Connecting to Data

Supported Data Connection Types

Code 192 Alpana Designer supports various data Connection types such that the structured data can be in any specific format to consider for processing.

To retrieve your data you can use the following connectors.

  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Wonderware Historian
  • Microsoft Excel
  • CSV
  • Web Data Source

  • SQLite

    A connector is selected by default, to change it, click on Type Combobox shown below.

Connecting to SQL Server Database

With Microsoft SQL Server data connection type, you can connect to a database hosted in Microsoft SQL Server whose version should be 2012 and above.

The Type is set as Microsoft SQL Server, you can change it here by selecting another Connector Type.

Set the Server. You may either select the server existing in the local network from the dropdown list or specifying the specific remote server name like, myserver.domain.com, myserver.domain.com:port, ipaddress, and ipaddress:port.

Set the Authentication Mode. For SQL Server Authentication, credentials are required.

Set the Database that you need to connect and test its connection. If it succeeds, proceed to connect it through clicking the OK button.

If no data sources were set before click + button to add a new data source

You will get into the data design view window.

Connecting to Wonderware Historian Server

With the Wonderware Historian Server data connection type, you can connect to a Wonderware Historian Server.

The Versions currently supported are:

  • Wonderware Historian 2014
  • Wonderware Historian 2014 R2 SP1
  • Wonderware Historian 2017

Important

Wonderware Historian 2014 R2 is only supported from version 2.0.7.9

When selecting Wonderware Historian, Now you will get into the Query Configurator design view window here

To learn how to set the Historian Query Configurator, please see this section

Note

The buffer setting is set by default according to the general buffer setting, but it can be set with different parameters for each connection. For more information about Buffer settings please see this section here

Connecting to an Excel workbook

With Microsoft Excel data connection type, you can connect to an excel workbook whose format can be XLS or XLSX.

The Type is set as Excel, you can change it here by selecting another Connector Type.

Set the File Path through locating the excel workbook existing in your machine accessible location and click Connect.

If no data sources were set before click + button to add a new data source

Now you will get into data design view window.

Important

The Excel workbook that need to be connected, should have column names at first row of sheet followed by data rows.

Note

The buffer setting is set by default according to the general buffer setting, but it can be set with different parameters for each connection. For more information about Buffer settings please see this section here

Connecting to a CSV file

With CSV data connection type, you can connect to any comma separated value formatted file (CSV).

The Type is set as CSV, you can change it here by selecting another Connector Type.

Set the File Path through locating the CSV file existing in your machine accessible location and click Connect.

Set the separator symbol.

If no data sources were set before click + button to add a new data source

Now you will get into data design view window.

Note

The buffer setting is set by default according to the general buffer setting, but it can be set with different parameters for each connection. For more information about Buffer settings please see this section here

Connecting to RESTful Web Services

With RESTful Web Services connection type, you can connected to data from web which is accessible through RESTful APIs.

The Type is set as Web, you can change it here by selecting another Connector Type.

Click the Connect button to open Web Data Source window.

Enter the API in URL text box which must be a valid REST API and choose the appropriate Authentication type for the REST API in Type combo box, it can be either Basic HTTP Authentication or No Authentication.

if Basic HTTP Authentication is set, enter User Name and Password.

Click OK after entering all necessary fields.

If no data sources were set before click + button to add a new data source

If it succeeds, you will get into the data design view like the following screenshot.

Note

The buffer setting is set by default according to the general buffer setting, but it can be set with different parameters for each connection. For more information about Buffer settings please see this section here

Connecting to SQLite Database

With SQLite data connection type, you can connect to SQLite database whose format will be in DB.

The Type is set as SQLite, you can change it here by selecting another Connector Type.

Set the Database through locating the SQLite Database file existing in your machine accessible location and click OK.

If no data sources were set before click + button to add a new data source

Now you will get into data design view window.