With unixODBC you can use a simple command line utility called "isql" to test your connection and permissions of some queries. Without having to write extra code or install libs or bloated programs, is there a simple way to open up X data source send some sql commands and be done with it?
Doing this on the command line would be preferable.
Answer
One way to create a quick test query in Windows via an ODBC connection is using the DQY format.
To achieve this, create a DQY file (e.g. test.dqy) containing the magic first two lines (XLODBC and 1) as below, followed by your ODBC connection string on the third line and your query on the fourth line (all on one line), e.g.:
XLODBC
1
Driver={Microsoft ODBC for Oracle};server=DB;uid=scott;pwd=tiger;
SELECT COUNT(1) n FROM emp
Then, if you open the file by double-clicking it, it will open in Excel and populate the worksheet with the results of the query.