Sub Test() Dim conn, rs Dim StartTime, EndTime Set conn = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") Set rs = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset") StartTime = Timer ' set any desirable timeout in seconds ' edit this connection string conn.ConnectionString="DSN=test" conn.Open conn.CommandTimeout=3 rs.Open "SELECT SLEEP(10)", conn MsgBox "Done! Elapsed Seconds " & (Timer-StartTime) rs.Close Set rs = Nothing conn.Close Set conn = Nothing End Sub Test