ODBC Browser Utility

The ODBC Browser Utility enables you to examine the contents of ODBC compliant databases using ODBC data sources to connect to the databases.

In order to make use of the ODBC Browser utility, it is first necessary to add it to the VAM. It is stored in the VTS installation directory in the ODBCBrowse directory. Instructions on adding existing applications to the VAM can be found in "3: VTS Application Manager (VAM): VTS Application Manager (VAM) Functions: Adding an Existing Application to the VAM: Add an Existing Standard, Layered, or Script Application to the VAM".

Once you have added the ODBC Browser to the VAM, select it and click the Run button. The ODBC Browser opens and will display information similar to the example shown below.

Select an ODBC Data Source

In the upper left-hand corner of the ODBC Browser is a Data Sources drop-down list that enables you to choose from the ODBC data sources on your workstation. The total number of available ODBC data sources is identified above the drop-down list. Each ODBC data source should have one database related to it.

In the event that ODBC data sources have been added, deleted, or modified, the Rescan button that appears above the drop-down list can be clicked to update the Data Sources drop-down list.

For Access database files, the File button can be used to open database file related to the data source selected in the Data Sources drop-down list.

To select view the contents of a database, simply select an ODBC data source from the Data Sources drop-down list. The ODBC Browser will display preliminary information about the database related to the selected ODBC data source.

View the Contents of the Database Related to the Selected ODBC Data Source

Once you have chosen an ODBC data source, the ODBC Browser will indicate the number of tables in the related database. This information is displayed in the "Tables for Data Source" drop-down list. An example is shown below.

You may select any of the tables in the database using the "Tables for Data Source" drop-down list. The fields within the selected table are displayed in the "Fields for Table Name" list, where the name and data type for each field is identified. The records stored in each of the tables are displayed in the "Records For Table Name" list).

To the right of the ODBC Browser utility appears information on the SQL connection string and query string that was used to display the associated data, and an ODBC status report. The status report displays error codes in the event that an error has occurred.

Finally, the fields and corresponding values for each record in the database can be viewed in the "Record X for Table Name" list. This data displayed in this list changes according to the record selected in the "Records For Table Name" list.