Data and Database Good to Know

• For any problems or issues in importing, linking, or connecting to databases through CSM, contact your DBA or Cherwell support.
• When updating to a new software version, choose to update the existing database to the most recent database version. Updating a CSM Database installs any new, required internal system definitions.
• Typically, import data that should be maintained in CSM, and link to transient or reference data that can be maintained outside CSM; however, there are pros and cons of both imported and linked data.
• Only Users with permissions, for example an Administrator User, can use the Database tools.
• When Cherwell Services use a Windows Authentication connection, the account under which the Cherwell Application Service is running is the account whose credentials are used to connect to the database. The account must have select rights for each table that is importing or linking to CSM. If intending to allow CSM to update data in the database, then this account must also have insert and update rights.

For OLE Database Connections

• Drivers should be available from a database vendor. Consult a database provider for assistance locating this driver. There are also OLE Database drivers from third-party vendors that can be used. Although ODBC Drivers is an option in this list, it is not compatible with the .NET OLE Database mechanism, which is used by CSM for communication with external data sources.

For OLE Database Connections

• If connecting to a named instance of a SQL (a non-default instance of SQL), then provide the instance in the Specific Server value using the format: DatabaseServer\InstanceName.

External Business Objects

• Create an External Business Object that imports data before you can import external data.
• Use a combination of imported and linked data but not within the same Business Object.
• The Link to Data option is available only when creating a new Business Object; connecting to an existing Business Object must be performed with an import.
• Use an existing Business Object to share external data. To use an existing Business Object, first map an Existing CSM External Business Object to Import External Data, and then import the external data (linking from an existing Business Object is not allowed).
• SQL Server: In order to use SQL Full-Text Search, it must be configured in the External Database. Refer to SQL Server documentation for details on how to set up Full-Text Search.

CSV Data

• CSV data can only be imported, it cannot link to CSV data.
• Before importing CSV data, prepare the data so the column names are specified in the first row.