The SAS ODBC driver is an implementation of the Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC) standard that enables you to access, manipulate, and update SAS data sources from ODBC-compliant applications.

As is shown in the Components of ODBC Functionality diagram, the SAS ODBC driver uses a SAS server to access data from your SAS data sources. To access local SAS data sources, the SAS ODBC driver uses a SAS ODBC server in conjunction with TCP/IP. You must edit your TCP/IP Services file to define your servers before you start the SAS ODBC Server. It is not necessary for the server to be running when you define your data sources. However, the server must be running on your PC in order for you to access your SAS data sources.

SAS/ACCESS^® software works in the opposite direction of SAS ODBC Driver. SAS/ACCESS Interface to ODBC provides an interface between the SAS^® System and other ODBC-compliant data. SAS/ACCESS Interface to ODBC requires Base SAS^® software and the ODBC driver for the database to which you want access. You must configure that ODBC driver before your are able to connect to that database.

The SAS ODBC driver enables SAS data sets to be imported to a third-party application whereas SAS/ACCESS Interface to ODBC enables you to access data from other databases directly from the SAS System.

Operating System and Release Information