Data Source Name (DSN) - Page 6

While a custom connection string is a faster connection, it requires us to know some detailed information about the database we are connecting to such as the physical path of the database on the server – this is not always readily available. The next best thing would be to simply create a DSN, which is basically a pointer to a System Data Source you set up in the ODBC manager on the server. Once you set one up on the server, you only need to know the DSN name and the username/password (if any) in order to create the connection. The connection string simply becomes DSN=dsn_name. Dreamweaver MX will generate this string for you as it does custom connection strings.

As you will see, the DSN must be created on the server that actually holds the database. You can create one on your own machine if you are hosting your own site and have access to the Data Sources administration. But if your site is being hosted remotely by a hosting company with which you don't have access to administration you can tell your web host to create the DSN(s) for you if it comes with your web hosting package. However some hosting companies give their users the ability to create their own DSNs through some sort of virtual control panel.

In any case, following these instructions creates a DSN:

·       Open your Data Sources (ODBC) administrator from your Control Panel (see earlier in the chapter for a description of exactly where this is)

·       Click the System DSN tab

·       Click the Add... tab to add a new DSN

·       The Create New Data Source dialog box will now appear, listing all the drivers currently loaded on the system. Select the driver appropriate to your database, for example Microsoft Access Database (*.mdb) for Access, and then click Finish

·       In the final dialog box that now appears, first enter a Data Source Name and Description for the DSN (I chose Webprodmx for my DSN name). Second, click the Select... button and navigate to your chosen database. Click OK, and the new DSN should be added to your System DSN list; it should now be available for use in Dreamweaver MX

Now let's go back into Dreamweaver MX and create a connection using our DSN. Select the Databases tab and click the plus sign (+). Select the Data Source Name (DSN) option and the following dialog box will pop up.

Fill in a name for your connection and select your DSN from the list. If your database is protected with a username and password enter them in the fields; if not, leave them empty (we didn't have to do this when we were using a custom connection string because this information is already provided by the string). Again, it is advised that you test the connection – if it is successful hit OK, and OK out of the Data Source Name (DSN) pop-up.

The connection will then be added to the connections list underneath the Databases tab. You can create connections to different databases for the same site, but one usually suffices since all your data will most likely be stored in one database. Creating a connection to your database is the first thing you need to do when preparing a database-driven web application – until then, none of the other ASP application behaviors will be made available.

Password-Protected Access Database - Page 5
Dynamic Dreamweaver MX
Bindings Page 7