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Not able to change data source password

DianaE
5 - Atom

I have few a ODBC connections  I am using in my workflows and for all of them I need to change the password every 30 days. No idea why, but for one of my connections the Edit password option is not working anymore (neither is the remove connection). If I use it as it is, I will block my access- but I also don't have a way to change the password (or remove the connection). Any solution?

5 REPLIES 5
jrgo
14 - Magnetar

@DianaE,

 

My guess is that the connection you're attempting to edit was created as a "System" connection. In order to modify this type of connection, you need to launch Alteryx in an elevated (administrative) state. To do so, right click on the Alteryx icon (you may need to press and hold the Shift key) and select "Run as Administrator". Click Yes/OK on the UAC consent screen (if it pops up) and then try to update the password to your connection.

 

If you are unable to launch Alteryx as an Admin, you'll need to involve your desktop IT support to help you further. Otherwise, create a "User" connection, which you should not have problem updating that password.

 

For context, a "System" connection permits anyone who uses the machine to utilize the connection. A "User" connection is only visible to the user/profile who created it.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Jimmy

DianaE
5 - Atom

Thanks @Jimmy,

 

I tried the solution, but unfortunately it was not successful. The connection is already set-up as user and no matter how I try to access it (as administrator or as normal user), I still can't change the password.

 

Diana

jrgo
14 - Magnetar

@DianaE,

 

Certainly seems like some odd behaviors... last thing you can try is to manually delete it from the xml file that retains those connections. While (I believe) you can update the password in here directly, I would not recommend it as it would store your password in clear text. You mentioned that it's a user connection so the xml file should be located

 

C:\Users\<yourprofile>\AppData\Roaming\Alteryx\Engine

 

Note that the "AppData" folder usually hidden so you may need to type it in or adjust your folder options to show hidden items.

image.png 

Open "UserAlias.xml" in a text editor (i.e. Notepad), look for the problematic alias name and delete all the rows from relative to it. For example, below would be the attributes for one connection that would need to be deleted.

  <Alias name="Local MSSQL">
    <Connection>odbc:DRIVER={SQL Server Native Client RDA 11.0};DATABASE=Demo;SERVER=xxxxxxx;Trusted_Connection=yes</Connection>
    <Password></Password>
    <SourceUrl></SourceUrl>
    <CosmeticName>Local MSSQL</CosmeticName>
    <AliasId>Local MSSQL</AliasId>
  </Alias>

"UserConnections.xml" contains your In-DB connections and "GalleryAlias.xml" will contain any connections created from Gallery and shared with you; These two files may not exist if you have not created/been shared these type of connections.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Jimmy 

DianaE
5 - Atom

@ Jimmy,

 

Thanks a lot- that pretty much solved it!

Diana

LHolmes
9 - Comet

@jrgo  this post helped me migrate my connections from one computer to another. Was having an issue where Alteryx ODBC Admin thought my User Connection already existed (but it wasn't there) and it wouldn't allow an overwrite (I'm assuming because of system privileges). Opened the UserAlias.xlm, found it empty, copied over my info from the other computer, and voila! Really stoked on this; Thanks!

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