Modifying a Datasource

Spatial Manager allows you to edit the datasource for a file-based named table or the properties of a database or view table if you have Modify permissions for the named table. You can change a table's connection, datasource, or volatility flag. For XY tables, you can change the XY columns, coordinate system, and display style. For view tables, you can change the MI SQL query. You can also fix a broken table (for example, if the file path specified does not exist for a file-based named table, the SQL query for a view table is invalid, or the schema or table does not exist for a database named table). Editing will update other resources (for which you have Modify permissions) that reference the modified named table to reflect the new path or database connection URL, therefore preserving references between resources and the permissions assigned to the modified resource.

Note: Editing is not allowed for named tables that use inline references instead of a connection. A message appears at the top of the page if the named table uses an inline (direct) reference instead of a connection. Click the link to continue to update the table to use a connection (see Benefits of Using a Connection for more information on why you should use connections). You will be prompted to select an existing connection or create a new one, then apply it to this table. You will also have the option to update other tables with this connection. You then be able to edit the table in Spatial Manager. Tables that use inline references, however, can still be used in Spectrum Spatial services.

To edit a named table in Spatial Manager:

  1. Select the table you want to modify.
    The details page for the table appears on the right side of the screen.
  2. On the Resource Info tab (next to Datasource), click Modify.
    Note: This link is not available if you do not have sufficient permissions or if the named table uses inline references instead of connections.
    For view tables, the MISQL field is now editable in the Datasource tab on the details page. For all other table types the Modify Datasource page opens, which has the same fields as the Create Table page.
    Note: See Data Source Volatility for more information on changing the Volatile value.
  3. If you are editing a view table, modify the MI SQL query in the Datasource tab, validate it, then click . For all other table types, make all required changes on the Modify Datasource page (for example, select a new connection or datasource, or change the volatility flag) and click Save. For more detailed information on completing these fields, see the corresponding procedures for creating tables: Creating a Table, Creating an XY Table, and Creating a View Table. If you are changing the datasource, Spatial Manager will warn you if the new one you select has a different table structure, since this may break other resources (layers, maps, or tiles) and dataflows that use those resources, for example.

    A confirmation dialog opens to inform you about other resources that may be affected by modifying the named table. Click a link to open the associated resource in a new tab, to help you determine whether or not you want to proceed with the edit.

    Note: Although Spatial Manager alerts you whether or not other resources may be affected when you edit a view table, it does not warn you that you will break the rendering of a layer or map if the modified view does not contain the Obj (spatial) column in the query.
  4. Click Save.
    The details page for the modified table appears.