Windows Data Access Components (Windows DAC) 6.0 is a set of technologies included in Windows Vista to provide access to information across the enterprise. These technologies include Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), OLE DB, and Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). Data-driven client/server applications deployed over the Web or a LAN can use these components to easily integrate information from a variety of sources, both relational (SQL) and non-relational.

Note that the same set of data access technologies—ADO, OLE DB, and ODBC—was included with Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 2 and Windows Server 2003, under the name of Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8. Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 continue to use MDAC 2.8.

A redistributable version, MDAC 2.8 SP1, is also available. Note that this version should only be installed on Windows 2000. For more information, see Redistributing MDAC 2.8 SP1.

This documentation includes information about various versions of the data access components. Where no version is specified, the content applies to both Windows DAC 6.0 and MDAC 2.8.

In This Section

Windows Data Access Components SDK Overview: Provides brief overviews of the data access technologies, information about navigating the documentation, frequently asked questions, and troubleshooting information.

Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO): Provides detailed conceptual and reference information about ADO.

Microsoft OLE DB: Provides detailed conceptual and reference information about OLE DB.

Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC): Provides detailed conceptual and reference information about ODBC.