Immutation in JAVA Explained

Watched X-Men, mutants were far more stronger than a normal  human being. I recalled my biology class where we studied genetics and chromosomal mutations. Mutations were triggered to make species better. I left biology and am now into software. Here also we do the same thing "Mutate". We override objects of the existing classes in the SDK/API/Framework to make them better or fit to our need. But you cannot override each and every object of the SDK/API,  they are protected from getting or being mutated for a reason. Making decisions on creating immutable class needs thorough analysis. How do I create a class which cannot be mutated?

In JAVA String class is a good example, its immutable.

Below are the rules that must be followed in order to create an immutable object.

1. No "setter" methods — methods that modify class members or objects referred to by class variables.

2. Make all class variables final and private.

3. Do not allow subclasses to override methods. The simplest way to do this is to declare the class as final. A more sophisticated approach is to make the constructor private and construct instances in factory methods.

4. If the instance fields include references to mutable objects, don't allow those objects to be changed:

       * Do not provide methods that modify the mutable objects.

       * Do not share references to the mutable objects.

5. Never store references to external, mutable objects passed to the constructor; if necessary, create copies, and store references to the copies.

6. Similarly, create copies of your internal mutable objects when necessary to avoid returning the originals in your methods.

Immutable laws of the universe can teach more exalted lessons than the holy books.
-S

Copyrights, Licenses Explained

It just started when I was listening to radio while driving. The RJ used the word GPL for 'Gaane Premium League' ... It reminded me of two versions for the abbreviation. The one that we used during our college time and other which changed the face of software development. This post tries to explain common licensing models and terms used worldwide.

Its hard to understand the legal-speak of license terms and this post tries to capture their essence and make it easy to understand.

This matrix below tries to express some EULA, GPL, CDDL and BSD licenses in terms of the rights in copyrights and patent rights. A ticks and crosses are self explanatory. The gray tilt "~" means that the license does not say anything - mostly it is an implied OK.



Comparing GPL, CDDL and BSD licenses with respect to some common needs of developers who copy, modify or distribute a piece of software:



Honor Open Source: Keep the copyright notices and redistribute source.


GPL is real GPL for proprietary EULA.
-S

To all my .net friends. Common Database Connection Strings

Microsoft SQL Server

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Standard Connection

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={SQL Server};" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Trusted Connection

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={SQL Server};" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=;" +

"Pwd=;";

conn.Open();

// or

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={SQL Server};" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Trusted_Connection=Yes;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Standard Connection

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=SQLOLEDB;" +

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Trusted Connection

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=SQLOLEDB;" +

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"Integrated Security=SSPI;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- via IP Address

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=SQLOLEDB;" +

"Network Library=DBMSSOCN;" +

"Data Source=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx,1433;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider -- Standard Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider -- Trusted Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"Integrated Security=SSPI;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider -- via IP Address

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Network Library=DBMSSOCN;" +

"Data Source=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx,1433;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"User Id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

Microsoft Sql Express

// .NET Data Provider -- Default Relative Path

// Standard Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" +

"User Instance=true;" +

"User Id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;" +

"AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|DataBaseName.mdf;"

conn.Open();

// .NET Data Provider -- Default Relative Path

// Trusted Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" +

"User Instance=true;" +

"Integrated Security=true;" +

"AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|DataBaseName.mdf;"

conn.Open();

// .NET Data Provider -- Custom Relative Path

// Standard Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData(

"DataDirectory", "C:\MyPath\");

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" +

"User Instance=true;" +

"User Id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;" +

"AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|DataBaseName.mdf;"

conn.Open();

// .NET Data Provider -- Custom Relative Path

// Trusted Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData(

"DataDirectory", "C:\MyPath\");

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" +

"User Instance=true;" +

"Integrated Security=true;" +

"AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|DataBaseName.mdf;"

conn.Open();

// .NET Data Provider -- Absolute Path

// Standard Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" +

"User Instance=true;" +

"User Id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;" +

"AttachDbFilename=C:\MyPath\DataBaseName.mdf;"

conn.Open();

// .NET Data Provider -- Absolute Path

// Trusted Connection

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" +

"User Instance=true;" +

"Integrated Security=true;" +

"AttachDbFilename=C:\MyPath\DataBaseName.mdf;"

conn.Open();

Microsoft Access

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString = "Dsn=DsnName";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Standard Security

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};" +

"Dbq=c:\myPath\myDb.mdb;" +

"Uid=Admin;Pwd=;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Workgroup (System Database)

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};" +

"Dbq=c:\myPath\myDb.mdb;" +

"SystemDb=c:\myPath\myDb.mdw;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Exclusive Use

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};" +

"Dbq=c:\myPath\myDb.mdb;" +

"Exclusive=1;";

"Uid=Admin;Pwd=;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb with MS Jet -- Standard Security

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" +

"Data Source=c:\mypath\myDb.mdb;" +

"User id=admin;" +

"Password=";

conn.Open();

// OleDb with MS Jet -- Workgroup (System Database)

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" +

"Data Source=c:\mypath\myDb.mdb;" +

"System Database=c:\mypath\myDb.mdw;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb with MS Jet -- With Password

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" +

"Data Source=c:\mypath\myDb.mdb;" +

"Database Password=Secret;"

conn.Open();

Oracle

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- New Microsoft Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft ODBC for Oracle};" +

"Server=OracleServer.world;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Old Microsoft Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft ODBC Driver for Oracle};" +

"ConnectString=OracleServer.world;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Oracle Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Oracle ODBC Driver};" +

"Dbq=myDataBase;" + // define in tsnames.ora

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Microsoft Driver

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=MSDAORA;" +

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Oracle Driver -- Standard Connection

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=OraOLEDB.Oracle;" +

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Oracle Driver -- Trusted Connection

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=OraOLEDB.Oracle;" +

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"OSAuthent=1;";

conn.Open();

// or

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=OraOLEDB.Oracle;" +

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"User id=/" +

"Password=;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider from Microsoft

// -- Standard Connection

using System.Data.OracleClient;

OracleConnection conn = new OracleConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"User id=UserName;";

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider from Microsoft

// -- Trusted Connection

using System.Data.OracleClient;

OracleConnection conn = new OracleConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=Servername;" +

"Integrated Security=Yes;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider from Oracle

// -- Standard Connection

using Oracle.DataAccess.Client;

OracleConnection conn = new OracleConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"User id=UserName;";

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider from Oracle

// -- Trusted Connection

using Oracle.DataAccess.Client;

OracleConnection conn = new OracleConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=Servername;" +

"Integrated Security=Yes;";

conn.Open();

IBM DB2

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC without DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={IBM DB2 ODBC DRIVER};" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"HostName=ServerName;" +

"Protocol=TCPIP;" +

"Port=PortNumber;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Microsoft Driver

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=DB2OLEDB;" +

"Network Transport Library=TCPIP;" +

"Network Address=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx;" +

"Package Collection=CollectionName;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- IBM Driver

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=IBMDADB2;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"HostName=ServerName;" +

"Protocol=TCPIP;" +

"Port=PortNumber;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider from IBM

using IBM.Data.DB2;

Db2Connection conn = new Db2Connection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;" +

conn.Open();

MySql

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- MyODBC Driver -- local database

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={MySql};" +

"Server=localhost;" +

"Option=16834;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;"

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- MyODBC Driver -- remote database

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={MySql};" +

"Server=db.domain.com;" +

"Option=131072;" +

"Port=3306;" +

"Stmt=;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;"

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={MySql ODBC 3.51 Driver};" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"Option=16834;" +

"Port=3306;" +

"Stmt=;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;"

conn.Open();

// or

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"DRIVER={MySql ODBC 3.51 Driver};" +

"SERVER=ServerName;" +

"DATABASE=DataBaseName;" +

"USER=UrerName;" +

"PASSWORD=Secret;"

conn.Open();

// OleDb

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Provider=MySqlProv;" +

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;"

conn.Open();

// .NET DataProvider from CoreLab

using CoreLab.MySql;

MySqlConnection conn = new MySqlConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Host=ServerName;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Protocol=TCP;" +

"Port=3306;" +

"Direct=true;" +

"Compress=false;" +

"Pooling=true;" +

"Min Pool Size=0;" +

"Max Pool Size=100;" +

"Connection Lifetime=0;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;" +

conn.Open();

Sybase

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Sybase System 12 (12.5) ODBC Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={SYBASE ASE ODBC Driver};" +

"Srvr=ServerName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Sybase System 11 ODBC Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={SYBASE SYSTEM 11};" +

"Srvr=ServerName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Intersolv 3.10 ODBC Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={INTERSOLV 3.10 32-BIT Sybase};" +

"Srvr=ServerName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- SQL Anywhere

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"ODBC;" +

"Driver={Sybase SQL Anywhere 5.0};" +

"DefaultDir=c:\myfolder\;" +

"Dbf=c:\mypath\dbname.db;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;" +

"Dsn="""";"; // Must be included!

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE)

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=Sybase.ASEOLEDBProvider;" +

"Server Name=ServerName,5000;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// optionally, replace

// 'Server Name' with 'Srvr', and

// 'Initial Catalog' with 'Catalog'

// .NET DataProvider from Sybase

using Sybase.Data.AseClient;

AseConnection conn = new AseConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Data Source=ServerName;" +

"Initial Catalog=DataBaseName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

Interbase

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- EasySoft ODBC Driver -- local machine

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Easysoft IB6 ODBC};" +

"Server=localhost;" +

"DataBase=localhost:C:\MyPath\DbName.gdb;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- EasySoft ODBC Driver -- remote machine

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Easysoft IB6 ODBC};" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"DataBase=ServerName:C:\MyPath\DbName.gdb;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Intersolv ODBC Driver -- local machine

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=" +

"{INTERSOLV InterBase ODBC Driver (*.gdb)};" +

"Server=localhost;" +

"DataBase=localhost:C:\MyPath\DbName.gdb;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC -- Intersolv ODBC Driver -- remote machine

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=" +

"{INTERSOLV InterBase ODBC Driver (*.gdb)};" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"DataBase=ServerName:C:\MyPath\DbName.gdb;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

Informix

// ODBC DSN -- INFORMIX 3.30 ODBC Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Host=HostName;" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"Service=ServerName;" +

"Protocol=olsoctcp;" +

"Database=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC without DSN -- INFORMIX 3.30 ODBC Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn="";" +

"Driver={INFORMIX 3.30 32 BIT};" +

"Host=HostName;" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"Service=ServerName;" +

"Protocol=olsoctcp;" +

"Database=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC Informix-CLI 2.5 ODBC Driver

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Informix-CLI 2.5 (32 Bit)};" +

"Server=ServerName;" +

"DataBase=DataBaseName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- IBM Informix OleDb Provider

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=IFXOLEDBC;" +

"Data Source=DataBaseName@ServerName;" +

"User id=UserName;" +

"Password=Secret;";

"Persist Security Info=true;";

conn.Open();

Excel

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC without DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls)};" +

"Driverid=790;" +

"Dbq=C:\MyPath\SpreadSheet.xls;" +

"DefaultDir=C:\MyPath;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb with MS Jet

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" +

"Data Source=C:\MyPath\SpreadSheet.xls;" +

@"Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes""";

conn.Open();

Text

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Dsn=DsnName;" +

"Uid=UserName;" +

"Pwd=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// ODBC without DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft Text Driver (*.txt; *.csv)};" +

"Dbq=C:\MyPath\;" +

"Extensions=asc,csv,tab,txt;";

conn.Open();

// Use: sql = "Select * From MyTextFile.txt"

// OleDb with MS Jet

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" +

"Data Source=C:\MyPath\;" +

"Extended Properties=" +

@"""text;HDR=Yes;FMT=Delimited""";

conn.Open();

// Use: sql = "Select * From MyTextFile.txt"

dBase Dbf

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString = "Dsn=DsnName";

conn.Open();

// Use: sql = "Select * From MyDb.dbf"

// ODBC without DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft dBASE Driver (*.dbf)};" +

"Driverid=277;" +

"Dbq=C:\MyPath\";

conn.Open();

// Use: sql = "Select * From MyDb.dbf"

Visual FoxPro

// ODBC DSN

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString = "Dsn=DsnName";

conn.Open();

// ODBC without DSN -- Database container (dbc)

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft Visual FoxPro Driver};" +

"SourceType=DBC;" +

"SourceDB=C:\MyPath\MyDb.dbc;" +

"Exclusive=No";

conn.Open();

// ODBC without DSN -- Free table directory

using System.Data.Odbc;

OdbcConnection conn = new OdbcConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver={Microsoft Visual FoxPro Driver};" +

"SourceType=DBF;" +

"SourceDB=C:\MyPath;" +

"Exclusive=No";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Database container (dbc)

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=VFPOLEDB;" +

"Data Source=C:\MyPath\MyDb.dbc;" +

"Collating Sequence=machine;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

// OleDb -- Free table directory

using System.Data.OleDb;

OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection();

conn.ConnectionString =

"Driver=VFPOLEDB;" +

"Data Source=C:\MyPath\;" +

"Collating Sequence=general;" +

"Password=Secret;";

conn.Open();

BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE YOUR FATHER WAS RIGHT,YOU HAVE A SON WHO THINKS YOU ARE WRONG...THAT IS GENERATION GAP"
-S