Using data sources

A data source is a file or database that contains the data for populating an InfoSet. A data source can be a relational database, an application, an XML document, an OLAP database, or a flat file.

You can create data sources by:

  • Using the Work with Data Sources tool to build a reusable data source. The pre-built data sources are then available when you set up an InfoSet within the InfoSet wizard.
  • Building a non-reusable data source when you set up an InfoSet using the InfoSet wizard.

Smart Notification supports these technologies for connecting to your data source.

DME Connection

DME is a Lawson-specific connection technology that Smart Notification uses to link to the Lawson database.

DME can query Lawson application data, GEN data, or LOGAN data. DME takes advantage of indexes, index keys, conditions, and relations defined in the database. A single DME call can access fields in several database files as long as those files are related.

JDBC

JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) is a connection technology that Java applications use to link to databases.

JNDI

JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) is a connection technology that Smart Notification uses to link to databases. JNDI permits the registration and centralized management of shared resources.

OLAP

OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) allows users to analyze database information from multiple database systems at one time. OLAP data sources are multi-dimensional, in that they allow for reporting on several different variables or dimensions.

File Location

A File Location InfoSet specifies a common location to use for retrieving file based data, such as a directory path or HTTP location. You can use the location with these InfoSet types:

  • Delimited
  • File system
  • Property
  • XML

The location value in the File Location is pre-pended to the name of the file when retrieving data.

For example, you can create a file location to point to a common data store, such as E:\DataRoot. This location can then be used by delimited InfoSets that only need to specify that the data root source is being used. Change the data source location to move the location.