At a Glance: The Database Editor

After creating a New Database Component at the Component Manager, HotDocs will open the Database Editor at the Properties tab. From here you can set up the connection string and enter the required information. To set more database options such as field mapping and filters use the tabs at the top of the window.

In the first text field A you can enter a name for your new database component, in the second field B you can enter a title for your database, and in the third field C you can enter a prompt to appear with your database.

Below these text fields are two drop down menus. In the menu on the left D you can select what the connection properties will be defined by. You can choose from the following three options:

an ADO connection string
a Microsoft Data Link (.uld) file
an OBDC Data Source Name

ADO connections require you to specify an OLE DB provider while Microsoft Data Link connections require the connection information to be stored in a separate file. Finally, an ODBC connection requires you to specify an OLE DB provider for ODBC. (ODBC connections require you to create and use a data source for your database application.)

In the menu on the right E you can choose the command type for your database: simple or User-defined (SQL or custom). If you choose a simple connection, HotDocs will build the connection string for you based on the options you select when you specify the OLE DB provider. If you choose a user-defined connection, you must specify all the information yourself in the Connection string box.

Depending on what option you choose from then connection properties menu D you will have different options below. The image above shows the options available for setting up an ADO connection string. You can type the connection string straight into the text field F or click the Edit button to open the Data Link Properties dialog box. Once you have a connection string you can save it as a Microsoft Data Link file by clicking the Save button.

If you select a Microsoft Data Link (.uld) file from the Connection Properties menu then the options below change (see image above). You can either type in the location of the Microsoft Data Link file straight in the field or use the Open button to navigate to the file.

If you select an OBDC Data Source Name from the Connection Properties menu then the options below change (see image above). You can then select an option from the ODBC Data Source Name menu: dBASE files, Excel files or MS Access Database.

At the bottom of every set of options is a check box to allow database write-back. Tick this box to save any changes you make in HotDocs back to the original database you have linked to.

To learn more about using the database editor follow the links below: