Osel - Help with Access

Obviously you will have to have created a database in SQL Server first.

Go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC)

Then on the 'System DSN' tab, click 'Add'

This will take you to the Create New Data Source screen

Select 'SQL Server' from the list

Then click 'Finish' but no, you aren't finished!

You should now see the Create a New Data Source to SQL Server screen

Enter the Name of your Database and give it a Description.

Enter the Server Name.

If the database is on another machine then, on that machine, open SQL Server Manager and get the Server Name from the 'Connect to Server' screen.

If you are running SQL Server Express on this machine then enter the Server as

[Machine Name]\SQLExpress

Once you've entered the Server Name and clicked 'Next' you will find another Create a New Data Source to SQL Server screen

Leave it all as it is. Just click 'Next'

And another Create a New Data Source to SQL Server screen

Check 'Change Default database to:'

and select the name of your database from the list then click 'Next'

Nothing to do in this next screen

Just click 'Next'

Now you will see the ODBC Microsoft SQL Server Setup screen

Click 'Test Data Source' and you should then see -

Click OK all the way out and it's done.

Now you can go into Access and from the Menu select -

File > Get External Data >

Or in Access 2007 go to 'External Data' on the Ribbon

Click 'More' and select 'ODBC Database'