Creating a Data Source Name

When connecting to your data store using a DSN, you only need to configure the odbc.ini file. Set the properties in the odbc.ini file to create a DSN that specifies the connection information for your data store. For information about configuring a DSN-less connection instead, see Configuring a DSN-less Connection.

If your machine is already configured to use an existing odbc.ini file, then update that file by adding the settings described below. Otherwise, copy the odbc.ini file from the Setup subfolder in the connector installation directory to the home directory, and then update the file as described below.

To create a Data Source Name:

1. In a text editor, open the odbc.ini configuration file.

Note:

If you are using a hidden copy of the odbc.ini file, you can remove the period (.) from the start of the file name to make the file visible while you are editing it.

2. In the [ODBC Data Sources] section, add a new entry by typing a name for the DSN, an equal sign (=), and then the name of the connector.

For example, on a macOS machine:

[ODBC Data Sources]

Sample DSN=Simba Salesforce ODBC Connector

For example, for a 32-bit connector on a Linux machine:

[ODBC Data Sources]

Sample DSN=Simba Salesforce ODBC Connector 32-bit

3. Create a section that has the same name as your DSN, and then specify configuration options as key-value pairs in the section:
   1. Set the Driver property to the full path of the connector library file that matches the bitness of the application.

   For example, on a macOS machine:

   Driver=/Library/simba/salesforceodbc/lib/libsfodbc_sbu.dylib

   For example, for a 32-bit connector on a Linux machine:

   Driver=/opt/simba/salesforceodbc/lib/32/libsfodbc_sb32.so

   2. If authentication is required to access the server, then specify the authentication mechanism and your credentials. For more information, see Configuring Authentication.
   Important:

   Important:

   If the connection fails when you test it, then you might need to provide a security token for authentication. To obtain a security token, follow the instructions in the Salesforce documentation located at https://help.salesforce.com/apex/HTViewHelpDoc?id=user_security_token.htm.

   In the odbc.ini file, in the section corresponding to your DSN, set the SecurityToken property to the security token that you obtained.

   3. Optionally, set additional key-value pairs as needed to specify other optional connection settings. For detailed information about all the configuration options supported by the Simba Salesforce ODBC Connector, see Driver Configuration Options on page 1.
4. Save the odbc.ini configuration file.

Note:

If you are storing this file in its default location in the home directory, then prefix the file name with a period (.) so that the file becomes hidden. If you are storing this file in another location, then save it as a non-hidden file (without the prefix), and make sure that the ODBCINI environment variable specifies the location. For more information, see Specifying the Locations of the Connector Configuration Files.

For example, the following is an odbc.ini configuration file for macOS containing a DSN that connects to Salesforce:

For example, the following is an odbc.ini configuration file for a 32-bit connector on a Linux machine, containing a DSN that connects to Salesforce:

You can now use the DSN in an application to connect to the data store.

Related topics

• Configuring a DSN-less Connection
• Configuring Logging Options
• Testing the Connection
• Configuring the Driver on page 1
• Driver Configuration Options on page 1
• Specifying the Locations of the Connector Configuration Files