Create RDBMS Connection

Create a RDBMS Connection

In this task you will create a connection to a RDBMS that you will use throughout this guide. This task uses a MySQL connection, but you may use any database you wish that has a JDBC driver.

1. Start PDI on your desktop. Once it is running choose 'File' -> 'New' -> 'Transformation' from the menu system or click on the 'New file' icon on the toolbar and choose the 'Transformation' option.
   
   
2. Create a Database Connection: You need to create a database connection to your RDBMS, so right click on the 'Database connections' in the View palette and select New. If you already have a database connection for your RDBMS database you may skip this step.
   The Database Connection window will appear. Enter the following information:
   1. Connection Name: Enter 'RDBMS'
   2. Connection Type: Select 'MySQL'
   3. Host Name and Port Number: Your connection information for the MySQL Server. For a local MySQL database Host Name is 'localhost' and Port Number is '3306'.
   4. Database Name: Enter your database name. For a local MySQL database use 'test'.  If you have not already created a database named 'test' on MySQL, please do so now.
   5. User Name and Password: Your database username and password.
      When you are done your window should look like:
      
      Notice that there are lots of connection types that you could have used.
      Click 'Test' to verify your connection is working properly. If the test fails verify your RDBMS server is running and you have entered the correct connection information.
      
      Click 'OK' to close the Database Connection window.
      
      
3. Share the RDBMS Connection: You will want to use your RDBMS connection in future transformations, so share the connection by expanding 'Database Connections' in the View Palette, right clicking on 'RDBMS', and selecting 'Share'.
   Sharing the connection will prevent you from having to recreate the connection every time you want to access the RDBMS in a transformation.