KB442490: "Cannot open database '(unknown)'. It may not be a database that your application recognizes, or the file may be corrupt." when connecting to Access Database with ACCDB

SYMPTOM:

Creating a DSN-less connection in web to an Access Database using an .ACCDB file causes the following error message:

Error type: Odbc error. Odbc operation attempted: SQLDriverConnect. [HY000:-1028: on SQLHANDLE] [Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access Driver] Cannot open database '(unknown)'. It may not be a database that your application recognizes, or the file may be corrupt. [IM006:0: on SQLHANDLE] [Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager] Driver's SQLSetConnectAttr failed Connection String

CAUSE

Microsoft Access is not a certified ODBC datasource for Strategy. However, mdb files were previously certified (they are currently only used for demo purposes such as the Strategy Tutorial project). 

SOLUTION

If you would like to connect to Strategy Web using a .mdb file via ODBC, please see the instructions below:

• Open the file in Microsoft Access > Select Save As > Save the file in 2002-2003 .mdb format.
  

• Use the 32 bit Access driver to create a connection between your Access database and Strategy. This file is located in C:\Windows\SysWOW64
• The Access file must be saved on the Intelligence Server machine or in a shared Network location that the Intelligence Server can see. The file path listed in in the DSN-less Source is the Access file Intelligence Server location. The username and password must be provided for a successful connection.

Alternatively, you can also connect to an Access file as the 'file' data import connector.