Windows 98 From A to Z

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ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)

ODBC (or Open Database Connectivity) is a programming interface standard used for connecting computer applications to a database (such as Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server) that supports the SQL language. The ODBC standard has been around for several years (almost an eternity in the computing world) and is a commonly accepted way to connect applications with databases as diverse as Oracle, Informix, Sybase SQL Server, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft SQL Server.

To configure ODBC in Windows 98, do the following:

1. Click the Start button, click Settings, and then click Control Panel, as shown in Figure O.1.

Figure O.1

2. Double-click on the 32bit ODBC icon in the Control Panel window, shown in Figure O.2.
3. The ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog opens. This dialog box contains the following tabs:

Figure O.2

Figure O.3


NOTE: As explained in the User DSN tab, user data sources store information about how you connect to the indicated data provider. Only you can view your user data sources, and they can be used only on your current machine.

Figure O.4


NOTE: The system data sources work just like user data sources, except that they are visible to all users and services on the PC.


NOTE: Adding and deleting system data sources works much the same as adding and deleting other data sources.


NOTE: To add or remove an ODBC driver, you must use the instructions that came with that driver's installation disk(s).

Figure O.5

Figure O.6

Figure O.7

Figure O.8

4. To add or remove a data source, click the appropriate tab in the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box.

5. Click the data source you want to add or remove to highlight it.

6. Click the Add or Remove button, depending on what action you want to take, and then carefully follow the prompts.
7. Click OK to accept your changes and close the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box.

Online Services

The installation software for five online service providers is provided with the Windows 98 operating system (on the Windows 98 CD-ROM):

All these services can be loaded from the Windows 98 CD, but none are installed by default. To access these services, do the following:

1. Double-click the Online Services folder on the Windows 98 desktop, shown in Figure O.9.

Figure O.9

The Online Services window, shown in Figure O.10, opens.

Figure O.10


NOTE: Microsoft does not put its MSN icon inside the Online Services folder when you install Windows 98. Instead, Microsoft puts "the other guys" in the folder and its own MSN Set Up The Microsoft Network icon directly on the Windows 98 desktop.
2. To install any of these services, double-click the one you want and then follow the prompts.


NOTE: All these online services require fees that can cost about $20-30 per month.
3. Also found in the Online Services folder is a shortcut to a small text file called About The Online Services, which covers some of the basics about these online services. To open this file, double-click it. The file's contents open in Notepad, as shown in Figure O.11.


NOTE: This file contains contact information for these online service providers, including technical support and billing telephone numbers for each service provider listed. Furthermore, basic information about product support and payments, setting up new accounts, and setting up your computer to use an existing account is provided within this text file.

Figure O.11

Online User's Guide

Windows 98 comes with an electronic version of its user manual. This electronic version of the user manual is known as the Online User's Guide (not to be confused with the Online Services discussed in the previous topic). To access this user guide, do the following:

1. Click the Start button and choose Help, as shown in Figure O.12.

Figure O.12

2. The Windows Help screen opens. Click the Getting Started Book: Online Version to reveal the Microsoft Windows 98 Getting Started Book hyperlink, as shown in Figure O.13. Double-click this hyperlink to view the book online.

Figure O.13

3. After this book is open, you are able to quickly jump around between topics without any difficulties. Simply double-click on the topic that interests you, and it opens up automatically.


NOTE: There are three tabs at the top of the window: Contents, Index, and Search. To select a tab, click the tab of your choice and it appears for your use. Entry-level Windows 98 users will probably find the Contents tab most useful; it contains little books on each general topic area (such as Using a Mouse, Internet Basics, and Glossary). Intermediate users (those who are former users of either Windows 95 or Windows NT Workstation), should enjoy the layout of the Index tab. This tab permits you to type the specific topic about which you need information, and it appears in the list below. Advanced users of Windows 98 will find the Search tab the most useful. Here, you can obtain a list of the topics that relate to a specific "higher-level" topic.


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