Setting up Database Connections

You must set up a connection to allow Power*Architect to connect to a specific database. When you create a connection, it is automatically added to the current Power*Architect project. You can also use the connection in all your projects.

Before creating a connection, you must define the general settings for the database platform. For more information, see the section called “Setting up Database Types” .

Creating a New Database Connection

To create a new database connection:

  1. Select Connections » Add Source Connection » New Connection.

    Alternate methods:

    • Select Connections » Database Connection Manager (or Window » Database Connection Manager), then click New.

    • Right-click a blank space in the database tree, then click Add Source Connection » New Connection.

    The Database Connection dialog box appears.

  2. On the General tab, enter the following information:

    In this field ...

    Do this ...

    Connection Name

    Enter a name for the database connection.

    Database Type

    Select the database platform you want to connect to. Note: This list contains the database types you defined in your user preferences. For more information, see the section called “Setting up Database Types” .

    Connect Options and JDBC URL

    Enter the connection options for the database driver. (Theses options are based on the database type you select.)

    If you are using one of the fully-supported drivers, the connection option parameters are added into the JDBC URL field in the order that the Java driver expects to see them (this string is sometimes called a "db URL" in Java terminology). In the following example:

    • The default port number from the database type has been entered automatically in the Connect Options.

      Note: You would not usually change a default value unless the database server you're connecting to has been configured to use a different value.

    • The hostname and database name have been entered manually in the Connect Options.

    • The PostgreSQL driver is being used.

    Username and Password

    If necessary, enter the username and password to connect to the database.

  3. The settings on the Kettle tab are only used when you create a Kettle job. For more information on these settings, see the section called “Using Kettle Jobs” .

  4. Click OK. The new connection is added to the current project (you can view the connection in the database tree) and is also added to the Database Connection Manager.

Adding or Removing Database Connections for a Project

You can add a previously created database connection to a project. (When you create a new connection, it is automatically added to the current project. For more information, see the section called “Creating a New Database Connection” .) You can also remove a connection from a project. You cannot remove a connection if it is being used as a source connection in the playpen.

Note: You can permanently delete connections. For more information, see the section called “Modifying or Deleting Database Connections” .

To add a database connection to a project, do one of the following:

  • Select Connections » Add Source Connection, then select a database connection.

  • Right-click a blank space in the database tree, click Add Source Connection, then select a database connection.

The database connection is added to the database tree.

To remove a database connection from a project, do one of the following:

  • Right-click a database connection in the database tree, then click Remove Connection.

  • Click a database connection in the database tree, then select Connections » Remove Connection.

Modifying or Deleting Database Connections

You can modify a database connection's properties or permanently delete it. You cannot delete a connection if it is being used as a source connection in the playpen.

Note: You can also remove a connection from a project without permanently deleting the connection. For more information, see the section called “Adding or Removing Database Connections for a Project” .

To modify a database connection:

  1. Select Connections » Database Connection Manager (or Window » Database Connection Manager).

  2. Select a database connection, then click Edit.

    Alternate methods:

    • Right-click a database connection in the database tree, then click Connection Properties.

    • Select a database connection in the database tree, then select Connections » Connection Properties.

    The Database Connection dialog box appears.

  3. Modify the connection settings. For information on the settings, see the section called “Creating a New Database Connection” .

  4. Click OK.

To permanently delete a database connection:

  1. Select Connections » Database Connection Manager (or Window » Database Connection Manager).

  2. Select a database connection, then click Remove.