Python SQL connection causes crash in ArcMap

Question

I have the following code which I have striped down to just included the part that is causing a crash in ArcMap.

import pymssql

# Connect to the Research db using Windows Integrated Authentication.
conn = pymssql.connect(host='000.000.0.0', database='Research', trusted=True)

conn.close()
del conn

The first time this is run as a script from the toolbar works just fine. However if I run the script again it crashes ArcMap to crash. "ESRI has encounter a serious error and will now exit." Then asks if I want to submit error report...

Thoughts on what's happening? I thought closing the connection would be enough.

Do I need a Try/Exception statework work here. To handle if the connection is already made then don't override it?

Also, If someone knows where to find the ESRI report log on the computer I will upload mine.

Answer 1

Try unchecking the "Run Python script in process" checkbox. (This can be found in the "Source" tab of your tool's Properties)

I'm running into the exact same problem using pyodbc 3.7. My script runs once and then crashes the second time it's run. Unchecking the aforementioned checkbox lets the script run multiple times without issue (but it seems to cause it to not work when published as a GP service).