The Database tab in the Publication Properties dialog allows you to set up general information about the location and security of any databases used in the current publication.
The Data Sources box lists all DSN connections to databases currently attached to this publication.
Note:
DSN connections are automatically added to this list whenever you use a Database Query action and open a new database within your publication.
If you want to remove a database from the Data Source box, select the Data Source from the list and click on the Remove button.
Note:
Clicking the Remove button will not automatically ask for confirmation prior to deleting the database connection.
Click the Apply button to save your changes.
Use the Editor panel if your database is password protected. Databases can be password protected, ensuring secure access to data for authorised users only. Password protected databases can be accessed in Opus when you enter an authorised username and password.
Note:
Whenever you attempt to create or edit a database Action (e.g. the Database Query or Next Record actions) you will be prompted to enter your username and password.
Select the Data Source from the Data Source list – the selection will be highlighted in blue.
Enter the username and password in the Username and Password boxes in the Editor panel. The password will appear as series of asterisks (i.e. the * symbol).
Note:
Setting a username and password in the Editor panel will only affect access to a database at development time and not when the publication is published – see The Password panel below.
Click on the Apply button to save your changes.
Each Data Source (shown in the Data Source list) has properties that are checked when the publication is first opened e.g. to check if the name of the database has changed; you have added new fields to a table in a database; or the type of ODBC driver used is different.
Use the Don’t Update Data Source option if you do NOT want to check the Data Source when you first enter the publication.
Note:
This option is very useful for two reasons: (i) when you want to send the publication to another user (because they do not need the Data Source on their computer); (ii) when another user has a Data Source with the same name on their computer.
Select the Data Source from the Data Source list – the selection will be highlighted in blue.
Tick the Don’t Update Data Source option in the Editor panel.
Note:
Ticking this option does not affect the Database actions i.e. you can still update current records and insert new records when the publication is finished.
Click on the Apply button to save your changes.
The Password panel allows you to store the username and password for a database within Opus. This means the end user is not prompted to enter their authorisation details when they run the publication – see The Editor panel above.
Tick the Prompt for Password if Needed option in the Password panel if you want the user to verify authorisation.
Enter the username in the Username box in the Password panel.
Note:
You can type a variable into the Username box which contains a valid username – the variable must be surrounded by chevrons e.g. if the variable is named userName you must type <userName> in the box. Entering a variable name is useful when access to a database is granted to several users with different usernames and passwords.
Use the Password box in the Password panel when the authorisation password is the same for every authorised user.
Use the Variable box in the Password panel when more than one authorisation password is used to access the database. Click on the down arrow by the Variable box to list all of the variables in the current publication.
Click on the Apply button to save your changes.
The File Location panel allows you to set where the database file will be stored when the publication is published.
Select the Data Source from the Data Source list – the selection will be highlighted in blue.
The File box in the File Location panel displays the current path of the database file.
Note:
If this field is greyed-out then this Data Source does not use a file but uses instead a proprietary database application, such as SQL Server or mySQL.
Click the Insert Special Folder button in the File Location panel to set which folder the Data Source file will reside when the publication is published. Select one of the folder names from the Special Folder list. By default, the Publication Directory option is the folder in which the database is published.
Note:
Each of the folders has been given a System variable name within Opus. If you select one of these options the System variable name will be displayed in the Path for file when Published box.
5. Click on the Apply button to save your changes.