How do I begin connecting JMP® to my database?

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JMP can connect to a number of database management systems (Oracle, SQL Server, etc.) that provide Unicode 3.5 Unicode Standard drivers. Users, new and experienced, often have data sources that require ODBC to connect JMP to a relational database to import data for analysis. Sometimes users looking to connect with their databases don't know where to begin and want to know how to obtain their database drivers, how to configure the drivers, and how to implement the driver configurations for use in JMP. So, how do you set up this connection? The steps below will get you started.

First, determine the architecture (32bit/64bit) of JMP. To do this, open JMP and select Help > About JMP. Note: if you are running JMP 15 and higher, the architecture of JMP will be 64-bit only.

1. Obtain the supported driver from your database management system vendor. Each vendor typically provides the drivers on its website. Or these drivers can be found via an online search. I suggest contacting your IT administrator for assistance. Note: some vendor drivers may require a license.
2. Download the provider’s ODBC driver. Some vendors have separate 32-bit and 64-bit drivers. Others may package the 32-bit and 64-bit installers into one installer. Please refer to the vendor’s support or your IT administrator if you need assistance with this step.
3. Once the installation completes, the next step is configuring the driver via ODBC Administrator. Something worth noting, Windows architecture is either 32-bit or 64-bit. If your Windows operating system is 64-bit, there are two versions (32-bit and 64-bit) of the ODBC Administrator. These are listed under: 
   • Control Panel\System and Security\Administrative Tools\ODBC Data Sources (64-bit) – the location of the 64-bit ODBC driver when Windows is 64-bit. If JMP is 64-bit, configure the driver under the 64-bit ODBC Administrator. 
   • Control Panel\System and Security\Administrative Tools\ODBC Data Sources (32-bit) – the location of the 32-bit ODBC driver when Windows is 64-bit. If JMP is 32-bit, configure the driver under the 32-bit ODBC Administrator.
4. To configure the driver, navigate to Start\Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\ and double-click Data Sources ODBC.
5. Select User DSN or System DSN and click Add. 
   • Note System DSN tab configures ODBC for all users of the machine. Configuring the driver via the System DSN tab may be restricted based on your internal security policies. In this case, use the User DSN tab to configure the driver for the currently logged-in user. 
     
     
     
     
6. Select the respective driver and click Finish.
7. Create a data source name that describes the architecture and driver, e.g., “32bit SQL Server” or “64bit SQL Server.” 
   • While the Description is not required, if you are configuring this to connect to a specific database, you may want to note it here.
8. Continue configuring the driver according to the vendor’s documentation. Not all database vendors require the same parameters to configure their drivers successfully. Please refer to the driver vendor’s documentation or obtain the assistance of your IT Administrator. 
9. Click Okay again. The source name will appear under User DSN or System DSN, e.g., “32bit SQL Server” or “64bit SQL Server.” 
10. From JMP, select File > Database > Query Builder or Open Table.
11. Select New Connection > Machine Data Sources. You should see the source name you created above. Select the source name and click Okay. If prompted for a password, enter the password for your user. Contact your IT or database administrator if your password is not accepted.
12. JMP will display any tables available in the database.