To transfer data from another database into the ClearSCADA database (using ODBC data transfer standards), the ODBC Driver has to be installed and running on the ClearSCADA servers on your system. The driver is represented by the ODBC Client component in the ClearSCADA Installation Wizard’s Setup window. The component is located within the Server branch of the tree that is displayed in the window (see Install a Driver in ClearSCADA in the ClearSCADA Guide to Drivers).
When you configure the ODBC items in the ClearSCADA database, many of the settings for those items need to correspond to the settings of the relevant database. You need to have access to, or an understanding of, the relevant settings before you can configure the ODBC database items successfully. For instance, you need to know the DSN for the database from which ClearSCADA is to retrieve data, and any user name and password needed to allow the required access to that database.
You also need to be aware of which optional features are required for each ODBC item. These include:
- Alarm views
- Alarm redirections
- Historic data storage
- User methods.
You can also use core ClearSCADA features with ODBC items, including Lists, Actions, and Mimics. For actions that are specific to the ODBC driver, see Using ODBC Specific Actions. For further information on actions and details on Lists and Mimics, see the core documentation.
NOTE: Before you can successfully transfer data to or from another database using ODBC data transfer standards, you need to check that a suitable System Data Source Name (DSN) exists for that database. For further information, refer to your WindowsTM documentation.
For each application with which you want ClearSCADA to extract or transfer point data, you need to configure:
- An ODBC Connection to specify the System Data Source Name (DSN) for that application (see Configuring an ODBC Connection).
The System DSN stores information about how to connect to that data provider.
- An ODBC Query for each different data transfer request to that application (see Configuring an ODBC Query).
You can associate more than one Query with each ODBC Connection.
- An appropriate ODBC Point (Analog, Digital, or String) for each separate item of data that is to be extracted following the data transfer process (see Points Used for ODBC Data Transfer).
You can associate multiple points with each ODBC Query.