The error message receieved when executing the Open() method is:
COM Exception error "Open" (ADODB.Connection - ADO could not find the specified provider.) [1/1]

I've checked the registry, and although I can find ADODB.Connection under HKCR, there's no sign of the Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0, only Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.3.51. I think this is the difference between Access versions installed.

Testing with the new value for the $DSN you suggested gives the error:

COM exception error "Open" (Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers - [Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access 97 Driver] Can't open database '(unknown)'. It may not be a database that your application recognises, or the file may be corrupt.)[1/1]

However, upgrading the test system to Access 2000 allows both the suggested values for $DSN to work OK. I suspect the problem is that the native database format for Access 2000 is not recognised by Access 97.

So, recreating the database in Access 97 and using the native Microsoft Access Driver DSN is doing the trick. At least now all my workstations (with Access installed) will write to the database. Now I need to test what components I should install on my non-Access workstations to allow them to write info as well, I'm not even sure if this will be possible.

Before I came across this thread I was planning to run a scheduled script daily or weekly to parse the text files that my current production script generates, and import that into a database. Obviously I have been seduced by the COM/OLE Dark Side ("You don't know the power of the Dark Side!") and would prefer to write directly to the database and cut out the text files altogether, but this may require a degree of sophistication that I fear is beyond me.

At least I'm getting somewhere now - many many thanks go to Shawn for his patience and persistence with us lesser mortals. When I finally get this finished, I'll post the whole thing here for all to see and deride at their leisure. Hopefully that'll be next week, if I don't get swamped by other stuff.

A Bientot, mes amis!