PostgreSQL 7.1.3 Documentation
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# 7.3. Configuration Files

`~/.odbc.ini` contains user-specified access information for the psqlODBC driver. The file uses conventions typical for Windows Registry files, but despite this restriction can be made to work.

The `.odbc.ini` file has three required sections. The first is `[ODBC Data Sources]` which is a list of arbitrary names and descriptions for each database you wish to access. The second required section is the Data Source Specification and there will be one of these sections for each database. Each section must be labeled with the name given in `[ODBC Data Sources]` and must contain the following entries:

    Driver = prefix/lib/libpsqlodbc.so
    Database=DatabaseName
    Servername=localhost
    Port=5432

> Tip: Remember that the Postgres database name is usually a single word, without path names of any sort. The Postgres server manages the actual access to the database, and you need only specify the name from the client.

Other entries may be inserted to control the format of the display. The third required section is `[ODBC]` which must contain the `InstallDir` keyword and which may contain other options.

Here is an example `.odbc.ini` file, showing access information for three databases:

    [ODBC Data Sources]
    DataEntry = Read/Write Database
    QueryOnly = Read-only Database
    Test = Debugging Database
    Default = Postgres Stripped

    [DataEntry]
    ReadOnly = 0
    Servername = localhost
    Database = Sales

    [QueryOnly]
    ReadOnly = 1
    Servername = localhost
    Database = Sales

    [Test]
    Debug = 1
    CommLog = 1
    ReadOnly = 0
    Servername = localhost
    Username = tgl
    Password = "no$way"
    Port = 5432
    Database = test

    [Default]
    Servername = localhost
    Database = tgl
    Driver = /opt/postgres/current/lib/libpsqlodbc.so

    [ODBC]
    InstallDir = /opt/applix/axdata/axshlib

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