---
github_repository: https://github.com/duckdb/duckdb-odbc
layout: docu
redirect_from:
- /docs/api/odbc/configuration
- /docs/api/odbc/configuration/
- /docs/clients/odbc/configuration
title: ODBC Configuration
---

This page documents the files using the ODBC configuration, [`odbc.ini`](#odbcini-and-odbcini) and [`odbcinst.ini`](#odbcinstini-and-odbcinstini).
These are either placed in the home directory as dotfiles (`.odbc.ini` and `.odbcinst.ini`, respectively) or in a system directory.
For platform-specific details, see the pages for [Linux]({% link docs/stable/clients/odbc/linux.md %}), [macOS]({% link docs/stable/clients/odbc/macos.md %}), and [Windows]({% link docs/stable/clients/odbc/windows.md %}).

## `odbc.ini` and `.odbc.ini`

The `odbc.ini` file contains the DSNs for the drivers, which can have specific knobs.
An example of `odbc.ini` with DuckDB:

```ini
[DuckDB]
Driver = DuckDB Driver
Database = :memory:
access_mode = read_only
```

The lines correspond to the following parameters:

* `[DuckDB]`: between the brackets is a DSN for the DuckDB.
* `Driver`: Describes the driver's name, as well as where to find the configurations in the `odbcinst.ini`.
* `Database`: Describes the database name used by DuckDB, can also be a file path to a `.db` in the system.
* `access_mode`: The mode in which to connect to the database.

## `odbcinst.ini` and `.odbcinst.ini`

The `odbcinst.ini` file contains general configurations for the ODBC installed drivers in the system.
A driver section starts with the driver name between brackets, and then it follows specific configuration knobs belonging to that driver.

Example of `odbcinst.ini` with the DuckDB:

```ini
[ODBC]
Trace = yes
TraceFile = /tmp/odbctrace

[DuckDB Driver]
Driver = /path/to/libduckdb_odbc.dylib
```

The lines correspond to the following parameters:

* `[ODBC]`: The DM configuration section.
* `Trace`: Enables the ODBC trace file using the option `yes`.
* `TraceFile`: The absolute system file path for the ODBC trace file.
* `[DuckDB Driver]`: The section of the DuckDB installed driver.
* `Driver`: The absolute system file path of the DuckDB driver. Change to match your configuration.