To create a connection to the following data source types, a DSN is required:
You only have to use the DSN when you first create the connection, or if you want to update the connection. From the DSN, Spotfire imports the connection string information about how to connect to the data source.
What is a DSN?
A DSN (Data Source Name) is an object, which you set up on your computer, that stores information about how to connect to an external data source. It stores details such as the location of the data source, the authentication method, and which driver to use. When you create or update a Spotfire connection to these data sources, Spotfire imports all this information from the DSN and saves it in the connection (as part of the connection data source object).
For in-depth information about DSNs, refer to official documentation from Microsoft.
What DSNs are supported?
DSN types
The DSN that you use to create a connection must be a System DSN or a User DSN. The DSN must also be created with a supported ODBC Driver for connecting to the data source in Spotfire. File DSNs are not supported.
Authentication types
Make sure you configure your DSN with an authentication type that is supported for that data source in Spotfire.
Creating a DSN to use with Spotfire in Windows
To set up a DSN on your computer, you use the ODBC Data Source Administrator in Windows, and the ODBC driver provided by your data source vendor.
For in-depth information about how to create and configure a DSN for your data source, refer to the official documentation from your data source vendor.
Prerequisites
Your Windows user must have administrative privileges to be able to create or edit DSNs on your computer.
Make sure you have all the information required for connecting to your data source, such as server name, authentication method, and user credentials.
Note: In many organizations, it is common for IT to manage and distribute DSNs for data sources that are accessed by users across the organization. If you are not able to create a DSN on your computer yourself, your IT administrator can help you.
To create a DSN in Windows:
In Windows, open the ODBC Data Source Administrator (Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools).
In the ODBC Data Source Administrator, use the tabs to select whether you want to create a System DSN or a User DSN.
Click Add….
In the Create New Data Source
dialog, select the driver corresponding to the data source you want
to connect to, and then click Finish.
Response: The dialog for configuring a DSN with the selected ODBC driver
is opened.
Use the ODBC driver to enter the required information for connecting to your data source.
Result: Your DSN is listed in Spotfire when you create a new connection with the corresponding connector (Files and data > Connect to).
Updating a Spotfire connection to include new changes to a DSN
When you create a connection from a DSN, all the required connection information is imported from the selected DSN, and it is saved in the Spotfire connection (as part of the connection data source object). This enables you to use the connection to analyze data in Spotfire on other computers, without being required to have the same DSN set up on those computers too.
The import of connection information from a DSN to your Spotfire connection is a one-time import. If you make any changes to the DSN that you also want to include in your Spotfire connection, you must update the Spotfire connection to import the latest connection information from the DSN.
To update a connection in an analysis with new DSN information:
On the menu bar, select Data > Data connection properties.
In the Data Connection Properties dialog, click to select the connection you want to update, and then click Settings....
In the Data Connection Settings dialog, on Data Source tab, click Settings….
In the Data Source Settings dialog, on the Login tab, click Edit….
In the Connection dialog, click to select the DSN that you want to import new connection information from. If required, enter the credentials in the Username and Password fields.
To import new connection information from the selected DSN, click Connect.
To save your changes, click OK to close each dialog and return to your analysis.
To update a connection in the library with new DSN information:
On the menu bar, select Data > Manage data connections.
In the Manage Data Connections dialog, browse to find the data connection or connection data source that you want to update.
Click to select the data connection or connection data source, and then click Edit.
If prompted, log in with your
credentials for the data source.
Tip: If you are updating a connection data
source, rather than a data connection, go to step
6.
In the Data Connection Settings dialog, on Data Source tab, click Settings….
In the Data Source Settings dialog, on the Login tab, click Edit….
In the Connection dialog, click to select the DSN that you want to import new connection information from. If required, enter the credentials in the Username and Password fields.
To import new connection information from the selected DSN, click Connect.
To save your changes, click OK to close each dialog, and then click Save.