Connecting to Data and Editing Data

In this section:

Aside from uploading data, you can create synonyms by connecting to various data sources. The Connect to Data wizard leads you through this process and allows you to establish a connection to many native data sources. The data source being used determines the type of metadata that is required. For example:

Whatever your data source, the adapter you are using manages the synonym creation process for you, creating a synonym that meets your specific requirements.

Note: Although all synonym creation panes have the same look and feel, the parameters are specific to each adapter. To obtain detailed information for an adapter, click the question mark (?) next to a parameter.

Creating a Synonym With the Connect to Data Wizard

In this section:

The Connect to Data wizard provides a step-by-step process for configuring adapters that connect to data sources that you can use to build reports, charts, and visualizations in InfoAssist+.

Using the Connect to Data wizard, you can perform the following steps:

  1. Connect to SQL. Configure an adapter, create a new connection, or change connection parameters.
  2. Import Metadata. Create a synonym for one or more data sources.
  3. Edit Metadata. Enhance metadata by adding measures, dimensions, and dimension hierarchies.

These steps are displayed in the navigation screen, as shown in the following image. As you complete the tasks for each step, the tool automatically takes you to the next step in the process. If you want to go directly to a specific step, click the step and the corresponding window opens.

Metadata tool

You can launch the Connect to Data wizard in one of the following ways:

Step One: Connect to SQL

How to:

The first step in the Connect to Data wizard is creating a connection to your data, which will allow you to modify your data for use in WebFOCUS. You can configure a new adapter or connection, add a connection to an existing adapter, or change adapter connections.

Procedure: How to Configure a New Adapter/Connection

  1. From the Configure connection screen, click New Adapter/Connection.

    The Configure Adapter screen opens, as shown in the following image.

    Configure Adapter pane
  2. Select the radio button for the adapter and click Next.

    Note: To sort the available adapters, click the column headers and choose from the available options to sort in ascending or descending order. You can also reset to the original order.

    The Add to Configuration screen opens.

  3. Enter the parameters for the specific adapter and click Configure.

Procedure: How to Add a Connection

  1. From the Configure connection screen, click Add Connection.

    The Add Connections screen opens.

  2. Select the radio button for the adapter and click Next.
  3. Enter the parameters for the specific adapter and click Configure.

Procedure: How to Change a Connection

  1. From the Configure connection screen, click Change Connection.

    The Edit Connections screen opens.

  2. Select the radio button for the connection and click Next.

    Note: You can click the Adapter, Connection, Connection string, or Profile columns to sort the available connections.

  3. Change the parameters for the specific connection and click Configure.

Step Two: Import Metadata

How to:

Once you configure a connection, you must select the metadata that you want to import. The first screen that you see is the Select connection to create synonyms screen. Here, you select the connection to your data.

Procedure: How to Import Metadata

  1. Select the radio button for the adapter and click Next.

    The Select Synonym Candidates screen opens.

  2. Select or enter the parameters for each screen and click Next.

    The Create Synonym screen opens.

  3. Select one or more synonym check boxes.
  4. Click Next.

    The synonyms are created in the application directory.

Step Three: Edit Metadata

Using the first screen in this step, you can manage and enhance your metadata as required, to simplify and enrich future analytics. By default, you can see your fields interpreted as measures and dimensions, as shown in the following image. You can modify the synonym structure by using the ribbon functions and the shortcut menu options available in the Folders Pane.

Note: If you have changed the default view of the wizards to use the BV+ capabilities, your data does not show these structures.

Edit Metadata Screen

For more information about the options that are available in the Edit Metadata screen in the Connect to Data wizard, see Connect to Data Wizard Metadata Screen Reference.

Related Information:

Editing And Deleting Metadata

How to:

You are able to edit or delete previously created synonyms using the shortcut menu.

Procedure: How to Edit a Synonym

  1. Right-click a synonym and click Open, as shown in the following image.
    Reporting Server

    The Data Assist opens, where you can modify your synonym.

    Note: When you open an existing synonym in this way, the Master File opens in one of the following two modes by default.

    • BV+ Compatibility Mode. If the Master File has a DV defined, the synonym opens, showing the DV organization and icons. However, the Master File syntax is converted to use BV+ folders with the DV structure. In this mode, you cannot create new folders, and you are limited to the structure that is already defined in the synonym. For example, you can insert a new measure group or dimension hierarchy.
    • Full BV+ Mode. If an existing synonym does not have a DV defined, it opens in full BV+ mode. In BV+ mode, you can create new folders, and assign DV roles to fields.
  2. Make edits to the synonym, as required.
  3. To save your synonym, click File, and then click Save.
  4. Close the Reporting Server window.

Procedure: How to Delete Metadata

  1. Right-click the synonym that you want to Delete, point to Data Management, and then click Delete All Data.

    A confirmation window opens, alerting you that you are deleting every row of data.

  2. Click OK to proceed.
  3. To remove the synonym file from the view, right-click this synonym again and then click Delete.
  4. Close the Reporting server window.

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