Connection Builder Dialog Box

Relevant for: API testing only

This dialog box helps you create a database connection expression for the Database > Open Connection activity.

To access
  1. Drag a Database > Open Connection activity onto the canvas.
  2. Click the Input/Checkpoints tab in the Properties pane.
  3. Select the Input property—Connection string.
  4. Click the Connection Builder button in the right side of the Value column.

User interface elements are described below (unlabeled elements are shown in angle brackets):

UI Elements

Description
Connection type

The type of database connection: OleDB or ODBC.

Edit Connection String.

  • For OleDB. Opens the Microsoft Data Link Properties dialog box to help you create a new string or edit an existing one.
  • For ODBC. Opens the Select Data Source Name dialog box. For details, see Select Data Source Name Dialog Box.
<connection string area>

An editable area for pasting in existing strings, or for editing the connection string selected in the drop down list.
Connection string

A drop down list of previously defined connection strings.
Password

The password required to connect to the database. The password is displayed in encrypted form.

Insert. Inserts a parameter representing the password at the location of the cursor in the Connection String area.
Test Connection

Checks the database connection using the string shown in the text area. If it succeeds to connect to the database, the status message beneath this button changes from Disconnected to Connected.

After you test a connection, it remains open until after the test is complete or when you close it manually using a Close Connection step.
Connected/Disconnected

The current connection status.