1UG

C h a p t e r 1 , C o n n e c t i n g t o a d a t a s o u r c e 3

TABLE OFCONTENTS FORTHIS MANUAL

Click in this box to see the Tableof Contents for this manual.

C h a p t e r

1Chapter 1Connecting to a data source

Before you begin building a report, you must tell ReportSmith where to find the data you want to include. This chapter identifies the database types you can use with ReportSmith and shows you how to connect to your database tables to use them in your report. It also shows you how to save connections to frequently used tables.

Databases ReportSmith can accessWith ReportSmith, you can retrieve information from the following databases. Check with your system administrator if youre unsure which database types youre using. If your data source isnt listed here, please check with your ReportSmith vendor.

Note See the README.TXT or Getting Started for database versions and how to connect to them.

Databases ReportSmith can accessAccess Informix SQLBaseBtrieve InterBase SybaseDB2 ORACLE TeradatadBASE Paradox Text FilesExcel Raima UnifyFoxPro AS/400 Watcom SQLINGRES SQL Server Databases accessed through generic ODBC drivers

4 U s e r s G u i d e

Connecting to tablesA report contains data from tables (local databases tables can also be referred to as files.) ReportSmith needs to know where to find these tables. To connect to a database:

1 Choose File|New, or press the New Report button on the toolbar. ReportSmith displays the Create A New Report dialog box.

2 Press the report button that corresponds to the report type you want to create and press OK, or double-click the report button that corresponds to the report type you want to create. ReportSmith displays the Tables dialog box.

3 Choose Add Table. ReportSmith displays the Select Table To Be Added dialog box.

4 In the Type box, choose a database type. In the example above, weve chosen dBASE(ODBC). Specify the location of the database in the Drives and Directories list boxes, or if youve defined a connection, select it from the Connections list box.A list of available tables appears in the Files box.

C h a p t e r 1 , C o n n e c t i n g t o a d a t a s o u r c e 5

5 Select a table and press OK, or choose Server Connect to make a server-based connection.

The Get Connection Data dialog box appears with the connection type displayed at the top. In the example below, the connection type is SQL Server.

If you specify a server-based database such as SQL Server, ORACLE or INGRES youll be prompted for server, user ID and password. Information you enter in the dialog box varies depending on the type of database to which youre connected.

If you specify a local PC-based database such as dBASE, Paradox, or Btrieve, go to the directory where their files are located and select a table.

6 Enter the information for the type of connection you want to make. In the example above, ReportSmith prompts you to enter the name of the server, user ID, and password. (For specific information needed for each database type, see ReportSmiths on-line Help and Getting Started.) Press OK.When you save a new report, ReportSmith saves all the connection information except the password. The next time you create a new report, ReportSmith displays the connection information from the last data source you connected to. You can cancel it if you intend to use a different data source.

Saving database connection informationReportSmith can save database login information in named connections. With named connections, you can

Save time by not having to retype database information that you use frequently

Shield the end-user from remembering server names or data paths by setting up their connections for them

A connection points to the location of files, a specific user and database tables you want to include in a report. You can set up permanent or temporary connections by telling ReportSmith the data path or server information for your system.

Important You do not need a user-defined connection to connect to a table.

6 U s e r s G u i d e

You can set up permanent connections that let you quickly access database tables that you use frequently. A user-defined connection lets you access a database without having to re-enter the server name, user name, and directory path. Instead, you can select a user-defined connection and ReportSmith will login to that database directly.

If required, ReportSmith prompts you to enter your password and connects you to the database. Once you create a connection and save it, the next time you access the database you created for that connection, you simply select the name you assigned to the connection and ReportSmith makes the connection.

Note See your system administrator for server IDs and help in setting up connections you plan to use frequently.

To set up and save a connection:

1 Choose File|Connections. The Connection dialog box appears.

2 Choose New to set up a new connection.3 Select the database from the Type list that you want to set up a connection

for from the drop down list.Note Displayed options change for each type of connection.

4 In the Name box enter a name for the connection. For example, you may have a database that holds employee sales records that you want to name Sales.

5 Enter the information for your connection type. ReportSmith needs the data path or server information for your system. See Getting Started for information about a particular data source.

6 Choose Save. ReportSmith saves the connection and places it in the Connections box.To delete a connection, select it in the Connections box and choose Delete. ReportSmith removes the connection.

7 Press OK. Now you can select this connection in the Connections box in the Select Table To Be Added dialog box the next time you create a report.

NOTEClick below this Note to see the beginning of the next chapter.

New Features in P3 1.1Planning and Control GuideReference ManualReportSmith--Getting StartedReportSmith--User's Guide