title: Microsoft Access ODBC Connections: Connection String Differences
body: <p>Using the following:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>MS Access 2016, Office 365</li>
  <li>SQL Server 2012</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I have 100+ SQL Server tables and views linked into an Access database via ODBC connection. All of these SQL Server objects are from two SQL Server databases that reside on the same server. All of these connections have been set up using the Access user interface and re-linked via the Linked Table Manager. </p>
  
  <p>I've been experiencing a number of Access database issues lately, so I’m combing through everything with a fine-tooth comb. I noticed that the connection strings for all my SQL Server objects have a number of inconsistencies (see below). There does not seem to be any pattern in terms of when these objects where created and the format of the connection string either.</p>
  
  <pre><code>ODBC;DSN=Database1;Description=Database1;Trusted_Connection=Yes;APP=Microsoft Office 2010;  
  ODBC;DSN=Database1;Description=Database1;Trusted_Connection=Yes;APP=Microsoft Office 2010;DATABASE=Database1  
  ODBC;DSN=Database1;Description=Database1;Trusted_Connection=Yes;APP=Microsoft Office 2010;DATABASE=Database1;Network=DBMSSOCN  
  ODBC;DSN=Database1;Description=Database1;Trusted_Connection=Yes;APP=Microsoft Office 2016;  
  ODBC;DSN=Database1;Description=Database1;Trusted_Connection=Yes;APP=Microsoft Office 2016;DATABASE=Database1  
  ODBC;DSN=Database2;Description=Database2;Trusted_Connection=Yes;APP=Microsoft Office 2010;DATABASE=Database2  
  ODBC;DSN=Database2;Description=Database2;Trusted_Connection=Yes;APP=Microsoft Office 2016;DATABASE=Database2  
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is it problematic that there are so many variations of the connection string? I've done some research (i.e., Googling), but I don’t much experience in this area of databases. Some connections have a "Network" specified, but others don’t. Per connectionstrings.com (<a href="https://www.connectionstrings.com/define-sql-server-network-protocol/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.connectionstrings.com/define-sql-server-network-protocol/</a>), “Network=DBMSSOC” specifies a Winsock TCP/IP connection, which I believe is the appropriate choice for my network setup. Is it problematic that this parameter is excluded from several of the connection strings?</p>