PhixFlow Help
Datasource
Each datasource must have at least one datasource instance. You can add several instances if you want to configure different settings. For example you may want to connect to the same database using a different username and password for different scheduled tasks.
In the properties for collectors and exporters, you can optionally specify the datasource instance using the Advanced → Datasource Instance Expression.
Datasource Properties
For information about the properties toolbar, and about the sections Parent Details, Analysis Models, Description and Audit Summary, see Common Properties. For a full list of all the PhixFlow property tabs and windows, see Property Tabs.
In addition to the standard icons, the properties toolbar includes 
Show Tables, which opens a list of tables visible for this datasource using the default login details; see the Table Details window.
For a datasource, you must:
- Enter a Name.
- Select a Driver class.
- Add at least one datasource instance.
- Tick the Enabled check box when it is ready to use.
We recommend you tick Protect during import to prevent this datasource being updated or deleted during import.
Basic Settings
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Enter the name for this datasource. It is helpful to use a name that reflects the type of database to which it will connect. This name appears in the Datasource drop-down list for database collectors and exporters. |
| Enabled |
|
| Protect during import |
Exception: The datasource will be deleted when its parent application is deleted by the import. This prevents orphaned datasources persisting in PhixFlow. |
| Driver Class | Select the driver class for the type of database to which the datasource connects. The drop-down list may contain driver classes that are deprecated and do not have the necessary database drivers; see Driver Classes. |
Datasource Instances
This section has a toolbar with standard buttons.
The grid contains a list of datasource instances that belong to this datasource. Double-click on a row to open the datasource instance properties.
To add a datasource to the list, click 
Add . PhixFlow opens the properties for a new datasources instance; see Datasource Instance Properties, below.
To remove a datasource instance from the grid, use the toolbar button 
Permanently Delete.
Database Collectors
This section has a toolbar with the 
Show detailed list and 
Refresh buttons; see standard buttons.
The grid contains a list of database collectors that use this datasource. Double-click on a row to open the database collector properties. You can change whether or not the collector uses this datasource or whether the collector is enabled.
Any changes you make will affect the analysis models in which the collector is used.
Datasource Instance Properties
For information about the properties toolbar, and about the sections Parent Details, Analysis Models, Description and Audit Summary, see Common Properties. For a full list of all the PhixFlow property tabs and windows, see Property Tabs.
For a datasource instance, you must:
- Enter a Name.
- Enter the URL for the database.
- Specify theUsername and Password.
- Tick the Enabled check box when it is ready to use.
Other settings are optional.
Basic Settings
| Field | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Name | Enter the name for this instance. In the properties for collectors and exporters, you can specify this instance by using its name in the Datasource Instance Expression. | |
| Enabled |
| |
| URL | Enter the URL for the target database. Example URLs
| |
| Authorisation Type | Select:
| |
| Username | Enter a username. | These options are available when Authorisation Type is Local. This username and password must match an account that is configured to access the datasource instance. PhixFlow connects to the datasource using this username and password. |
| Password | Enter a password. | |
| Username Key | Enter the alias that identifies the username in the keystore. | These options are available when Authorisation Type is External. The aliases must match a username and password stored in the keystore and these are configured to access the datasource instance. PhixFlow connects to the datasource using this username and password. Your system administrator adds usernames, passwords and their aliases (keys) to the keystore. They will notify you of the key to use. See Adding Data to a Keystore. |
| Password Key | Enter the alias that identifies the password in the keystore. | |
Advanced
Only use these options if you know about database connections and SQL queries. For help with these options, contact support@phixflow.com.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
Check Query | Use this field when connections to the target database might go stale. This can happen if the target database disconnects long-running connections. Enter a database query that will return a row from the database. PhixFlow runs the query against the database just before each use of a pooled connection. If the query does not return a row, the connection is discarded and a new connection is created. To avoid any performance impact, the query should execute quickly. See the Query String section of the Database Collector page for information about writing SQL queries in PhixFlow. |
| Datasource Profile | Use this field when the target database has additional requirements not covered by the datasource and datasource instance properties. Enter the path to an external datasource connection profile. PhixFlow will use the configuration information in the profile to connect to the target database. |
| Description | Optionally enter a information about the advanced configuration. |
Remember to click 
OK to save and close the datasource instance properties and return to the datasource properties tab.
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