Transaction Broker: Datalink Window
Once you have completed the ODBC setup, you can configure the Transaction Broker. This is a two-step process.
Define one or more Datalink records, establishing an association between a third party data source and the Accounts datafile.
Define the Details (selection criteria) to be applied to each Datalink.
Define Datalinks
This page contains a general description of this process with links to individual topics containing information specific to each Datalink type.
Toolbar buttons
To create a new datalink record or edit an existing datalink, click on the Define datalinks toolbar button to display the Define datalinks window. Any existing datalinks are listed here.
Print: Allows you to print a report, detailing your datalinks, to printer, screen, or file.
Insert: To create a new Datalink record, click on the Insert button, this will display the Datalink window.
Edit: To edit an existing Datalink record, select the record in the list and click on the Edit button. This will display the selected record in the Datalink window.
Delete: To remove an existing Datalink record, select the record in the list and click on the Delete button. A prompt checks that you want to delete the record. If so, click Yes.
Datalink items: Once the record has been set up, you can specify the datalink details and the criteria for importing transactions from the target database into your accounts system datalink.
Select a Datalink name on the Define datalinks window, and click on the Datalink items button to open the Details for .... window.
DataLink List
Active column - right mouse click on a datalink in this window enables you to toggle the active status of the chosen datalink, all of your datalinks, or all but the chosen datalink.
Datalink record
Name, Active and Validate only options
Enter a Name for the new datalink and mark as Active. Only datalinks marked as active will be processed when Transaction Broker is running.
The Active option enables you to disable datalinks at any time by unticking this box instead of deleting any datalinks you temporarily do not wish to use. When you wish to reactivate a datalink, simply mark it as active again.
The VALIDATE ONLY option has been provided to allow you to provisionally test that your data will be accepted by Transaction Broker and the Access Accounts database without any accounts data being updated.
Datalink type, Enclose Table, and Details
Select the Datalink type from the dropdown menu. There are 8 Datalink types (listed below).
ODBC: This would be used to transfer data from one ODBC compatible database to another.
OMNIS SQL: This is used to transfer data from an Omnis datafile into the target datafile.
Access LAN: This is used to transfer data from an Access Accounts (Horizons or Foundations) into the target datafile.
EMAIL: This is used to collect data from an email form and use it to update your Access Accounts data.
XML (IN): This is used to enable Transaction Broker to process incoming Orders sent using XML (BASDA Schema 3).
XML (OUT): This is used to enable Transaction Broker to process outgoing Orders sent using XML from Horizons.
TEXT Input: Data can be transferred directly from a text file into the target datafile. Two types of text file are supported, tab-delimited and comma separated values (CSV).
XML Currency Rates: Currency exchange rates can be kept up-to-date by downloading the latest rates in XML format from the Internet. The XML file can then be applied to the accounts file specified here.
For all, except for the email and XML options, you can use the Enclose Table option to specify the character required by your source datafile with which to enclose and separate individual table names.
If you need to specify a character, either select from the drop-down list or enter the appropriate character manually in the Enclose Table field.
If you are not sure which character is required, please consult the documentation for your source datafile. By default, Transaction Broker does not use an Enclose Table character.
Connect to
For all datalinks, you must select the Access Accounts software to which you wish to connect and enter information about the source database.
Access Dimensions/ Dimensions Lite
Enter, or lookup, a Data Source Name
Enter the Username, Password, and User ID (or Windows Authentication).
Enter, or lookup, the Database Name
Click the Check OK button to validate the connection and User details.
Access Horizons v5
Enter, or lookup, a Data Source Name
Enter the Username, Password, and User ID (or Windows Authentication).
Enter, or lookup, the Database Name
Click the Check OK button to validate the connection and User details.
Access Horizons/ Foundationsxp
Enter the Datafile path name or Browse to locate your Access Accounts datafile.
Enter the User ID and Password
Click the Check OK button to validate the connection and User details.
Update Frequency
In the top right corner, you can set the Update Frequency. This sets the frequency that the Transaction Broker will run this datalink.
Tick the checkbox for the weekdays on which you wish Transaction Broker to run.
You can then specify:
at: A set time at which you wish Transaction Broker to run
and/or every: A set frequency in Hours, Minutes, Seconds.
For 5 second updates, enter real-timeline interval.
If you use this option, you can also specify No initial delay. This means that when you start Transaction Broker, this datalink will run straight away and then at the set interval, rather than waiting for the interval and then running.
You can also Allow 'On Demand' which will enable you to run the datalink manually whenever you wish to, as well as running automatically at the set frequency.
on demand only: Transaction Broker will only run when you manually start it.
If you have set the Update Frequency to run at a set frequency throughout the days specified, then you may wish to stop Transaction Broker for a certain period of time each day (e.g. if you backup your datafile at a set time every day). To do this you must tick the Pause Processing checkbox and then set the Start and Finish times at which you wish the pause.
Transaction Broker will then run as normal up until the Start time and will resume again at the Finish time.
You can also set the Pause Processing in System Options
Finish Defining Datalinks
When you have finished creating your Datalink, click Accept to return to the Define Datalinks window. The link you have created will be listed here.