Data Link files
The existence of the adapter helps tremendously, but there are still a few details to be worked out. For instance, the adapter only allows you to specify minimal information such as the OLE DB Provider and the Data Source. This is not sufficient information for the OLE DB component of the UNICOM Intelligence Data Model (called the Provider). It needs additional information such as which data source component to use. If only you could use the Data Link Properties dialog supplied with Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) (installation of MDAC is a prerequisite of using the UNICOM Intelligence Data Model). This dialog exposes all of the OLE DB properties, even those that are custom to the UNICOM Intelligence Data Model Provider. Well, it just so happens that this is, in fact, possible.
To create a data link file
These instructions explain how to create a data link file to point at the sample Quanvert database called SkiDemo. Data Link Files are, by default, edited using the Data Link Properties dialog. You can use this same technique to create data link files that point at any data set supported by the UNICOM Intelligence Data Model.
1 Create a directory called, for example, C:\DataLinkFiles, and then create an text file in this directory called MyDataLink.udl (make sure the file name extension is .udl and not .txt).
2 Double‑click the file. This opens the Data Link Properties dialog.
3 On the Provider tab in the Data Link Properties dialog, select UNICOM Intelligence DM-2 OLE DB Provider. (You must select the Provider first as the other tabs change according to which provider is selected.)
4 On the Connection tab, select Quanvert Database (read-only) from the Metadata Type list, and then enter the Metadata location. This should be a qvinfo file (or the .pkd file). Click Browse to select the file in the Open dialog.
5 Still on the Connection tab, select Quanvert Database (read-only) from the Case Data Type list, and then enter the Case data location. This should be the same qvinfo (or .pkd) file. Click Browse to select the file in the Open dialog.
6 On the Advanced tab, select the options you require.
7 Click OK to finish. The Data Link Properties dialog saves the information in the C:\DataLinkFiles\MyDataLink.udl file.
The rest of this topic takes advantage of this knowledge of how to create data link files.
See also