Create an External Connection to an OLE DB

To create an External Connection to an OLE Server Database:

1. Open or create a Blueprint.
2. Select Managers>External Connections to open the External Connections Manager.
3. Click the Create New button.

   The External Connection Wizard opens.

4. Click Next.

   The Database Source page opens.

5. On the Login options page:
   • Select the Use Trusted Agents check box if you use the Trusted Agents feature and you want to control how the system logs in to the external data source.
   • Select one of these options:
     • Any Trusted Agent Group: Select to allow any group to handle requests for this External Connection.
     • Trusted Agent Group: Select a specific group to handle requests for this External Connection.
   • Click Next.

   For more information, refer to Import External Data Using Trusted Agents.

6. On the Data Source page:
   1. Select OLE DB.

   2. Click Next.

7. On the OLE DB Provider page:
   1. Select an OLE DB Provider.
      Note: If you are using Oracle as the provider, there are some differences in the Wizard. For more information, see Create an External Connection to Oracle Drivers should be available from a database vendor. Consult the database vendor for assistance locating this driver. There are also OLE Database drivers from third-party vendors that can be used.

   2. Click Next.

8. On the Database Location page:
   1. Select the Database Location of the connecting database:
      • Located on this Machine: Select this option if running a local database. Typically, this is only for evaluation systems.
      • Specific Server: Select this option to select a database installed on a named server, and then select the named server.
      • IP Address: Select this option to select a database installed on a server referenced by an IP address, and then provide the IP address.
      • Data Comes from file: Select this option if the driver connects directly to a file rather than to a database server.

        Note: This radio button is only shown when CSM does not detect if the provider connects to a database or a file.

   2. Click Next.

   Note: If Data comes from a file is selected on the Database Location page, the Database field is replaced with a File field.
9. On the Select Database page:
   • Provide the Name of the database/file to which to connect, or click Browse to see a list of available databases/files.
   • Click Browse.
10. On the Login to server window, select to use either:
    • Windows authentication
    • User ID and Password: Provide the server User ID and Password.

11. The system runs for a few minutes, and then the Choose a Value window opens.

12. Click a database.

13. Click Next.

14. On the Login Options page:
    1. If the database requires login information, select the Login Required check box and either:
       • Windows Authentication: Uses the stored Windows credentials (user name and password) for authentication.
       • User ID and Password: Provide a User ID and Password.

         Note: The account must have select rights for each table that is imported or linked to CSM. If CSM is allowed to update data in the database, this account must also have insert and update rights.

    2. Click OK.
15. On the Database Owner or Schema page:
    1. Click an option from the drop-down or provide a Database owner or schema. This field should be pre-populated.

    2. Click Next.

16. On the Pooling Options page, select either:
    • Use OLE DB connection pooling.
    • No pooling.
17. On the Connection name page:
    1. Provide a Name for the database connection.
    2. (Optional) Provide a Description for the database connection.

    3. Click Next.

    The Connection String page opens, showing the connection string that is used to connect to the database. Modify the connection string, if needed. Many examples of connection strings can be found at www.connectionstrings.com.

18. Click Test Connection to verify that the connection to the server/database.

    Text appears next to the button confirming the connection is successful.

19. Click Finish.

    There is now a connection to the External OLE Database.

20. Publish the Blueprint (File>Publish Blueprint) to commit the changes, or save the Blueprint (File>Save Blueprint) to continue making other changes.