Advanced Connection Options

For most applications, as an alternative to the Manage Connections tool, you can also establish appropriate connections using a combination of the Micro Focus ADO.NET Connection Editor and the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator tool. This can be useful if you want to fine-tune your connection settings, including those that are set to defaults when you use the Manage Connections tool.

Restriction: CICS applications that use ADO.NET must use the HCOSS Manage Connections tool to catalog a connection. In this case, you cannot use the ADO.NET Connection Editor or the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator tool.

If you choose to use the ADO.NET Connection Editor and Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and catalog your connections, be aware that your development environment can affect your connections.

In 64-bit environments, Microsoft provides 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the ODBC Administrator tool. You might need to create 32- and 64-bit versions of some connections. Here are the scenarios and required connections necessary for using a connection with HCOSS tools:

Scenario Required Connections
Using HCOSS application migration tools in a 32-bit environment, and targeting a 32-bit framework 2.0, 3.0, or 3.5 environment (x86) 32-bit framework 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 ADO.NET SQL Server, 32-bit framework 4.0 ADO.NET SQL Server, and 32-bit ODBC SQL Server
Using HCOSS application migration tools in a 64-bit environment, and targeting a 32-bit framework 2.0, 3.0, or 3.5 environment (x86) 32-bit framework 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 ADO.NET SQL Server, 32- and 64-bit framework 4.0 ADO.NET SQL Server, and 32-bit ODBC SQL Server
Using HCOSS application migration tools in a 64-bit environment, and targeting a 64-bit framework 2.0, 3.0, or 3.5 environment (x64) 64-bit framework 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 ADO.NET SQL Server, 32- and 64-bit framework 4.0 ADO.NET SQL Server, and 32- and 64-bit ODBC SQL Server
Using HCOSS application migration tools in a 32-bit environment, and targeting a 32-bit framework 4.0 environment (x86) 32-bit framework 4.0 ADO.NET SQL Server and 32-bit ODBC SQL Server
Using HCOSS application migration tools in a 64-bit environment, and targeting a 64-bit framework 4.0 environment (x64) 32- and 64-bit framework 4.0 ADO.NET SQL Server and 32- and 64-bit ODBC SQL Server

To specify a 32-bit or 64-bit connection, use the Settings > Availability menu in the ADO.NET Connection Editor, or the radio buttons provided on the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator tool.

In 64-bit environments, if UAC is turned on:
  • Run the ADO.NET Connection Editor as an administrator
  • If you want to change the connection list in the IDE, then run Enterprise Developer as an administrator as well.
Note: For more information, see Starting Enterprise Developer as an Administrator, To start the ADO.NET Connection Editor as an administrator, and To start the ODBC Data Source Administrator.