Mark,

Your syntax
lnHandle = sqlstringconnect('Driver=Microsoft ODBC for Oracle;ConnectString=RETURN_HMTORA;UID=HMT;PWD=HMTNET;') is the same as mine #3.
It doesn't work.

I belive it's not a matter of syntax: if I am the workstaion with 8.0.5 client then any of syntax #1, 2 $ 3 work against Oracle7/8/8i, but on workstation with 8.1.6 client none if them work.

You mentioned MS Driver in your environment works with Oracle 8i database. Which version of Oracle client are you using ?

The syntax in Tnsnames.ora file is diffrent for 8i and 8 databases: for Oracle 8 it's "SID = HMT8", for 8i - "SERVICE_NAME = HMT8.HMTRETURN", where SERVICE_NAME is SID plus Domain Name.

-- Oracle 8:
RETURN_HMTORA.HMTRETURN.COM =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = ATHENA)(PORT = 1521))
)
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SID = HMT8)
)
)


--Oracle8i:
RETURN_OHMTORA.HMTRETURN.COM =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = ORION)(PORT = 1521))
)
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVICE_NAME = HMT8.HMTRETURN)
)
)

I could connect to both 8 and 8i databases from SQL*PLus, but not using ODBC.

What am I missing ?