I was using the MS Text driver just today.  I have a client who imports
addresses into their United Parcel Service system.  They just got an upgrade
and the old system read CSV (comma separated values) files directly.  The
newer version of the program only reads from ODBC sources.  It is
straight-forward to set up.  Go to the control panel and add a new DSN by
selecting the ODBC MS Text Driver.  All of your "tables" are text files in a
particular directory, so clear the box that says "Use Current Directory" and
browse to that directory.  You may also indicate what file extensions of
your tables (usually .txt, but maybe .csv or .tab etc.) Click on the <Option
button.  This will reveal another button with the title "Define Format...".
Click on this button.  Now you will have a screen that will let you define
field names and describe your file.  You may select a delimiter or not.  If
you do, you may click the "Guess" button on the right and it will try to
guess the data types and number of columns of your table.  Either way, you
can name your columns and give them a type.  I have had no trouble when I
stick to CHAR and some trouble when I have tried to declare dates or
numbers.  Name each column and declare a type but remember to click on the
modify button.  When finished, you will notice a file named schema.ini in
the directory with your table.  It contains the names of your tables and the
field descriptions.  You can modify this table with notepad.

That's all there is to it.  I have not tried it with a Samba share, but it
should work.  Good luck.

Mark Wonsil
4M Enterprises, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Lars Appel
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 3:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] ODBC


Robert wrote...

>For ODBC access to flat files a 3rd party driver will be needed.

Not sure about that. I am not an ODBC expert, but it seems that there
are options to access text files with ODBC (*.txt or *.csv) -- While
I have not tried it myself, it might work to place the flat file (in
bytestream format) on a Samba/iX share and then access that via the
Microsoft Text Driver from the ODBC 32 control panel.

Any takers to try this and report back if it works or not?

Lars.