Okay so this is a new area for me.

Is there a kind soul out there who would be prepared to indicate the steps required to get a connection from Access to an sql database such that sql tables become visible to Access

Thanks

Len

Len, The way I do this is to use the ODBC administrator application. Can you see if you have this?

Ken

Thanks

Looked for "ODBC administrator application" but nothing so far. Have been looking in Access help and also exploring all the toolbars and their options

Am I looking for an .exe somewhere ?. It si an extra not normally loaded with standard Office install ?.

Thanks for you time

Len

Skip ODBC.
Open access and create an Access Project. If the database is already created, then create an Access Project Using Existing Data other wise, just make a new Access Project Using New Data.

Follow the onscreen prompts for the SQL server infomation and bam..you're done.

Thanks guys We're in business

Len

I installed MySQL, but when I try to create a project, the server drop down box is empty, and that's as far as i get.

Any suggestions??

Dave

We're using MSSQL, not MySQL..
If you want to work with MySQL, then you'll need the MySQL drivers (MyODBC)
http://www.mysql.com/products/connector/odbc/
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/odbc-connector.html

Im not guaranteeing that it will work with access, but if you set it up as an ODBC connection, then it should be ok.

MyODBC connector is ok. it was what i started with when i came to access because i wanted to store map data. It will work with ms access but its very limited like access itself. Can i send u a copy? The link below my help you a great deal
http://www.washington.edu/computing/web/publishing/mysql-access-3.5.html