Minimum required files for connect to MS SQL Server

In the table below you can view description for the files, which are required for connectivity to Microsoft SQL Server. You can place the required files in Windows system directory (WinNT\system32 or Win95\system) or any other, which is necessary to add to the PATH environment variable.

File Name
Description

ntwdblib.dll
DB-Lib interface library contains functions for the WIN32 API

Communication DLL / Net Library
One library for used communication protocol.

You can use one of the following Net library:

Dbnmpntw.dll - Named Pipes library
Dbmssocn.dll or dbnetlib.dll (for MSSQL 2000) - TCP/IP Sockets library
Dbmsspxn.dll - NWLink IPX/SPX library
Dbmsrpcn.dll - Multi-Protocol library

If you will use Named Pipes protocol, then it is enough to distribute the following files with your application: Ntwdblib.dll and Dbnmpntw.dll. As since Named Pipes is default Net-Library for MS SQL Client, if Net-Library entry is not exist in registry.

When you need to use other Net Library (except Named Pipes), then you need to import the following data(Net Library entry) in the system registry for connect through TCP/IP library (for example):

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\ConnectTo]
"DSQUERY"="DBMSSOCN"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\DB-Lib]
"AutoAnsiToOem"="on"
"UseIntlSettings"="ON"