Database connection tool

The Connect In-DB tool creates an in-database connection in a workflow. Use the tool to connect to a new or existing connection.

In-Database enables blending and analysis against large sets of data without moving the data out of a database and can provide significant performance improvements over traditional analysis methods. For more about the In-Database tool category, see In-Database Overview.

Configure the tool

1. In the Configuration window, click the Connection Name drop-down arrow and selection an option:
   • Manage Connections: Create a new connection or use an existing connection.
   • Open File Connection: Browse to a saved database connection file.
2. Once the connection is configured, Table or Query displays the name of the selected database table.
3. (Optional) Click Query Builder to select tables and construct queries. See Choose Table or Specify Query Window.

1. Click the Connection Name drop-down arrow and click Manage Connections.
2. Click Data Source and select a source. See In-Database.
3. Click Connection Type and select type.

• User: Create a connection that only you can use.
• System: Create a connection that can be shared. Open Alteryx Designer as an administrator on your computer. This option is only for Designer Admin.
• File: Saves a database connection as an .indbc file so it can be packaged with a workflow. If this option is selected, a Connection File path location must be specified in order to save the file.

• Click Connections and select an existing connection from the list, or click New.
• In Connection Name, type a name for the connection.
• Click Password Encryption and select an encryption option:

• Hide: Hide the password using minimal encryption.

  If you plan to schedule this workflow to run on any machine other than your computer, select Hide. See Schedule Workflows.

• Encrypt for Machine: Any user on the computer will be able to fully use the workflow.
• Encrypt for User: The logged in user can use the workflow on any computer.
• Allow Decryption of Password: Decrypts the password and passes it in the metadata. This option is only used in conjunction with In-DB predictive tools.

• On the Read tab, click Driver and select an option or leave as default.
• Click the Connection String drop-down arrow and select New database connection.

See ODBC and OLEDB Database Connections for more information on creating ODBC and OLEDB connections. See Supported Data Sources for more information on a specific data platform.

• Click the Write tab.
• Click Driver and select a driver or leave as default.
• In Connection String, type or paste a connection string.
• HDFS Connections

1. Click the Connection String drop-down arrow and select New HDFS Connection.
2. Select HTTPFS, WebHDFS, or Knox Gateway server configuration.

   If you are using Knox Gateway with Spark, select Override default Namenode URL.

3. In Host, type the Hadoop server URL or IP address.
4. In Port, leave the default port number which is based your server configuration selection, or type a port number.
5. By default, URL is based on Host. Type a different URL, if desired.
6. By default, Temp Directory, is /tmp. Type a different location for the temporary directory to write to, if desired.
7. Type a user name in User Name and a password in Password. Required credentials vary based on the cluster setup.

• httpfs: A user name is required, but it can be anything.
• webhdfs: A user name is not required.
• Knox Gateway: A user name and password are required.
• Use a trusted certificate when configuring Knox authentication. Alteryx does not support self-signed certificates.

• Click Kerberos and select an authentication option for reading and writing to HDFS.
• (Spark-only) Select Override default Namenode URLto override the Namenode URL and enter a host and port number if using Knox Gateway, or if the namenode server is running on a different computer than the httpfs or webhdfs server.
• (Recommended) Click Test to test the connection.
• Click OK.

• Database table comparison tool
• Database difference tool
• Database Load testing tools
• Database replication tools
• Database creation tools