How do I find the Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb) if it is not listed in the ODBC Data Source Administrator?

I am not able to add data sources when following the steps to Configure ODBC Data Sources in the documentation on Using Database Explorer. The Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb) option is missing in the 'Create New Data Source' window.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

The Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb,*.accdb) does not appear in the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box when the bitness of the operating system and Microsoft Access is different. This mismatch occurs when you setup a data source for a 32-bit Microsoft Access database using a 64-bit MATLAB.

To solve this, follow one of these methods:

- Use a 64-bit version of Microsoft Access.

- Refer to the workaround in https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/235949-how-to-connect-to-32-bit-microsoft-access-database-from-64-bit-matlab to connect to a 32-bit version of Microsoft Access. Then, create an ODBC data source using MATLAB. For details about creating ODBC data sources, see

https://www.mathworks.com/help/database/ug/configure-driver-and-data-source.html

If the above methods do not work and you are using a MATLAB version prior to R2016a, use a 32-bit MATLAB and run 32-bit ODBC Data Source Administrator by following these steps:

1. Navigate to the "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" folder.

2. Find and right-click the executable "odbcad32.exe", and click "Run as administrator". (Running this executable as administrator grants you administrator privileges to create data sources on the computer.)

3. Create an ODBC data source. For details about creating ODBC data sources, see

https://www.mathworks.com/help/database/ug/configure-driver-and-data-source.html

[Dhruvesh Patel]

What does Running as Admin do and why does this solution work ?