You are here: Chapter 7: Configuration and Administration > Address Book Administration > Populating the Address Book > Naming the Data Source

Naming the Data Source

Data sources must be named before FootPrints can link to them.  On Windows, ODBC data sources are configured by selecting Data Sources from the Windows Administrative Tools, which opens the ODBC Data Source Administrator.  Your System Administrator can help you with this task if necessary.  You must have the proper ODBC drivers installed on your system. FootPrints currently supports Access, MS SQL Server, MySQL, and Oracle.

  1. Select System DSN, which allows the data source to be visible to all the system users, including FootPrints.
  2. Select Add.  A list of available drivers pops up.  
  3. Select the driver that corresponds to the correct data source.
  4. Select Finish.
  5. In the next pop-up, enter a descriptive name under Data Source Name.
  6. Depending on the type of data source you selected, select the location of the database.
  7. Configure any necessary security options, including specifying the name and password that FootPrints will use to access the data source.

Special Notes for Access Users

  1. Open Access.
  2. Select Tools/Options. The View tab should be in the front.
  3. Near the top under the section called Show, check the System objects checkbox.
  4. Open the database file using Access.
  5. Select Tools/Security/User and Group Permissions. Make sure that the user with which you log into the database is highlighted (by default this is Admin).
  6. Highlight the MSysObjects database located on the right side (if you don't see it, you probably didn't do Step 1 correctly)
  7. Check the box for Read Data.  Read Design is checked automatically as well.
  8. Press the Apply button.  The setup should work correctly.

Note

FootPrints supports linking to table queries for Access and table views for other databases that have this feature.  Your database administrator can help you determine how your external databases are configured.