually specify a particular database. In this case, the ODBC data source extends across both the
DBMS translation layer, and the database layer.
If you are using a client/server database, such as an SQL server, the ODBC drivers communicate with
the database server through the Database Communication layer, the same layer that your database
client uses to communicate with the database server.
Note:
ODBC drivers find their specific DBMS client files on the local machine mainly through key directories
that the DBMS client has installed in the search path. The important thing to remember is that a
workstation client on a local PC must be able to connect to its server successfully. If you are not sure
how to verify this, contact your IT manager.
For Crystal Reports and the ODBC drivers, it does not matter what kind of platform your database
server exists on. It is the DBMS client that connects and communicates with the server; Crystal Reports
and the drivers need only communicate with the DBMS client. For more information, see Using SQL
and SQL databases.
A.3.3.5 Database layer
The database file which the ODBC data source refers to can be located anywhere on a system. Once
the ODBC data source is set up, Crystal Reports does not need to know the actual location and format
of the data. Thus, the database can have any format and can be located anywhere on a network, as
long as ODBC can communicate with it through the ODBC data source.
A.3.4 Installing database clients
Ideally, your database client should be installed and configured before you install Crystal Reports. If,
however, you've installed Crystal Reports first, you can ensure the proper configuration of the Crystal
Reports ODBC Data Source Name (DSN) by following this procedure.
A.3.5 To ensure correct ODBC DSN configuration
2012-03-14659
Accessing Data Sources