FP2003: Creating a custom connection for a data view

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sergio Otoya
  • Start date Start date
S

Sergio Otoya

Hi all,

Is it possible to create a custom connection string to an ODBC data
source using front Page 2003 for a dataview (catalog) web part in a
WSS site?

I have created a data connection in Vs.NET and then copied the
connection string to the custom connection string box. However, when I
click next in the wizard, FP shows an error message saying that it
cannot retrieve the database list from the server.

I can create connections to SQL server, but even connecting to an MS
access database is a bit of a challenge right now. I get the same
error message.

If any one has done the ODBC custom string or the Access one please
provide an example or pointers to get it working. I may be missing
something very simple.

Thanks in advance.


Sergio
 
-----Original Message-----
Hi all,
Howdy.

Is it possible to create a custom connection string to an
ODBC data source using front Page 2003 for a dataview
(catalog) web part in a WSS site?

I have created a data connection in Vs.NET and then
copied the connection string to the custom connection
string box. However, when I click next in the wizard, FP
shows an error message saying that it cannot retrieve the
database list from the server.

I can create connections to SQL server, but even
connecting to an MS access database is a bit of a
challenge right now. I get the same error message.

If any one has done the ODBC custom string or the Access
one please provide an example or pointers to get it
working. I may be missing something very simple.
Click to expand...

WSS tables and views reside in an MSDE or SQL Server
database, and you can certainly set up ODBC connections to
such a database.

The structure of the tables within that database, however,
is pretty convoluted. There's not a "nice" SQL Server
table for each list in a Team Web Site, for example.

Because of this, I would probably set up a new, non-WSS
database that contains my data in the structure I want,
and then individually point WSS and other Web apps at that
database.

Unfortunately, this isn't a nice, easy, 5-step, point and
shoot solution. The quick and easy solution is to do
everything in WSS.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------
 
James,

Thanks for the response. However, my issue is that i need to connect
to an external data source such as Remedy (through their ODBC
drivers), it has its own database which is stored in ORACLE.

I can connect to external SQL server databases through frontpage
catalogs, but not to any other type of data source including access
and odbc.

I wonder if anyone has tried this.

Thanks again,

Sergio
Winapp
Australia.
 
Now I get it. If anything works, it'll probably be this:

1. Open the WSS site in FrontPage, and open a page.
2. Display the Data Source Catalog taskpane.
3. Scroll down to Database Conenctions, then click Add To Catalog.
4. Click the Configure Database Connection button.
5. Click Use Custom Connection String, then click Edit.
6. Enter the OLE DB connection string for your database, then click OK
and Next.
7. Select the database and the table, view, or stored procedure you want,
then click Finish.
8. Click the General tab of the Data Source Properties dialog box,
enter a name, and click OK.
9. Use the resulting database connection as you would any other.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------
 
Jim is correct, as long as you have enabled passthrough queries on the
server.

Notice: Connection to databases uses the OLEDB adapter, and should allow you
to connect to any OLEDB enables database (including SQL, ORACLE, DB2)
 
Hi John and James,
I am puzzled as to what is happening. Thanks for your assistance so
far.

I assume John that you are referring to the data retrieval option in
WSS admin right?. I have enabled both data retrieval and update
support. (I hope that was it).

Also, i am attempting to create a simple catalog over an access
database but I am getting the same error (ie cannot get the list of
databases).

I am using the following custom connection string:

Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data
Source=C:\Database\Northwind.mdb;Persist Security Info=False;Jet
OLEDB:Global Partial Bulk Ops=1;User ID=Admin;password=

I have tested this from VB6, creating a recordset and connection to
ensure that the connection can be established, and that works. that
means, that this is a valid OLEDB string. However it is still not
working in FP2003 when I create a database connection.

This is driving me crazy. I may be missing something very simple.

(Once I get this running i then need to get it working with an ODBC
source to Remedy!).

PS: I am following James' instructions already. except that after step
6, I can't get the list of tables in the database.

Sergio
Winapp
Australia.
 
The immediate thing that comes to mind is that the path to the data base and
the authentication will be coming from the Server. Does your VB6
application run on the server? Is the database on the C:\ of the server?
 
John,

Yes, the database is in the c:\database directory in the server and I
have given full permissions to everyone just in case to get it
working. Have you done this successfully?. Do you not get an error
message?.

Thanks

Sergio
Winapp
 
Access databases have only one database, named "root". If
you select that database in the Configure Database Connection
dialog box (step 7) you should get a list of tables.

If not, then you may have specified an incorrect path,
or the WSS site my be executing with a username that doesn't
have access to the database.

Jim Buyens
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
http://www.interlacken.com
Author of:
*----------------------------------------------------
|\---------------------------------------------------
|| Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Inside Out
||---------------------------------------------------
|| Web Database Development Step by Step .NET Edition
|| Microsoft FrontPage Version 2002 Inside Out
|| Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
|| (All from Microsoft Press)
|/---------------------------------------------------
*----------------------------------------------------
 

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