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ODBC Data Sources

IBM Cognos 8 divides ODBC connections into two categories:

IBM Cognos 8 supports the ODBC data sources listed in the following table. The database code appears in the connection string, but can not be edited.

ODBC Data Source

Database code

Composite (ODBC)

CS

IBM Cognos Virtual View Manager (ODBC)

VM

Microsoft SQL Server (ODBC)

SS

Progress OpenEdge (ODBC)

PG

Red Brick (ODBC)

RB

Teradata (ODBC)

TD

Any ODBC data source not listed should be created using the generic ODBC data source, database code OD.

Using Virtual View Manager to Retrieve Data

Virtual View Manager replaces Composite ODBC data source. However, Composite ODBC data sources are still supported for existing customers.

Virtual View Manager is a data query application which provides access to distributed JDBC, LDAP, flat files and WSDL data sources. In addition to providing the functionality to model these data sources into homogeneous views, it allows the views to be modified via calculations, joins, and filters. IBM Cognos 8 is then used to access the views using the IBM Cognos Virtual View Manager ODBC driver.

ODBC Connection Parameters

You specify connection parameters when you create a data source or modify a data source connection .

Parameter

Description

ODBC data source

Enter the data source name (DSN) as defined in the ODBC.ini file.

For more information about the ODBC.ini file, see the IBM Cognos 8 Installation and Configuration Guide.

ODBC connect string

Enter any text that must be appended to the connection string.

This parameter is typically left blank.

Collation sequence

Enter the collation sequence to be included in the database connection string.

Collation sequences are required only in rare cases where there may be sorting discrepancies between IBM Cognos 8 and a database. We recommend that you contact customer support before using a collation sequence.

Open asynchronously

Select if you want the connection to process requests independent of each other. Do not select if you want the connection to complete the current request before starting another one.

Unicode ODBC

Select if you want IBM Cognos 8 to the Unicode data standard to interpret data. Leave it unselected if you want IBM Cognos 8 to use ANSI to interpret data.

This selection applies only to Composite, Virtual View Manager, Progress OpenEdge, Teradata, and generic ODBC data source connections.

Timeouts

Specify the time in seconds within which you want the database to connect or wait for your reply before timing out.

Valid entries are zero to 32,767. To have the database have wait indefinitely, enter zero, which is the default.

Signon

For more information on signon, see Securing Data Sources.

For Teradata, Composite, Virtual View Manager, and Microsoft SQL:

  • If no authentication is required, select No authentication.

  • If the credentials to the database match the credentials used to logon to the IBM Cognos 8 environment, for single signon, select An external namespace and select the appropriate namespace.

  • If authentication is required, select Signons. If a password is required, select the Password check box and enter the password in the Password and Confirm password boxes. To create a user ID and password that automatically connects to the data source, select Create a a signon that the Everyone group can use. Enter the User ID and then enter the password in the Password and Confirm password boxes.

For generic ODBC, RedBrick, and Progress OpenEdge:

  • If a user ID and password are required in the connection string, select the User ID check box, then select the Password check box and enter the password in the Password and Confirm password boxes.

  • To create a user ID and password that automatically connects to the data source, select Create a a signon that the Everyone group can use. Enter the User ID and then enter the password in the Password and Confirm password boxes.