In general, you have to go to "BDE Config" and define an alias for the
database you want to connect to. This allows you to avoid hard-coding a
directory path into your application; you just refer to the alias. Then,
you create a minimum of three objects on the desktop: A Query or Table
object that actually talks to the alias and gets some data; a Data Source
object that links between the data and the controls, and at least one data-
aware control.
If you've been trying for hours to get this to work, and no matter what you
do you just don't see anything happening, try setting the "active" property
on the Table or Query to "True." This will open the database. I have seen
many people get caught out by this the first time they try it.