Connect to Text Files

The Freeform SQL and Query Builder reporting features enable you to create reports using data from text files. The creation process involves the following steps:

• To connect to text file data, you must first prepare the text file as a valid data source and create a data source name for the text file. The steps to perform these configurations are included in Appendix A: Connecting to Databases of the Installation and Configuration Help.
• Create a Database Instance for a Text File

Create a Database Instance for a Text File

To use a text file as a data source, you must create a database instance in MicroStrategy. This database instance is used to connect to the text file. Follow the steps below to create a database instance for a text file.

To Create a Database Instance for the Text File

1. In MicroStrategy Developer, create a new database instance that points to the DSN for the text file.

   It is recommended that you use Generic DBMS for the Data Connection Type. For more information on setting up a database instance, see the Installation and Configuration Help.

2. Right-click a project and select Project Configuration.
3. Expand Database instances > SQL Data warehouses.
4. Select the check box for the text file database instance.
5. Click OK.

For details on how to create a Freeform SQL report to access a text file, see Access and Analyze Multiple Data Sources with Freeform SQL.

For details on how to create a Query Builder report to access a text file, see Access and Analyze Multiple Data Sources with Query Builder.