Posted by DM Unseen on 10/23/81 11:43

Depends on how you read the question. if you mean connecting without an
OLEDB connection I think the answer is "no", but else Dicks' post is
correct.

OPENROWSET: you can use to connect to external data without a linked
server, the connection properties are embedded in the OPENROWSET
call(See BOL). Having said this, the command has more limitations than
linked servers.The only advantage is using it for ad hoc connections.
And even that you can simulate by adding linked servers at runtime. I
would use Linked servers with e.g. OPENQUERY over OPENROWSET anytime.

DM Unseen

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