Configuration of an ODBC replicator to connect a Microsoft Access database

How a Microsoft Access database can be integrated as a data source for estos MetaDirectory will be shown in this application example. You will find the example database in the estos MetaDirectory installation directory the Samples folder.

Under Microsoft Windows you must start the estos MetaDirectory Administrator to configure an ODBC system data source with extended rights. To get the necessary rights, you will find the entry "Run as administrator" in the context menu, which opens when you right-click on the application icon.

Setting up estos MetaDirectory to use a Microsoft Access database

• Start the estos MetaDirectory Administrator on the computer where the server was also installed.
• Authenticate yourself on the server with the user data that you specified during installation.
• Go to the Configuration / General / Replicators view.
• Use the context menu or Add... to start the Replicator Wizard to configure a data source.
• Select the data type "ODCB database" and confirm the selection with Next.
• In the user login, you specify how to access the data source. You can access the data source both from the context of the current user and from the system account. In this example, we use a SYSTEM account. For more information on this topic, see Replicator Wizard.
  Confirm the selection using the Next button.
• In the following step the ODBC connection to the Access database is configured.
  
  • The ODBC Connection Wizard provided by the system will open from the Browse... button.
  • Go to the Computer Data Sources tab page.
  • A new computer data source will be created using the New... button.
  • Important: In the following dialog, select "System data source" so that the data can be opened via the previously selected system account.
    Confirm the selection using the Next button.
  • Select the ODBC driver for accessing Microsoft Access databases. Possibly different drivers in different languages are offered here. Use one of the offered Microsoft Access drivers (*.mdb).
    Confirm the selection using the Next button and conclude the configuration of the ODBC driver using the Done button.
  • Enter a name for the selected driver.
    The configuration of the computer data source will be concluded using the OK button.
  • Select the computer data source just setup from the list of available data sources.
    Once you have confirmed the selection using the Ok button, a dialog will be opened, from which you can select the Demo-Database.mdb Access database located in the Samples folders in the estos MetaDirectory installation directory.
  Once you have configured the ODBC connection, you will be able to make additional settings in the Replicator Wizard. Confirm the settings just made using the Next button.
• There are several tables in the Access database. Select the "Contacts" table. Confirm the selection with Next.
• In the following field mapping wizard it is determined which fields of the data source are copied to which target fields. Next to the sample Excel file you will find a saved field mapping. Load the field assignment "Demo-Database-mdb.fxm" using the button at the bottom left in the field assignment dialog. Confirm the settings with Next.
• Leave the settings in the country and regionlocation settings unchanged and confirm the dialog with Next.
• In the replication schedule, you can define the intervals and times for replicating the database.
  Make changes - if desired - otherwise leave the settings page with Next.
• Enter a replicator name. This name must be unique and cannot be changed afterwards.
  Configuration of the replicator will be concluded using the Done button.

Once the replication process has been concluded, you can let the replicator run from the replicators list from the context menu or by using the Start button.
You can view replication results in Database Search or Database View.