SQL Server DSN-Less ODBC Specify 32 bit Driver

8
votes

I'm working with an older application that I recently updated to .NET 4.5. The application has been using DSN ODBC connections. However, in the case of the application, it is accessed from a single location on a network drive, so it doesn't make sense to require a DSN, and it will ease deployment and updates to use a DSN-less connection string in place. I'm doing a basic string as such:

Driver={SQL Server}; Server=; Database=; UID=; PWD=

The issue I have is that the application is compiled as 32 bit, but may be used on a 32 bit or 64 bit machine. On 64 bit machines I get this error:

The specified DSN contains an architecture mismatch between the Driver and Application

Which essentially means it's trying to use the 64 bit driver for the 32 bit application. That's easy enough to deal with except the driver name for SQL Server appears to be the same for 32 and 64 bit. So how can I specify only the 32 bit driver in the connection string?

1
sql-serverodbcdatabase-connection32-bitdsn
This should help even though it is from Java perspactive – Alex
Yeah, that is what I found in my searches. However that is for the ODBC utility for setting up DSN connections. What I'm trying to achieve is a DSN-less connection, meaning I can bypass that utility entirely. My connection string in the post works, but doesn't seem to allow me to specify the bit level, in this case, 32 bit. – Jarrod Christman
Here is an article discussing DSN-less connection strings: databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/1491011/… – Jarrod Christman
@JarrodChristman, the DSN-less connection string doesn't need to change for 32/64 bit; the appropriate ODBC architecture should be used be used automatically. I can reproduce arch mismatch error only with a DSN connection (e.g. 64-bit DSN and x86 app). Are you using System.Data.Odbc, ADODB, or something else? In the case of ADODB, what version of ActiveX? – Dan Guzman
Just make sure you never install the 64bit driver version. – Namphibian

1 Answers

3
votes

"To manage a data source that connects to a 32-bit driver under 64-bit platform, use c:\windows\sysWOW64\odbcad32.exe. To manage a data source that connects to a 64-bit driver, use c:\windows\system32\odbcad32.exe. In Administrative Tools on a 64-bit Windows 8 operating system, there are icons for both the 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box. Read more"

If you use the 64-bit odbcad32.exe to configure or remove a DSN that connects to a 32-bit driver, you will receive the following error message:

The specified DSN contains an architecture mismatch between the Driver and Application

To resolve this error, use the 32-bit odbcad32.exe to configure or remove the DSN.

References

Side Note: make sure that all references Copy Local property is set to True, even the System assemblies. I think that the issue may be from the assemblies location saved in GAC, so when copying the assemblies locally it may fix that