Example: Moving a Shared Data Source from Test to Production

This example assumes that you have an analysis based on a shared Microsoft SQL Server data source and a shared data connection already set up in your library. See How to Work with Data Connections and their Data Sources in the Library if you need help setting them up. The steps described in these instructions show how you can export copies of the current test items to a different Spotfire server and then change the URL to the data in the exported copies.

Tip: You can skip the export and import steps and redirect the shared data source directly, if you only want to update the database URL .

To export items from the library:

Note: To export a folder and its contents to file you must be a member of the Library Administrator group and have sufficient folder permissions.

Start Spotfire and log into the server (and deployment area) from which you want to export items.
Open Tools > Library Administration and browse to the folder you want to export.
Select the folder and, on the toolbar, click Export.

Tip: Make sure that all dependencies (columns, filters, etc.) needed by the exported elements are included in the exported folder. You can select separate items and use the Copy button if you need to copy certain items to the folder before the export.

Type a File name for the exported file.

Comment: The folder and its contents will be saved as a zip archive, placed in a specific folder (or in its subfolders) on a specific machine. See the TIBCO Spotfire Server - Installation and Configuration Manual for more information about how to set this up.

In the Export items of type drop-down list, select if you want to limit the export to only include certain types of items.
Select whether to Include permissions or not.
Click Close when the Log states Export done.

To import items from the library:

Note: To import a folder and its contents to file you must be a member of the Library Administrator group and have sufficient folder permissions.

Copy the exported file to the new Spotfire server. Make sure you place the file in the shared disk location of the new server.
Start Spotfire and log into the server to which you want to import items.
Click on the Import button.
Click Browse.
Select the file you want to import, and click OK.
Select if you want to Include permissions if such are stored in the file. If you do not include any permissions, the imported items will inherit the permissions of the destination folder.
Click OK.
Select a folder to import to, and click OK.
Click Close when the Log states Import done.

To redirect the data source to a different database instance:

Go to Tools > Manage Data Connections.
Go to the folder where the data source to redirect is located and select the data source.
On the toolbar, click Edit.

Response: The Data Source Settings dialog opens.

In the Data Source Settings dialog click Edit....

Response: The Microsoft SQL Server Connection dialog opens.

Change the Server address to point to the production server, click Connect and then select the Database.
Click OK to close the Microsoft SQL Server Connection dialog.
Click Save.

Response: The data source has now been redirected to the new SQL server instance.

Close the Manage Data Connections dialog.

After exporting or copying items in the library, you also need to replace the data source item used by the data connection, so that it is the exported version of the data source that is in use in the exported connection.

To replace the data source in a connection:

Go to Tools > Manage Data Connections.
Go to the folder where the data connection to redirect is located and select the data source.
On the toolbar, click Edit.

Response: The Data Connection Settings dialog opens.

In the Data Connection Settings dialog, go to the Data Source tab.
Click Settings....

Response: The Data Source Settings dialog opens.

Click Replace.
Browse to the new data source and click OK.
Click OK to close the Data Source Settings dialog.
Click Save.

The data connection has now been redirected to use the new data source instance.

Close the Manage Data Connections dialog.

Comment: All analyses that use this particular data connection will now base their data on the new data source. However, note that if you copy entire analyses from one Spotfire server to another, then you may also need to open the analysis on the new server and switch to a different connection.

To view the current source for a data table in an analysis:

Select File > Open From > Library....
Browse to the folder of interest, select the analysis and click Open.
Go to Edit > Data Table Properties.
Select the data table and click on the Source Information tab.

To replace the connection used in an analysis:

Select File > Open From > Library....
Browse to the folder of interest, select the analysis and click Open.
Go to Edit > Data Connection Properties.
Select the connection that should be replaced and click on Settings....
Click Replace.
Browse to the new data connection and click OK.
Click OK to close the Data Connection Settings dialog.
Click OK to close the Data Connection Properties dialog.
Save the analysis.