Table of Contents

This window is used to configure the connections between data links in the knowledge base and data in databases.

Quick Start

  1. Open the Database Connection Setup utility.
  2. Move to the “Data Sources” tab
  3. Add the database tables containing your data.
  4. Move to the “Links to Data” tab.
  5. Set the “Table” cell for each topic by using the cell's dropdown menu. Hint: if you are using only one table you can set them all at once from the “db” menu in the toolbar.
  6. Set the “Field” cell for each topic using the cell's dropdown menu. Only the fields for the above set table will be available. The dropdown list will have all unused fields at the top followed by a list of all fields for the table.

Closing this window DOES NOT close the database connections and the window can be reopened at any time.

If you have multiple tables you will probably also want to set up some database table joins so that the tables move synchronously.

Also see: adding data sets tutorial

Main Toolbar

Data Sources Tab

On the data sources tab lists you specify the database tables and table joins.

Database Tables

Database tables store data in a two dimensional array (a grid) where the columns (aka fields or attributes) represent the topics and the rows (aka records) represent sets of related values.

Database Table Joins

A database table join links two database tables together so that their records move in unison. A join has a “master” table and a “slave” table. The master table controls the slave table. As you move from row to row in the master table the slave table(s) will also move in a coordinated fashion. More info...

Links to Data Tab

On the links to data tab you configure how each data link gets its data.

To set a link: click in the topic's “Table” cell to get a dropdown menu of available tables and select the table (or use “apply to all inputs” from the database menu ). Then do the same in the “Field” cell.

Note about linking database tables: When a database table is linked to a topic NetWeaver will attempt to pick the field in the table that best matches the topic's name.

Global values are constant regardless of current row(s) in the table(s). The value can be set by editing the value in the “Value” cell.

Topic List Columns

Column Description
Topic The topic. Linked topics are colored black whereas unlinked topics are colored red.
Value The current value for the topic.
Table The database table used to provide data to the topic.
Field The database table column (field) used to provide data to the topic.
Scale by Scaling factor for numeric database data. This can be used to convert between different systems of units from the database to the knowledge base. For example, if the database units are inches but the knowledge base calls for centimeters the “Scale by” factor should be 2.54 (1in = 2.54 cm).