>oCon.Provider = "SQLOLEDB.1"
>oCon.Properties.Refresh()
>However I don't see the relevant properties either. I guess, I confused them with some other properties, sorry.

no prob - the refresh() will probably come in handy at some point :)

>Anyway, can you send those SET commands to SQL Server right after establishing connection?

i was hoping not to have to, but that was my next course of action