How can I open the 32-bit ODBC Data Source Administrator in Windows 7 64-bit?

Question

I want to add 32-bit data sources. There seems to be no obvious way to see existing instances of these or create new ones.

How can I open the 32-bit "ODBC Data Source Administrator" window in Windows 7 64-bit?

On my version of Windows (10 pro), a shortcut to *ODBC Data Sources (32-bit)* is included in the *Windows Administrative Tools* folder (along with the 64-bit version, and things like Computer Management, Services, etc.) — mwfearnley, Oct 11 '19 at 08:37
Why on earth did they remove the shortcut to open the 32-bit version from the Administrative Tools folder? On my old Windows XP x64 computer there were shortcuts to open both the 64-bit and 32-bit versions... — Dai, May 16 '20 at 07:00

score 95 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 27 '22 at 09:19

95

Run the Datasource editor from this path c:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe.

Ref: Link

edited Nov 27 '22 at 09:19

Glorfindel

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answered May 02 '12 at 21:24

Zoredache

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Zoredache, still helpful years later! Thanks for posting the answer. – plditallo Jan 07 '16 at 20:28
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Worthy of note: if you have the 64 bit version already open, running the command for the 32bit does **not** open a second ODBC window and puts the 64bit window into focus. – UnhandledExcepSean Dec 16 '19 at 17:23

score 23 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:04

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Just a small note to Zorodache answer, if you use the search box from the start menu type the whole path to get the correct version c:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe.

Otherwise, you will get the 64-bit version, even if you enter odbcad32.exe in the search box.

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:04

Community

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answered Feb 16 '15 at 10:44

Carlos Escalera Alonso

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This should be upvoted more! – Denys Vitali Jun 08 '16 at 09:23
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@DenysVitali except, apparently, if you put the whole path in the search box, you _still_ only get the 64-bit version. I ended up having to open a command window – Auspex Jun 28 '17 at 10:21
Seriously? Really strange... but I'm not surprised anymore when Windows is involved... – Denys Vitali Jun 28 '17 at 13:48
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@Auspex for me it works entering the full path c:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe – Carlos Escalera Alonso Jul 17 '17 at 17:04

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 10 '15 at 07:02

A 64-bit version of the Microsoft Windows operating system includes the following versions of the Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Data Source Administrator tool (Odbcad32.exe):

The 32-bit version of the Odbcad32.exe file is located in the %systemdrive%\Windows\SysWoW64 folder.
The 64-bit version of the Odbcad32.exe file is located in the %systemdrive%\Windows\System32 folder.

The Odbcad32.exe file displays the following types of data source names (DSNs):

System DSNs
User DSNs

How can I open the 32-bit ODBC Data Source Administrator in Windows 7 64-bit?

3 Answers3

Linked