> # Connecting with a Provider String

> Once a data source is defined through the DataDirect Configuration Manager and the SequeLink for ADO Provider Setup Assistant, your application can connect directly to that data source. You can override the current settings for the data source when you connect using a provider string.

> A provider string contains attribute=value pairs that control various aspects of the data provider's connection and interaction with the database. When an application names a specific data source to connect to, the application can also pass the data provider a provider string of attribute=value pairs. The data provider uses the values in the provider string instead of the default values defined for the data source in the system information.

> Using provider strings allows application developers to configure connections for users programmatically and ensures that users have the optimum settings for working with the provider and database. Any values a user has set for a data source through the DataDirect Configuration Manager are overridden by corresponding values in the provider string for the current session only.

> The provider string sets the DBPROP_INIT_PROVIDERSTRING initialization property and has the form:

>     "attribute=value;attribute=value;"

> You can specify the attribute=value pairs on the Options tab of the DataDirect SequeLink 6.0 ADO Provider Setup window.

> Refer to the SequeLink Developer's Reference for a list of ADO connection attributes.