ODBC connections, parameterize authentication

My team uses Alteryx desktop. My goal is to parameterize the username and password for an ODBC connection in a standard workflow.

I created a macro using two text boxes and a text input. The plan was to use the text boxes to update values in the text input. I then tried to insert the macro into a standard workflow but could not attach the macro to a input data step with the lightening bolt icon. Does anyone have an example of a parameterized database connection in a standard workflow?

thanks

Macros

Database Connection

Accepted answers

PeterS

Hi @sarawr29,

You will first want to configure an Input Data tool to connect to the desired database. After the tool is configured and connected successfully to the database you can then update the connection string as noted previously.

All comments

PeterS

Hi @jdubw

To set up a parameterized database connection you may want to consider creating a macro that has an Input tool in it that uses a full connection string, rather than the connection that Alteryx uses (the connection string would be specific to the database and driver that you are using, this is easily Google-able). Then with Text Box interface tools you can update specific parts of the connection string like Username or password. Once the connection string is properly updated with the interface tools a Data Stream Out tool could be attached to the Input tool to bring the results of the query back into the main workflow. A screen shot below shows the rough set up of how this may look. (you can ignore the errors, I was using a fake connection string)

Here are a couple links that may be helpful when setting this up.

Action tools

Intro to Apps and macros

Workflow in screen shot is attached, created with Alteryx 10.6

macro screen shot.png

Workflow with DB connection macro.yxzp

sarawr29

Hi @PeterS

Does this method work with other Providers? I am trying to use Teradata (as 'TDOLEDB' found here: https://www.connectionstrings.com/ole-db-provider-for-teradata/) and MySQL ('MySQLProv' found here: https://www.connectionstrings.com/mysql-oledb-mysqlprov/)

Every time I change the Provider in the string from 'SQLNCLI10' to 'TDOLEDB' or 'MySQLProv', I get an error message saying "The selected file is not a recognizable type:"

sha1

Hi @PeterS

This is very useful info. I am working on a similar kind of scenario. My workflow has multiple input data and output data components. I want to parameterize the DSN for all the data components, so that any user can enter their username and password once to run the workflow instead of clicking each In/Out data component and change the DSN. From the above solution, looks like, we need to add interface tools for each In/Out data component an user needs to enter multiple times their userids and pwds.

EX workflow

Is there a way to change userid and pwd globally, so that it will propgate through out the workflow

Quick Links

This months top contributors

atcodedog05 19458

Qiu 15866

binu_acs 15708

MarqueeCrew 13708

apathetichell 13703