Data Connections

Use the Data Connections component to connect Pentaho to third-party services that store your data. While connected, you can use that data to create analysis reports, interactive reports, and dashboards.

Add a data connection

To add a data connection, complete the following steps:

1. Log into the Pentaho User Console.

2. Open Data Connections by taking one of the following actions:

   1. If you are using the Modern Design of PUC, in the menu on the left side of the page, click Data Connections.

   2. If you are using the Classic Design of PUC, click Switch to the Modern Design, and then in the menu on the left side of the page, click Data Connections.

   Data Connections opens with a list of connections shown in a table.

3. Click + Add Connection. The Where is your data? window opens.

4. For the database to which you want to connect, click Connect. You can connect to the following options:

   • Generic database

   • Hypersonic

   • MonetDB

   • PostgreSQL

   • Snowflake

5. In the configuration window that opens, enter database connection information for your new connection. The type of database connection information entered depends on your access protocol. Refer to the examples in the following sections of this topic for Native (JDBC) protocols:

   • Native (JDBC) protocol information

   • JNDI protocol information

6. (Optional) To test the connect, in the Connection information section, click Test connection.

7. Click Connect. The connection is established and saved in the Modern Design of PUC.

Native (JDBC) protocol information

Create a Native (JDBC) connection in the Database Connection dialog box by completing the following steps:

1. In the Connection Name field, enter a name that uniquely describes this connection.

   The name can have spaces, but it cannot have special characters (such as #, $, and %).

2. In the Connection Type list, select the database you want to use (for example, MySQL or Oracle).

3. In the Access Type list, select Native (JDBC). The access protocol which appears depends on the database type you select.

4. In the Settings section, enter the following information:

   Field	Description
   Host Name	The name of the server that hosts the database to which you are connecting. Alternatively, you can specify the host by IP address.
   Database Name	The name of the database to which you are connecting. If you are using an ODBC connection, enter the Data Source Name (DSN) in this field.
   Port Number	The TCP/IP port number (if it is different from the default)
   Username	Optional user name used to connect to the database
   Password	Optional password used to connect to the database

5. Click Test Connection. A success message appears if the connection is established.

6. Click OK to close the connection test dialog box.

7. To save the connection, click Save. The database connection is saved and appears in the Database Connections list.

JNDI protocol information

If you are publishing to the Pentaho Server from the Modern Design of the Pentaho User Console, edit your connection information to match the JNDI connection information of your application server data sources.

By configuring a JNDI connection in the Modern Design of PUC, your application server will not be continuously running during the development and testing of transformations.

Edit a data connection

1. Log into the Pentaho User Console.

2. Open Data Connections by taking one of the following actions:

   1. If you are using the Modern Design of PUC, in the menu on the left side of the page, click Data Connections.

   2. If you are using the Classic Design of PUC, click Switch to the Modern Design, and then in the menu on the left side of the page, click Data Connections.

   Data Connections opens with a list of connections shown in a table.

3. Browse or search for the connection you want to edit.

4. In the rightmost column of the Connections table, for the connection you want to edit, click the More Actions icon, and then select Open.

5. In the connection page that opens, click Edit.

6. In the configuration window that opens, edit database connection information.

Edit data connections

To delete one or more connections, complete the following steps:

1. Log into the Pentaho User Console.

2. Open Data Connections by taking one of the following actions:

   1. If you are using the Modern Design of PUC, in the menu on the left side of the page, click Data Connections.

   2. If you are using the Classic Design of PUC, click Switch to the Modern Design, and then in the menu on the left side of the page, click Data Connections.

   Data Connections opens with a list of connections shown in a table.

3. Browse or search for the connections you want to delete.

4. Select one or more connections to delete.

   Note: You can select all connections by clicking the checkbox at the top of the page that shows that selected versus available values.

5. Click Delete.