Database Connections

The database connection defines how most GainSeeker applications connect to the GainSeeker database.

When you install GainSeeker on your network, a default database connection is automatically created for you. However, if you need to change the settings for connecting to your GainSeeker database, or if you need to maintain multiple GainSeeker databases (for example, on different database servers), you can change the settings for your database connection or create additional database connections. You will also need to modify your current database connection if you change the database server.

Some legacy applications still use ODBC connections to connect to the GainSeeker database. For this reason, the current version of GainSeeker requires that you have both an ADO.NET connection string set in the Administration module and a 32-bit ODBC Data Source set up on each workstation. Installing the GainSeeker client on each workstation automatically creates and configures this ODBC Data Source on that workstation. If you need to modify the ODBC Data Source, best practice is to first change the default Database Connection using the instructions below, and then use the GSSETUP utility on each workstation to update the ODBC Data Source accordingly.

To begin editing database connections

1. Launch the Administration module from the Start menu or from the LaunchPad module.

2. When prompted, log in as a user with rights to use this module. If you have not yet set up GainSeeker users, choose SPC MANAGER.

3. On the System Administration window, click the Database Connections tab and expand the Connections tree.
   
   

On this tab, you can perform any of the following tasks.

Editing and testing a database connection

Right-click the database connection, and then click Edit. This displays the Pick Datasource window:

Change the settings you want to edit. For an explanation of the settings on this window, see Creating a new database connection.

To test this database connection, click Test.

To save your changes, click OK.

Quickly viewing the settings for a database connection

Right-click the database connection, and then click View. This displays the connection details:

Renaming a database connection

1. Right-click the database connection, and then click Rename.

2. On the New Connection window, enter a new name for this database connection and then click OK.

Creating a new database connection

1. There are two ways to begin creating a new database connection:

• Copy an existing database connection:

On the Database Connections tab, right-click a database connection and then click Copy.

• Create a new blank database connection:

On the Database Connections tab, right-click the Connections tree.

2. On the New Connection window, enter a name for this new database connection and then click OK.

This displays the Pick Datasource window:

3. Click the Database Provider list and select the provider that is appropriate for your GainSeeker database:

4. Enter the other information on this window that is needed to connect to your GainSeeker database.

The fields provided on this window will vary with the type of Data Provider you selected. For some fields, you can click the button to fill the list of options and then the drop-down arrow to show the list again.

You can also use the Options box to enter any additional connection string parameters that do not match any of the other fields provided on this window. More information can be found at the web addresses listed below:

5. Click Test to test the database connection.

If the test was not successful, you will need to change one or more settings before saving the database connection.

6. After the database connection has been successfully tested, click OK.

Setting the default connection or choosing a connection at runtime

The default connection is the database connection that most GainSeeker applications will automatically use to connect to the GainSeeker database.

• When only a single database connection exists, it is automatically the default connection.

• When more than one database connection exists, you can choose which will be the default connection by right-clicking that database connection and then clicking Default connection.

If you want the GainSeeker applications to display a list of the database connections that exist on the Database Connections tab, right-click any database connection and then click Select connection at runtime.

To specify the database connection for any GainSeeker shortcut, see Parameters for database connection and system-wide settings.

Deleting a database connection

To delete a database connection, right-click the database connection and then click Delete.

You cannot delete the default connection. If you need to delete the default connection, first set another database connection to be the default connection.