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# BUG: Invalid Connection String Error with Certain Passwords

Article ID: 124318

Article Last Modified on 7/27/2001

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft Open Database Connectivity 2.0

This article was previously published under Q124318
BUG# QJET: 1588 (2.00.2317)

## SYMPTOMS

When attempting to connect to a Microsoft Access data source, SQLConnect may return an error for those account whose password contains a semicolon (;). The error message returned is:
SQLSTATE="01S00",
szErrorMsg="[Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access 2.0 Driver]Invalid
connection string attribute <xxxx>"
For example, assume a user account has a login id of John and a password of ;John in the Microsoft Access database and the data source name is mysource.
Then

SQLConnect(hdbc,"mysource",8,"John",4,";John",,5)

returns
SQLSTATE="01S00",
szErrorMsg="[Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access 2.0 Driver]Invalid
connection string attribute John"

## CAUSE

The problem happens because a semicolon is a separator in the connection string and having it in the password causes a conflict.

## WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, you can use the SQLDriverConnect call and either do not pass a password or pass an incorrect password. As a result, you are prompted for the password. When prompted, you can enter the password with the semicolon, and the connection will succeed.

## STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in ODBC Access Driver version 2.00.2317. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: 2.00.2317 ODBC Access MFC Visual C++ MSVC Windows NT

Keywords: kbbug KB124318