Creating A Database From Multiple Databases Accross Multiple Servers

Hi,

I'm trying to create a database that takes specific information from a number of databases on different servers to make some reporting that we have much easier.

I'm pretty new to SQL so I'm not sure of the best way to proceed. I read an article that suggested I use the OPENROWSET command. The problem is, the version of SQL that came with one of the programmes we use is limited and will not allow you to turn on the allow "Ad Hoc distributed Queries" so the SLQ statement will not execute.

I'm confused why it won't let me to connect through ODBC as I've created a web page that selects data from this database with no problems!

Here is the SQL statement that I've written to make sure it is the correct one (on the msdn library page it said that this was the ODBC connection):

SELECT a.*
FROM OPENROWSET('MSDASQL','DRIVER=(SQL Server);SERVER=APPOLOACT7;UID=sa;PWD=***************',
'SELECT * FROM MDCTestAndDev.dbo.TBL_CONTACT') AS a



I've also created the ODBC connection using the tool on Administration Tools>Data Sources ODBC

Any help would be greatly appreciated (also any ways of selecting from one database and inserting it into another will be helpfull)

Thanks