Configuring Relativity Data Sources

Microsoft's Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface requires that a data source be configured in order to allow data access.

Configuring a data source involves setting the data source name (DSN) by which the data source will be known, optionally entering a textual description of the data source, entering any additional information required by a specific ODBC driver for connecting to the actual data, and setting any options supported by the specific ODBC driver. Data source configuration applies both to setting up a new data source or modifying an existing data source.

In single-tier (that is, non-client/server) versions of Relativity, the Data Manager data source can be configured within the Relativity Designer. In client/server versions of Relativity, only the Data Client data source can be configured within the Relativity Designer.
In client/server versions of Relativity, the Data Server data source is configured using the Relativity Server Administrator, a separate utility provided with the Relativity DBMS. The Data Client data source is subsequently associated with the Data Server data source from within the Relativity Designer.

Note: If you installed the Relativity Server Administrator utility, you can start this program from within the Relativity Designer by clicking Relativity Server Admin on the Tools menu. The Select Server dialog box is displayed. (For more information, see the Server Administrator Help file, which is available by clicking Help on the Select Server dialog box.)

Data source configuration also can be performed outside of Relativity, using the ODBC Administrator functions available on 32-bit Windows from the Windows Control Panel (see the Data Sources (ODBC) applet; under Administrative Tools in the Control Panel).

On a 64-bit Windows 7 machine, the ODBC Administrator will only be able to configure the 64-bit Data Sources of the 64-bit Data Client. In order to create 32-bit Data Sources for the Data Manager or the 32-bit Data Client, you must use the 32-bit ODBC Administrator program. Unfortunately, this program is not in the Windows Control Panel. You must run C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe. (We recommend that you create a short-cut to this program on your desktop.)

On a 64-bit Windows 10 machine, the 32-bit ODBC Administrator program can be used directly. From the Start menu, select (Settings). In the Windows Settings window, type ODBC in the Find a setting search box and select Set up ODBC data sources (32-bit).

The ODBC Administrator, a standard ODBC program, requires selection of a particular ODBC driver.

Note: The Relativity Designer allows easy and quick access to the ODBC Data Source Administrator. To start the program, click ODBC Control Panel or ODBC Control Panel (64-bit) on the Tools menu. The ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box is displayed.

Since data source configuration is always specific to a selected ODBC driver, any method of starting the process requires that you complete the same tasks when configuring a Relativity data source. For more information about configuring a Relativity data source, choose one of the following tasks: