Database servers typically use a server name, application name, and database name in the creation of unique identifiers. The nature of these identifiers makes database references less portable. Web Analysis Studio uses user-friendly database aliases instead of long identifiers. Not only are database connection names easier to remember and more economical to employ, they enable the database to be maintained on multiple servers.
In short, database connections are portable files that define the terms, conditions and method for connecting to a data source.
System requirements vary for RDBMS (see the Oracle Hyperion Enterprise Performance management System Installation Start Here Guide), and you must compose a database connection string and provide log on credentials to navigate your relational hierarchy. You can also connect to level 2 or level 4 JDBC RDBMS using other relational data objects (SQL Spreadsheet, freeform grid, relational drill-through and Integration Services drill-through).
The View Pane Information Panel tab displays the database connection used by the current data object. The Information panel features two database connection segments: