Establish DSN Connection

To establish a Data Source Name (DSN) connection to Microsoft SQL Server, please refer to the steps below. Prior to version 5.15, the DSN must be created using the 32-bit ODBC Data Source Administrator. For version 5.15 and later, the DSN must be created using the 64-bit ODBC Data Source Administrator. You have the option to connect to SQL Server using either Windows Authentication or SQL Server Authentication if you are not using domain controllers. Please refer to the SQL Server Setup help topic for the appropriate permissions and settings.

1. On the client PC, open the Control Panel and select one of the icon views in the View by drop-down. Select Administrative Tools > ODBC Data Sources to launch the ODBC Data Source Administrator. 
   
   
2. On the ODBC Data Source Administrator screen, select the System DSN tab and click the Add button.
   
   
3. On the Create New Data Source window, select the SQL Server driver compatible with the SQL Server instance running on the server. Click the Finish button.
   
   
4. On the Create a New Data Source to SQL Server window, in the Name field, type ‘Catalyst MFG v.5x’ or similar to distinguish the DSN database to which you will be connecting. In the Server field, select the network server you previously attached the Catalyst back-end database files. Click the Next button.
   
   
5. On the Microsoft SQL Server DSN Configuration window, select either ‘With Integrated Windows authentication’ or ‘With SQL Server authentication’. When using SQL Server authentication, you will need to enter a login name and password. Click the Next button.
   
   
6. On the Microsoft SQL Server DSN Configuration window, mark the check box ‘Change the default database to:’ and select the current version of the Catalyst back-end database. Leave the check boxes marked to use ANSI identifiers and settings. Click the Next button.
   
   
7. On the last Microsoft SQL Server DSN Configuration window, leave all default settings and click the Finish button.
   
   
8. On the ODBC Microsoft SQL Server Setup dialog, verify the connection by clicking the Test Data Source button. If the test does not complete successfully, modify SQL Server permissions and settings and/or use the Back button to modify the DSN configuration as required.
   
   
9. Close the ODBC Data Source Administrator and open Catalyst on the client PC using the desktop shortcut. When prompted, select ‘Yes’ to establish a new connection or select Relink Company Database from the Tools tab.
   
   
10. On the Select Company Data File screen, select the DSN name specified in step 4. The Database name should default to the database selected in step 6. If it does not, reopen the ODBC Data Source Administrator and use the Configure button to select the correct default database.
    
    
11. If using Windows authentication, leave the checkbox marked to Use Trusted Connection. If using SQL Server authentication, uncheck Use Trusted Connection and enter the login name and password entered in step 5 when creating the DSN.
    
    
12. Click the Refresh Links button to reset the connection to the specified Catalyst back-end database.