Accessing data with a shared connection or information link

You can use data from your databases in Spotfire without having to create a new connection. Data connections and information links can be saved and shared in the library, and you can open them to easily connect to and access a selection of data from an external data source.

About this task

Note: In the Spotfire web client, you can open and add data from data connections and information links, even if you do not have authoring capabilities for connections to that data source. See Data connections in the Spotfire web client.

Before you begin

The required drivers must be installed on your computer or the computer running the Spotfire Web Player.
Data source credentials might be required to log in to the data source.

Procedure

On the authoring bar, click Files and data .
In the Files and data flyout, click Browse the library, or use the search bar to locate the data connection or information link that you want to open.

Tip: You can use the search bar to display a list of all data connections and information links that are shared in the library. Type the following phrase in the search bar: type:query or type:dataconnection
Click to open the data connection or information link of interest.
- If required, enter your credentials to log in to the external data source.
In the Add data to analysis flyout, you can view and change the settings for how the data will be added. Click OK to confirm and add the data to your analysis.

What is a data connection, and what is an information link?

When you add data to your analysis from a data connection or an information link, it works much the same way. Both enable you to access a prepared selection of data from an external data source. But there are some differences.

Data connections

In the library, you can recognize a data connection from this icon .

Data connections are the most convenient way to access data from external data sources in Spotfire. Spotfire has native support for creating connections to many types of data sources. For information on all supported data sources that you can access data from with connections, see Supported data sources

When you access data with a data connection, you can choose the load method. This means that you can keep the data external, for in-database analysis, or you can import it, for in-memory analysis. For more information, see Load methods.

Information links

In the library, you can recognize an information link from this icon .

When you add data from an information link, you can only import the data, for in-memory analysis.

When it is possible, it is recommended to use data connections rather than information links to access data.