4 External Data Sources

This chapter contain the information needed to create and manage External Data Sources.

This chapter contains the following topics:

• Introducing External Data Sources

• Listing External Data Sources

• Defining External Data Sources

• Editing External Data Sources

• Deleting External Data Sources

• External Data Source Example

4.1 Introducing External Data Sources

An external data source is a connection to an external database. External data sources usually contain data that does not change very much or data that is too large to bring into the Active Data Cache.

External data source configurations can be exported and imported using ICommand, but you cannot import or edit the contents using ICommand, Enterprise Link, or Architect.Passwords are entered in clear text. You cannot use DSNs (data source names).

4.2 Listing External Data Sources

To view the existing external data sources:

• Select External Data Sources from the Architect function list.

Figure 4-1 Architect Function List

Description of "Figure 4-1 Architect Function List"

4.3 Defining External Data Sources

To define an external data source:

1. Select External Data Sources from the Architect function list.

2. Click Create.

3. Enter a name and a description for the external data source.

4. Enter Driver, for example, Microsoft ODBC for Oracle.

5. Enter database user credentials in the Login and Password fields.

6. Enter Connection string/URL.

For a complete example of defining an External Data Source against an Oracle database, see "External Data Source Example".

4.4 Editing External Data Sources

To edit an external data source:

1. Select External Data Sources from the Architect function list.

2. Select the external data source to edit.

   The external data source properties display.

3. Select Edit.

4. Make the changes and click Save.

4.5 Deleting External Data Sources

To delete an external data source:

1. Select External Data Sources from the Architect function list.

2. Select the external data source to delete.

   The data source properties display.

3. Select Delete.

4. Click OK to confirm that you want to delete the data source.

   The data source is deleted.

4.6 External Data Source Example

This example uses the sample scott/tiger user account and the EMP table in the Oracle database. You may need to unlock the scott/tiger account before proceeding with this example.

Step 1: Create an External Data Source

1. Select External Data Sources from the Architect function list.

2. Click Create.

3. Enter myDataSource in the External Data Source Name field.

4. Enter My Example External Data Source in the Description field.

5. Enter Microsoft ODBC for Oracle in the Driver field.

6. Enter scott in the Login field and tiger in the Password field.

   This sample account comes with your Oracle database installation. If you do not have this sample account you can create a new account and use it for this example.

7. Enter server=net_service_name in the Connection string/URL.

   This entry needs to be a Net Service Name defined in your tnsnames.ora file.

8. Click Save.

9. Click Continue.

   The External Data Source information is displayed on the screen.

Step 2: Create a Data Object using the External Data Source

1. Select Data Objects from the Architect function list.

2. Click Create Data Object.

3. Enter Employees in the Name for new Data Object field.

4. Leave the slash (/) in the Location for new Data Object field.

   The data object will appear in the top level Data Objects folder.

5. Leave the Tip text field blank.

6. Enter Oracle Database Sample EMP Table in the Description field.

7. Select the External Data Source checkbox.

8. Select myDataSource from the External Data Source list.

9. Enter emp in the External Table Name field.

10. Add the following fields to the data object:

    Field	External Field Name	Field Type
    ename	ename	String
    empno	empno	Integer
    job	job	String
    mgr	mgr	Integer
    hiredate	hiredate	DateTime
    sal	sal	Decimal
    comm	comm	Decimal
    deptno	deptno	Integer

    
    

    Keep default settings for field attributes not specified in the table.

11. Click Create Data Object.

12. Click Continue.

13. Click Contents to view the contents of the data object

    The data in the Employees data object should match the data in the Oracle database sample EMP table.