Configure the ODBC Driver

The DI Scoring Program uses the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) protocol to read Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Microsoft Access database files. Before you load data from these programs, you must identify the files to the ODBC driver in your computer's operating system.

This topic tells you how to do it.

But, first, make sure you need to do it.

• You don't have to configure ODBC if you are loading data from a comma-separated (CSV) text file (*.csv). Consider converting your Excel, Work, or Access file to CSV before loading. (For information, see Convert Files to CSV Format.)
• You don't have to configure ODBC when you copy a tournament to the computer. It is required only on the computer that is loading the data into the tournament.
• You don't have to configure ODBC to add teams by typing them into the DI Scoring Program.
• You must reconfigure ODBC for each new Excel or Access file. Part of the process will already be done, but you must identify the new file to ODBC.

Now, to the nitty gritty.

• Configuring ODBC for Excel Files
• Configuring ODBC for Access Files

Configuring ODBC for Excel Files

1. Open the ODBC Administrator.
   • In Windows 98, click Start, click Settings, and then click Control Panel. Then, double-click ODBC Data Sources (32-bit) to open it.
   • In Windows NT and Windows 2000, click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, and then click Data Sources (ODBC) to open it.
2. On the User DSN tab, in the Name column, look for an Excel Files entry. (The name must be an exact match.)
3. If the entry does not appear, you must create one.
   • On the User DSN tab, click Add.
   • In the Create New Data Source list, click Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls) and then click Finish.
   • In the ODBC Microsoft Excel Setup dialog box, in the Data Source Name box, type Excel Files (exactly as shown).
   • Click OK in each dialog box to close it.
4. On the User DSN tab, in the Name column, click Excel Files to select it, and then click Configure.
5. In the ODBC Microsoft Excel Setup dialog box, click Select Workbook.
6. In the Select Workbook dialog box, use the directory browser to locate the Excel file that contains your team data. Click the file name, so that it appears in the Database Name box, and then click OK.
7. Click OK in each dialog box to close it.

Deep breath. You're almost done... In these last few steps, you assign the name DiniData to the rows and columns of your Excel file so that the DI Scoring Program can recognize it.

1. Start Excel and open your team data file.
2. Highlight the rows and columns of your spreadsheet that contain the team data, including the row of column headings.
3. From the Insert menu, select Name and then point to Define.
4. In the Define Name dialog box, backspace or delete the preset entry, and then type DiniData (exactly as shown). Click OK to close the dialog box.

Done! Now, proceed to the next step, Create a Tournament Directory.

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Configuring ODBC for Access Files

1. Open the ODBC Administrator.
   • In Windows 98, click Start, click Settings, and then click Control Panel. Then, double-click ODBC Data Sources (32-bit) to open it.
   • In Windows NT and Windows 2000, click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, and then click Data Sources (ODBC) to open it.
2. On the User DSN tab, in the Name column, look for an Access Files entry. (The name must be an exact match.)
3. If the entry does not appear, you must create one.
   • On the User DSN tab, click Add.
   • In the Create New Data Source list, click Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) and then click Finish.
   • In the ODBC Microsoft Access Setup dialog box, in the Data Source Name box, type Access Files (exactly as shown).
   • Click OK in each dialog box to close it.
4. On the User DSN tab, in the Name column, click Access Files to select it, and then click Configure.
5. In the ODBC Microsoft Access Setup dialog box, click Select.
6. In the Select Database dialog box, use the directory browser to locate the Access database file that contains your team data. Click the file name, so that it appears in the Database Name box, and then click OK.
7. Click OK in each dialog box to close it.

Done! Now, proceed to the next step, Create a Tournament Directory.

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