2.2.3.13.5 rdsHandlerString

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The rdsHandlerString specifies what handler to use for the request and what parameters to supply to the handler. The syntax of an rdsHandlerString is defined as follows. 

 rdsHandlerString = BSTREMPTY

A handler is a custom component on the server that examines a request and transforms it before the normal request processing rules are applied. Handlers are used for:

  • Aliasing connection strings.

  • Aliasing queries.

  • Implementing security restrictions.

  • Parameterization of queries.

The rdsHandlerString can be either a BSTR value or VT-EMPTY. If the rdsHandlerString is VT-EMPTY or (VT-BSTR BSTRNULL), the request uses the default handler on the server.

When the rdsHandlerString is set to a BSTR value, the value identifies the handler to be used with this request.<36> The string contains two parts:

  • The first part of the string MUST contain the name of the handler to be used.

  • The second part of the string MUST contain arguments to be passed to the handler. How the arguments string is interpreted is handler-specific.

The two parts are separated by the first instance of a comma in the string (although the arguments string can contain additional commas). The arguments to the handler are optional.