ADO and ADO.NET SQL database connection strings

This site was created as an online reference for various ADO and ADO.NET SQL database connection strings. We have tried to list the most popular database connection strings and to give examples of their usage. As our background is with Microsoft technologies, we have great deal of connection string for MS SQL Server and MS Access including SQL Server ODBC connection, SQL Server OLE DB connection, SQLConnection .NET, MS Access ODBC connection, MS Access OLE DB connection, MS Access OLEDBConnection .NET, etc.

We have also created an online database glossary, giving definitions for the most common database terms like ODBC, OLE DB, ADO, database cursor, database transaction, etc.

If you are new to SQL language, make sure you check this comprehensive SQL Tutorial.

This site is by no means a complete reference for every existing database, but is merely attempt to give our fellow software developers a handy database connection strings reference. Have fun :)!

SQL Server connection strings

SQL ODBC connection strings

Standard Security:<> "Driver={SQLServer};Server=Your_Server_Name;Database=Your_Database_Name;Uid=Your_Username;Pwd=Your_Password;"

Trusted connection:<> "Driver={SQLServer};Server=Your_Server_Name;Database=Your_Database_Name;Trusted_Connection=yes;"

SQL OLE DB connection strings

Standard Security:
"Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=Your_Server_Name;Initial Catalog= Your_Database_Name;UserId=Your_Username;Password=Your_Password;"

Trusted connection:
"Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=Your_Server_Name;Initial Catalog=Your_Database_Name;Integrated Security=SSPI;"

SQL OleDbConnection .NET strings

Standard Security:
"Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=Your_Server_Name;Initial Catalog= Your_Database_Name;UserId=Your_Username;Password=Your_Password;"

Trusted connection:
"Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=Your_Server_Name;Initial Catalog=Your_Database_Name;Integrated Security=SSPI;" Standard Security:
1. "Data Source=Your_Server_Name;Initial Catalog= Your_Database_Name;UserId=Your_Username;Password=Your_Password;" <>2. "Server=Your_Server_Name;Database=Your_Database_Name;UserID=Your_Username;Password=Your_Password;Trusted_Connection=False"

Trusted connection:
1. "Data Source=Your_Server_Name;Initial Catalog=Your_Database_Name;Integrated Security=SSPI;"
2."Server=Your_Server_Name;Database=Your_Database_Name;Trusted_Connection=True;"

MS Access connection strings

MS Access ODBC connection strings

Standard Security:
"Driver= {MicrosoftAccessDriver(*.mdb)};DBQ=C:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdb;Uid=Your_Username;Pwd=Your_Password;"

Workgroup:
"Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; Dbq=C:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdb; SystemDB=C:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdw;"

Exclusive "Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; DBQ=C:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdb; Exclusive=1; Uid=Your_Username; Pwd=Your_Password;"

MS Access OLE DB & OleDbConnection (.NET framework) connection strings

Open connection to Access database:
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=c:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdb; User Id=admin; Password="

Open connection to Access database using Workgroup (System database):
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=c:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdb; Jet OLEDB:System Database=c:\App1\Your_System_Database_Name.mdw"

Open connection to password protected Access database:
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=c:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdb; Jet OLEDB:Database Password=Your_Password"

Open connection to Access database located on a network share:
"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=\\Server_Name\Share_Name\Share_Path\Your_Database_Name.mdb"

Open connection to Access database located on a remote server:
"Provider=MS Remote; Remote Server=http://Your-Remote-Server-IP; Remote Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=c:\App1\Your_Database_Name.mdb"

MySQL connection strings

MySQL ODBC connection strings

Open connection to local MySQL database using MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver
"Provider=MSDASQL; DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51Driver}; SERVER= localhost; DATABASE=Your_MySQL_Database; UID= Your_Username; PASSWORD=Your_Password; OPTION=3"

MySQL OLE DB & OleDbConnection (.NET framework) connection strings

Open connection to MySQL database:
"Provider=MySQLProv;Data Source=Your_MySQL_Database;User Id=Your_Username; Password=Your_Password;"

Oracle connection strings

Oracle ODBC connection strings

Open connection to Oracle database using ODBC
"Driver= {Microsoft ODBCforOracle};Server=Your_Oracle_Server.world;Uid=Your_Username;Pwd=Your_Password;"

Oracle OLE DB & OleDbConnection (.NET framework) connection strings

Open connection to Oracle database with standard security:
1. "Provider=MSDAORA;Data Source= Your_Oracle_Database;UserId=Your_Username;Password=Your_Password;"
2. "Provider= OraOLEDB.Oracle;Your_Oracle_Database;UserId=Your_Username;Password=Your_Password;"

Open trusted connection to Oracle database
"Provider= OraOLEDB.Oracle;DataSource=Your_Oracle_Database;OSAuthent=1;"