Connecting to a Microsoft Access database with ASP.NET - Connecting to a Microsoft Access database through ODBC using ASP.NET
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I need to warn you before you use this method. Working with ODBC really slows down the performance of your application. In general, ODBC is used to connect to non-Microsoft data sources. In this scenario, I just wanted to show you how to connect through ODBC. For the sake of simplicity, I'm using Microsoft Access 2003 as an example.
Try to create a new web application using Visual Studio.NET (I named mine “ConnectAccessODBC” for this demonstration). Design your web form with the same layout as shown in the first section of this article.
After designing the form, switch to the code and add the following line at the top.
Imports System.Data.Odbc
I am importing the namespace “System.Data.Odbc” because I would like to connect to the Access database using the ODBC provider for .NET. You can connect to any data source supported by ODBC. Add the following code to your “show/refresh” button:
Private Sub btnList_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e
As System.EventArgs) Handles btnList.Click
Dim cn As New OdbcConnection("Driver={Microsoft Access
Driver (*.mdb)};DBQ=c:\AccessDB\MyDB.mdb")
Dim da As New OdbcDataAdapter("select * from emp", cn)
Dim dt As New DataTable
da.Fill(dt)
da.Dispose()
cn.Dispose()
Me.DataGrid1.DataSource = dt
Me.DataGrid1.DataBind()
End Sub
You need to modify the connection string with the proper “database driver” registered in ODBC, according to your data source. Once you complete the above, you execute your application (by pressing F5) and click on the button “Show/Refresh.” You should be able to see all the rows on the screen. Now, let us proceed to the next section.
Next: Manipulating a Microsoft Access database through ODBC using ASP.NET >>
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