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How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually

When a SOLIDWORKS PDM client computer accesses a file vault database, the software establishes connection using an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) data source. If a PDM client machine is unable to log into a PDM local vault view or the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool, and the PDM Connectivity Test Tool fails for the ODBC test, then you most likely need to create an ODBC connection manually, since the client machine being unable to determine the correct dynamic TCP port used to connect SQL. This behavior is typically only for PDM environments running with Microsoft SQL using a named instance. This guide will step through creating the required ODBC connection.

 

Note: You will need the Microsoft SQL server name and (sa) user password to create the ODBC connection.

 

  1. Open Windows Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Tools. Note, you will need to follow these steps for both ODBC 32-bit AND 64-bit.

    Start by selecting ODBC Data Source (32-bit).
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. In the newly opened ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog, select the System DSN tab and then click the ‘Add’ button.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. Scroll down the list and select ‘SQL Server’ and then click Finish.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. In the Create a New Data Source to SQL Server dialog, enter a Name. We recommend using the vault name you are connecting to. The SQL server and instance name can be entered manually or selected from the dropdown list. Click Next to proceed.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually Step 4
  1. Select the option ‘With SQL Server authentication using a login ID and password entered by the user’ and then enter the SQL login ID and password for the (sa) user (or whichever SQL user was used to when the vault was created). DO NOT click the next button just yet.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. Click the ‘Client Configuration’ button.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. In the ‘Add Network Library Configuration’ dialog, deselect the option ‘Dynamically determine port’ (The default port for PDM is 1433). Click OK to close the dialog and then click Next to proceed.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually Step 7
  1. Check the option ‘Change the default database to’ and select the SQL vault database associated to your vault from the dropdown menu and click Next.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. Leave the default options and click Finish.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. The ODBC Microsoft SQL Server Setup dialog displays the ODBC connection that will be created. Click the ‘Test Data Source…’ button.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. The results of the test are shown. Click OK to close the results.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. Click OK to create the manual ODBC connection.
How to Create ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM Manually
  1. Follow the steps in this guide again to create the 64-bit connection. This should resolve behavior where the PDM client cannot log into a local vault view or the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administrator tool.

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Last Updated On
byRick Braine
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