Managing data source templates
When you use Information Services to access data from a JDBC data source, you must have a data source template for that data source. When you have installed the appropriate driver and data source template on the Spotfire Server, you can use the Information Designer tool in the installed Spotfire client to create information links for accessing data from that data source.
Overview
Data source templates are XML configuration files. They define JDBC connections for Information Services by specifying which driver will be used, how the connection string should be formatted, and other settings needed for successfully connecting to a database.
Several data source templates and JDBC drivers are included in the Spotfire Server installation. As an Information Services Configurator, you can add custom data source templates. This way, you can enable users to create information links to more types of data sources.
Template status and availability
When you view the data source templates list in the administration page, two columns indicate the state of a template:
- Status
- Valid indicates that the template configuration is valid, and the required JDBC driver is successfully installed on the Spotfire Server.
- Warning indicates a configuration issue. In most cases the required driver is missing and needs to be deployed. Contact your Spotfire administrator if this is the case.
- Availability
Indicates whether users can use this template to create new information links and whether the dependent data sources will work. A disabled template is not visible to users, which could be good alternative to deletion. Edit the template to switch the availability.
Note: You can see the dependent data sources in the library by right-clicking on a template and selecting Copy library search query for dependent data sources. Paste the contents into the library search field.
Supported functionality
- Using the server administration page ().
- Using command-line commands. Find a list of the commands in Data source template commands.
| Task | Web administration pages | Command-line commands |
|---|---|---|
| Add a data source template to the environment | Yes | Yes |
| Download template XML of a specific version | Yes | No |
| Enable/disable a template | Yes | Yes |
| Edit the template XML | Yes | No |
| Export a single template | Yes | Yes |
| Export all templates on the environment | No | Yes |
| Import a single template | Yes | No |
| Import all templates specified in a file | No | Yes |
| Remove a data source template | Yes | Yes |
| Restore a template to a previous version | Yes | No |
| Validate a data source template connection | No | Yes |
| View dependent data sources | Yes | Yes |
| View template versions and their comments | Yes | No |
| Verify template status | Yes | No |
| Verify template XML | Yes | No |