Connect to Data
When you import data into the Alteryx Analytics Cloud, you are creating a reference to a source of data; the source is never touched. When the data is required for use, the Alteryx Analytics Cloud reads a sample of the source data into the application for your use. Data is read into the application through an object called a connection.
The following are the supported types of connection for the product:
Upload/Download: You can upload data directly from your local desktop. You can also save it locally on export.
Base storage layer: Your deployed instance of the product is connected to a base storage layer, where you can read sources and write your results.
Relational sources: You can read from database tables into the product.
Locate Connections
You already have a set of connections that you can use. Connections can be either read-only or read-write.
In the Home page, click the Connections icon in the left nav bar.
The currently available Connections is displayed.
In the Import Data page, your list of available connections is displayed in the left nav bar.
Use Connections
Read-Only
In the Import Data page, select one of the available connections.
Navigate through the connection to select the asset to import.
Select the object and click Open.
In the Import Data page, review the settings of the asset in the card in the right panel. Make updates as needed.
Write
You write results through a connection by specifying a set of settings.
In the Run Job page, click Add Publishing Action.
In the left nav bar, select the connection.
Specify the settings for the publishing action.
Run the job.
When it successfully completes, the specified results are published through the selected connection.
Create Connection
Note
Some connections require additional configuration outside of the application.
When a new connection is created, it is initially available only to you.
Prerequisites:
Before you create a new connection, please verify the following:
On the datastore, you have read and (optionally) write locations.
You have credentials to use to connect to this datastore. These credentials have permissions on your read/write locations.
Some datastores require a special connection string, which must be inserted as part of the connection object.
For more information, see Create Connection Window.
Read-only:
In the Import Data page, click the New icon in the left nav bar.
In the Create Connection window, specify the parameters of the connection.
Read-write:
In the Connections page, click Create Connection.
Click the connection category or search for a specific connection to create.
If a connection is grayed out:
It may already exist. Some connections types permit only one globally available connection.
It may not be supported in your product.
It may be read-only.
Click the name of the connection.
In the Create Connection window, specify the parameters of the connection.
Delete Connection
Note
You can delete a connection only if you are an admin or the connection owner, and the connection is not used to import any current datasets.
Steps:
In the Connections page, locate the connection to remove.
In the context menu, select Delete....
The connection is deleted.