Databases tab

The following table describes the settings available on the Databases tab. The tab displays the name, type, and connection string for the stored database connections.

If ShareScan has a previously configured database then the Recent data source window appears when you click New.

You can select a previously configured database and accept it with the OK button (only available when a source is selected). Clicking the New button closes the Recent data sources window and the Configure data source window appears. Click Remove to delete a source form the list (it will be deleted only from Recent data sources).

Access this window by clicking New on the Databases tab, and selecting the New option on the Recent data sources screen, if there is no previously created database connection. You can set the following options:

• Database type: use the menu to select your database.
  Since Microsoft deprecated the Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms810810.aspx), and future Windows update may remove it from the system. Configuring a 'Microsoft Excel 97-2003' data source on machines without a Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider results in an error message. In case you still wish to use the old format .xls files, install 32 bit version of Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54920) or later and configure Database type for Microsoft Excel 97-2003 in the Configure data source dialog by selecting old format .xls files via setting the filter to All files (*.*) on the Windows File Open dialog.

• Settings: Depending on the selected database, the specific setting options vary.
  • Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel 97-2003, Microsoft Excel, Comma Separated Text (CSV) (the following settings are common for these database types, with only the displayed pathname changing):
    • Path to <database type> database: Type the folder path or click the ... (browse) button to navigate to the location of the database file.
    • Blank username and password: Select this option if you do not want to enter a specific set of credentials for accessing the database. If the option is checked, the user is prompted to enter credentials to access the database (usually this is not the preferred way of setting up the access, as administrators do not want to put the burden of an additional authentication on the user).
  • Microsoft SQL:
    • SQL Server: Use the menu to select the available SQL database instance.
    • Catalog/Database: Use the menu to select the catalog you want to use.
  • Other:
    • Data Source Connection String: Enter the connection string of your database here.
    • Build String: Click this button to open the Data Link Properties dialog and put together a database-specific connection string.
    • Click through the options of this short Wizard to put together a connection string for your database:
      • On the Provider tab, select your OLE DB provider and click Next.
      • On the Connection tab (default view), enter the data source and login credentials into the appropriate fields, and click Test Connection to check the data.
      • On the Advanced tab, you can set the relevant network settings, connection timeout and access permissions to the database.
      • On the All tab, you can check all the data link properties once more, and if so inclined, you can edit them here manually, by simply clicking the row you want to edit and filling out the Property Value.
      • Click OK to finish setting up the data link properties.
• Test: After specifying the connection settings, you must click Test to check if the connection works. A notification is shown about the actual state: Not yet tested, Test failed or Test succeeded. If the connection test is successful, you can click OK to create the database connection.

Make database file password protected

To make a database file password protected, you have to configure Data Link Properties the same way as described above; the only difference in setup is on the All tab. Select the Database Password row and double-click on it or click the Edit Value… button.

The Edit Property Value window pops up. Enter the password in the Property Value field and click OK to confirm the password. Click Reset Value to delete the password and provide a new one.

When you are done, go back to the Connection tab and click the Test connection button. Click OK to save your settings.