Data Connections

How to Connect a Data Connection in Manage

1. Open the Data Source tab in ‘Manage’ and click the ‘New Data Connection’ button

2. Enter the ‘Data Connection Name’ in the textbox given, select the ‘Connection Type’ from the drop-down list and enter the ‘Connection String’ in the Connection Attributes field for the specified ‘Connection Type’. For more information, refer to Data Source Connection Types below:

3. Click the ‘Test Connection Button’ to check whether the connection has been established:

4. Click ‘Save’ button.

Data Source Connection Types

SmartIQ uses connection strings to establish a connection to an external data system. There are several data sources from which the data can be can be read and used by SmartIQ – CSV, OLEDB, Oracle, Web Service, XML, SmartIQ

CSV

The CSV connection type enable the connection to a CSV (.csv) or Text (.txt) file. The format for the connection string is:

csv = data-source-path; fields = field-name1, field-name2,….; hdr = header-row-number; delimiter = delimiter-character; skipheaderrows = number; skipfooterrows= number; widths = width-of-field-1, width-of-field-2,….;

The parameters .csv and fields/hdr are mandatory and the remaining are optional in a .csv connection string.

Example Connection Strings:

csv=c:\temp\book1.csv;fields=Name,CategoryId;hdr=1;delimiter=|
csv=c:\temp\book1.txt;fields=Name,CategoryId;widths=10,5
csv=c:\temp\book1.csv;fields=Name,CategoryId;skipheaderrows=2;skipfooterrows=2

Example CSV with header and footer rows:

CLIENT REPORT 01-01-2012
ID,fName,surnam
01,Ben,Smit
03,Sally,Jon
END OF FILE

In recent versions, if the hdr=1 (e.g. first row is header row) attribute is part of the connection string, the field names will be picked up from the txt file and the 'fields' attribute can be left out.

SQL Server

The SQL Server Database Action Delivers Data to SQL Server via a Stored Procedure via OLEDB. This connection type will produce the best performance for SQL datasources compared to other connection types.
The basic format for the connection string is:

Server=server-name;Persist Security Info=True/False;User ID=user-ID;Initial Catalog=SQL-Database-name;password=login-password

Example Connection Strings

Server=tcp:xyzsqlserver.database.windows.net,1433;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=infinitiID;Initial Catalog=Sample Data;Data Source=intelledoxXYZ;password=infinitipassword

SQL Server connections usually require a username and password, these credentials can be part of the connection string or more securely, the username and password fields can be used on the data source screen properties hiding the password from plain view.

Web Service

The Web Service connection type enables the connection to web services which allows users to access the attributes of a function.

The format for the connection string is:
http://webservice link

Example Connection Strings

http://intelledoxXYZ/sampledata/service1.asmx

XML

The ODBC connection type enables the connection to an XML data source. The format for the connection string is:

xsd=xsd-file-path; xml=xml-file-path;

Example Connection Strings

xsd=C:\temp\Books.xsd; xml=C:\temp\Books.xml;

SmartIQ

The SmartIQ connection type enables the connection to the internal SmartIQ data source that the instance of SmartIQ is currently using. A connection string is not required for this data source type as this is already known.

JSON

SmartIQ supports the JSON file format for data sources.

JSON Data Source

The connection string format has a "schema" and a "json" part to it. "schema" points to the schema file in draft v4 syntax and "json" points to your data file. (eg "schema=c:\temp\products.schema.json;json=c:\temp\products.json" )

Data object Name is not used and any value can be entered.

Display fields start with a "$" which just indicates the root of the data, "[]" indicates that this item is repeated.

Filter fields are any path that is not the repeat path itself (ends with "[]").

JSON data sources only support the hierarchical setup for nested repeating items.

SmartIQ supports JSON schema draft v4.

REST

For more information, refer to Rest Data Connector.

OLEDB

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Note:

For performance, security and forward compatibility reasons, the OLEDB connection type should only be used if it is the only connection type that can be used for a datasource. SQL Server connection type should be preferred whenever possible.

The OLEDB connection type enables the connection to which only support web authentication data sources such as SQL server data sources. The format for the connection string is:

Provider=provider-name;Persist Security Info=True/False;User ID=user-ID;Initial Catalog=SQL-Database-name;Data Source=server-name;password=login-password

Example Connection Strings

Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=infinitiID;Initial Catalog=Sample Data;Data Source=intelledoxXYZ;password=infinitipassword

OLEDB connections usually require a username and password, these credentials can be part of the connection string or more securely, the username and password fields can be used on the data source screen properties hiding the password from plain view.