Connecting to a Query with SQL data source

You can connect directly to a database to specify the data to acquire and to set parameters to optimize the database connection.

  • You must be familiar with your database and with the SQL language.
  • The correct data access driver must be installed for your database middleware. A data access driver is the software provided by a database vendor that allows a client application to connect to middleware and to access data in a database. You copy the data access driver for your middleware from your database vendor support web site to a local folder, and then you can select the driver in the application and connect to the database.
    Note Installing data access drivers from a vendor site can be problematic due to the variety of driver versions and file formats. If you are unfamiliar with your database version or the vendor web site, contact your database administrator.

You need to install a JDBC data access driver for your database middleware before using Query with SQL. The data access driver is a .jar file that you download from a database vendor site and copy to the driver folder in the application installation path. Refer to the Related Information about finding and installing the correct data access driver for your database middleware.

  1. On the Home page, select Acquire Data.
  2. In the Add new dataset dialog, select Query with SQL, and select Next.
    A list of database middleware appears.
    • When a green check mark appears next to the middleware name, the middleware is installed and you can start using Query with SQL.
    • When a red cross appears next to the middleware name, the data access driver for the middleware is not installed; you must install it.
  3. Choose the database middleware for the target database:
    Option Description
    If the middleware is available Select the middleware, and select Next.
    If the middleware is not available Select Install, and install the middleware.
  4. Enter your logon credentials on the Login tab and, if necessary, enter driver parameters on the Advanced tab.
  5. Select Create.
    The SQL editor opens.
  6. Enter the SQL to fetch the required tables, preview the SQL query, and select Create.
    The Visualize room appears, and you can start building charts and analyzing data. If you want to modify the dataset first, switch to the Prepare room.