In this example, we will use Data Architect to retrieve records from a database.

To accomplish this, follow the steps below:

 

XML Output

1. Connect to the database

2. Insert a table data source

3. Map the table data to output fields

4. View the output

 

Excel Output

To generate Microsoft Excel output, hit CTRL + N and select Excel Document Output. Then, follow the steps below.

 

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Step 1: Connect to the database

Note: This step is required only if you don't have already a suitable connection in your Data Connections bar.

Click the Add Data Connection button in the Data Connections dialog bar and the Add Connection dialog will be displayed. Here you can set the connection options. button in the Home tab and select the database provider and data source. If credentials are required, make sure to also fill the Username and Password fields.

 

 

For our test we will use the sample Microsoft Access Database File named emp.mdb located in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Ecrion\Data Aggregation Server 2012\Samples\Database Samples.

 

Please note that on 64 bit systems, there is no 64-bit version of the Jet Database Engine; instead, Microsoft recommends using Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition, Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition, or the 2007 Office System Driver.

 

Step 2: Insert a table data source

 

To insert a data source table, drag the table from the Data Connections dialog bar and drop it on the design working place or click on the Table button in the Home tab and select the table (or view) you wish to aggregate data from or. This action will open the Insert Datasource dialog. By default all the fields are selected, but you can uncheck those you don't need. Click OK:

 

 

We will work with the Emp table in the sample database. A new element should appear in your diagram, representing the newly added table.

 

The document should look like this:

 

 

Step 3: Map the table data to output fields

 

In the newly added table element, create a connection between the table and output by clicking and dragging a line from the arrow next to "Table: Emp" to the "ns:root" element in the "Output" element. A "ns:Emp" element should appear in the "Xml Output" element as a child of "ns:root". We have just bound the Emp table to an element sequence named "ns:Emp".

 

Now drag each of the arrows next to the FIRST_NAME and LAST_NAME fields onto the "ns:Emp" element. Two new attributes will be automatically created by Data Architect, with the respective names of the corresponding field.

 

The document should now look like this:

 

 

Step 4: View the output

 

To view the output, go to the View tab and select Output View. You will see the following XML:

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

<ns:root xmlns:ns="http://www.tempuri.org/XML">

       <ns:emp first-name="John" last-name="Brown"/>

       <ns:emp first-name="Mary" last-name="Jane"/>

       <ns:emp first-name="Arthur" last-name="Clark"/>

</ns:root>

 

For an Excel Output diagram, in Output View you must push to view the results in Excel: