What is it?

 In computing, Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is a standard application

programming interface (API) for accessing database management systems
(DBMS). The designers of ODBC aimed to make it independent of database
systems and operating systems. An application written using ODBC can be ported
to other platforms, both on the client and server-side, with few changes to the data
access code.

 Some examples of common ODBC compliant databases are:

o Microsoft Access
o MySQL
o Oracle
o Microsoft SQL Server
o Microsoft Visual FoxPro
o IBM DB2
  The ODBC driver interface defines:
o A library of ODBC function calls of two types:
 Core functions that are based on the X/Open and SQL Access Group
 Call Level Interface specification
 Extended functions that support additional functionality, including
scrollable cursors
o SQL syntax based on the X/Open and SQL Access Group SQL CAE
specification (1992)
o A standard set of error codes
o A standard way to connect and logon to a DBMS
o A standard representation for data types

When is appropriate to use?

 Using ODBC, an application developer can develop, compile, and ship an
application without targeting a specific DBMS. In this scenario, the application
developer does not need to use embedded SQL; thereby eliminating the need to
recompile the application for each new environment.
 Other large database systems such as Oracle, MS SQL, and my SQL all have
database engines and GUIs (Graphic User Interface). But they are essentially
separate products. It is this time you should use ODBC. You can install the
database engine, without installing the GUI. A single GUI installation can give
you access to many database engines.
How to use it proficiently? Demo?
 Consider the following rules and guidelines when you create an ODBC
connection:
o ODBC connections support system DSNs, not user DSNs.
o It is recommended to use a predefined connection instead of an ODBC
connection for databases. For example, use the Oracle connection type to
connect to an Oracle database.
o When you create or edit a task with an ODBC connection, database tables
from other schema in the database might appear in the wizard. The wizard
does not filter tables based on the schema specified for the ODBC
connection.
o Even though you can use an ODBC connection to read or write unicode
data, ensure that source or target table names and field names do not
contain Unicode (UTF-8) characters.
 o The data preview area might not display data from an ODBC connection if
the database table or column name is also a database key word.
o If you use an ODBC connection for an Oracle database target, ensure that
Oracle table columns with the following data types do not exceed the
specified maximum precision: char(1999), varchar(3999), nvarchar(3998),
and nchar(3998).
o You cannot use an ODBC connection to perform update or delete operation
on an Excel target.
o If you use an ODBC connection for an Excel source or target file, ensure
that named ranges are defined in the Excel file.
o Do not use an ODBC connection to perform upserts on a MySQL database.
Use a MySQL connection to perform upserts.
o When you use an ODBC connection to include multiple MySQL tables
in mapping tasks, use an advanced relationship instead of an existing or
custom relationship.
o In synchronization tasks, use a user-defined join.
o The Snowflake ODBC driver is not supported for SUSE Linux.
o When you use a saved query, do not specify a star ( * ) in the projection list
in a saved query. For example, in SELECT * from EMP_MVIEW, instead
of star, you must specify the columns explicitly in the query.

Demo
 Application: MS Excel 2013
 Database link( XML file): https://www.w3schools.com/xml/simple.xml
 Link Demo:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQQpuwstTI7jBgALJeomr7_MqizQVGMu/view
?usp=sharing
Step1: Open file Excel

Step2: Choose DATA

Step3: Choose From Web

Step4: Enter XML Database link and press Go button

Step5: Press Import button

Step6: Select position and press OK button

Step7: Complete