Create a Connection in Predict

About: This article describes how to make data connections in Predict.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • Data Connection Source Types
• New Connection
• Edit Connection
• Delete Connection
• Select Tables
• Related Articles

Introduction

Connections are not required to load a data file into Predict for an analysis. However, creating a connection to a data source that will be used more than once eliminates future steps. A connection points to a location where data is stored on the local computer, a network, or a cloud-based resource. It can reference either a file folder or a database on a server. Once created, a connection may be used over and over again by any number of different jobs. The Connections section of the Workspace tab is where connections used by the product appear and can be managed (created, modified or deleted).

Data Connection Source Types

Connections are automatically grouped by data source type. Construct supports most data sources that are accompanied by an ODBC or API connection. Which data source types are available in the program is often dependent upon whether the ODBC drivers for that type are installed on the computer. ODBC drivers are freely available for download from the manufacturer. Common connection types include:

• Access
• DSN (ODBC Connections)
• Excel
• MySQL
• Oracle
• PostgresSQL
• SalesForce
• SAS
• SPSS
• SQL Server
• Text/CSV
• XML

New Connection

1. Open the Create New Connection window by clicking on the New Connection option.
2. Select a Data Source by either clicking the icon of the corresponding data type, or selecting the corresponding data type from the drop down list.
3. The dialog box changes to request the information unique to each type.
4. Identify the folder location or the database server location, as well as the database name and connection information.
5. Enter a unique Connection Name.
6. Test and Save the connection.

This creates a reference to the folder or database where the data files/tables live. Once a data connection is saved, the user can create references to the specific files, worksheets, or database tables/views found in that location. These specific references are collectively referred to as “tables.” Tables appear beneath their parent connections in alphabetic order. To add a table, see Select Tables.

Edit Connection

There are two ways to edit a specific data connection:

1. Select the data connection from the list, then click the Edit Connection option from the Connections toolbar.
2. Right-click on the data connection and select Edit Connection from the menu that appears.

The connection properties window will launch for editing.

Delete Connection

There are two ways to delete a specific data connection.

1. Select the data connection from the list, then click the Delete Connection option from the Connections toolbar.
2. Right-click on the data connection and select Delete Connection from the menu that appears.

In both cases, a confirmation window will appear. Select Yes to complete the deletion. Once a connection is deleted, this action cannot be reversed.

Select Tables

Once a data connection is saved, the user can create references to the specific files, worksheets, or database tables/views found in that location. These specific references are collectively referred to as “tables”. Tables appear beneath their parent connections in alphabetic order. To add a table:

• Right-click on the data connection and choose Select Tables or use the Select Tables option from the Connections toolbar.
• Select the file(s), worksheets, etc. to be used from the connection location.
• For Text file data connections, the properties often need to be defined. 
• If the desired table does not appear in the Files/Table list, right-click in the space and click Add Table By Name to manually enter the file/table name into the list (not available for Excel or Text).

Related Articles

• Create a Connection in Construct
• Workspace Tab in Predict