>>ok so far so good. Now why doesnt right click desktop produce a New\Microsoft Data Link from the pop up menu? I'm trying to follow JVP's ADO white papters
>Because VS SP4 (or just the MDAC 2.6 component) removes it from the menu.
>I don't remember if there's a way to restore it (I'll look around), but in the meantime you can create a new Text file on the desktop, rename the extension to .UDL, and then right-click on it and pick properties - it'll behave the same as Data Link created from the old menu did.

Fantastic. Thank you. Didn't know that was outdated. BTW and maybe I should make this a new thread were you or anyone able to get Doug Hennig's code in the latest CoDe magazine to run? The article on ntier design. I can't :(