---
title: "Data Source Example | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "01/19/2017"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: connectivity
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: connectivity
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "data sources [ODBC], examples"
ms.assetid: cbf15f32-0550-4c74-8088-8f7ac3855469
author: David-Engel
ms.author: v-daenge
---
# Data Source Example
On computers running Microsoft® Windows NT® Server/Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows NT Workstation/Windows 2000 Professional, or Microsoft Windows® 95/98, machine data source information is stored in the registry. Depending on which registry key the information is stored under, the data source is known as a *user data source* or a *system data source*. User data sources are stored under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key and are available only to the current user. System data sources are stored under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key and can be used by more than one user on one machine. They can also be used by systemwide services, which can then gain access to the data source even if no user is logged on to the machine. For more information about user and system data sources, see [SQLManageDataSources](../../odbc/reference/syntax/sqlmanagedatasources.md).  
  
 Suppose a user has three user data sources: Personnel and Inventory, which use an Oracle DBMS; and Payroll, which uses a Microsoft SQL Server DBMS. The registry values for data sources might be:  
  
```  
HKEY_CURRENT_USER  
SOFTWARE  
          ODBC  
               Odbc.ini  
                    ODBC Data Sources  
                    Personnel : REG_SZ : Oracle  
                    Inventory : REG_SZ : Oracle  
                    Payroll : REG_SZ : SQL Server  
```  
  
 and the registry values for the Payroll data source might be:  
  
```  
HKEY_CURRENT_USER  
     SOFTWARE  
          ODBC  
               Odbc.ini  
                    Payroll  
                         Driver : REG_SZ : C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Sqlsrvr.dll  
                         Description : REG_SZ : Payroll database  
                         Server : REG_SZ : PYRLL1  
                         FastConnectOption : REG_SZ : No                          UseProcForPrepare : REG_SZ : Yes  
                         OEMTOANSI : REG_SZ : No  
                         LastUser : REG_SZ : smithjo  
                         Database : REG_SZ : Payroll  
                         Language : REG_SZ :  
```