Data Link files contain a connection string that is used to connect to a data source.
From the Data Flask menu, you can pick File/Open Data to select a Data Link (*.UDL) file, initialize the data source, choose a table, and read in data as a single operation.
The table chosen will be read, and copied into a new spreadsheet. The .UDL file, and the data connection are then closed unmodified.
The connection string copied from the .UDL file can be viewed by picking File/Data Link.
OleDb Agent. Data Link Dialog.
The new spreadsheet is a .dfg flask grid. It is a disconnected copy of the data from the data source. Data Flask will return information from the spreadsheet, back to the database only with the explicit use of the File/Write Data command.
Setting Flask.exe to Open .UDL files from Windows
Explorer.
To associate .UDL files with Data Flask from Windows Explorer, first select a .UDL file in Windows Explorer. Then while holding Shift, Right-click on the filename to get the Open With option. Pick Open With, then Choose Program. From the Open With dialog, pick [Browse] to select Flask.exe. The default location of Flask.exe is C:\Program Files\Data Flask\Flask.exe. Press [OK] to close the dialog.
You can now open .UDL data link files from Windows Explorer into Data Flask.
Why Data Flask does not register UDL or Data file extensions during installation?: Because it's much easier to associate a new file extension with windows explorer than to remove one. It would be presumptions for the installer to relate all of the files Data Flask supports, and difficult to know which to assign as the default application. Data Flask associates only .dfg grid, .dfb basic, dft text, and .dfp package files during installation.
The OleDb tab in the Data window provides a means to Load, Modify, Test and Save the contents of .UDL files.
OleDb tab in the Data window.
Right-Click on Providers to activate the context menu. From the Connections menu you can UDL Load. From the context menu of a data source, you can UDL Save.
Providers Context Menu.
When a UDL file is loaded, it will be appended to the OleDb provider list as an un-initialized data source. You can then select Connection/String or Properties to view and change the data link.
Data Source Properties.
Selecting Properties will activate the Data Link Properties dialog. This is the same dialog that Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Core Services (MSDASC) would present.
Initializing the data source will show tables and queries, as well as activate data admin features. It can also bring more information into the data link, including security information.
To create a data source for the link properties in a .dfg Flask Grid, select Connection/String from the Providers context menu. The default string value will be taken from the active grid document. From there you may modify and save data link separately.
Prepared UDL files. The sources listed in the OleDb data window are UDL files stored in default location C:\Program Files\Data Flask\Agent\OleDb. Feel free to delete .UDL that you don't plan to use, or add new ones.
UDL files placed in C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\My Documents\Udl will also be listed. This location is especially useful when My Documents is private and UDL files contain security information.
The procedure to setup UDL files to be loaded from Windows Explorer works for any file type that can be opened from the menu pick File/Open Data.
Open Data file dialog.
Remember that Data Flask makes a copy of data read from a data source. Opening data from Windows Explorer, then saving using File/Save will create a .dfg Flask Grid file. File/Save will never modify the original data.
Data
Flask Copyright © 2006 Interscape
Corporation