Exporting and importing the JDBC driver and connection information

QMF administrators can distribute repository connection and JDBC driver information by exporting the repositories.xml file, the .bi.jdbc.drivers file, and, optionally, JAR driver files in settings.zip or the settings.xml files and sharing these files manually. Changes can be implemented by importing these files. Administrators can distribute the repository connection and JDBC driver information across network by exporting the changes in the settings_{version}.zip file and publishing this file to the QMF Server. A notification is then sent to all connected QMF Workstations and then the changes can be implemented by importing the settings_{version}.zip file.

Procedure 1: Exporting and importing without QMF Server

To export and then import the repository connection and JDBC driver information manually, perform the following steps:

  1. Open the Export window by selecting File > Export. Select Connection and JDBC library settings from the list of available export destinations.
  2. Click Next. The Export Connection and JDBC Library Settings page of the wizard opens.
  3. A single file called settings.zip will be exported. If you are using QMF for Workstation, specify where to save the settings.zip file in the Settings file field. You can use Browse to locate a directory that is accessible to all users.
  4. Select the connection information that you want to include in the exported settings file. All of the repository connections that are currently defined are listed in the Repository connections list box. Select the check box for each connection that you want to include in the output file.
  5. All of the JDBC driver libraries that you have defined are listed in the JDBC libraries list box. Select the check box for each JDBC driver library that you want to include in the output file.
  6. Optional: If you want to export the JAR files that are associated with the selected JDBC drivers, select the Export JAR files check box.
  7. Click Finish. If you are using QMF for WebSphere®, your web browser automatically downloads the settings.zip file. If you are using QMF for Workstation, the Export Connection and JDBC Library Settings page of the wizard closes. The files are exported to the location that you specified in the Settings file field.
  8. For each instance of QMF that is installed on another machine or server, import the repository connections and JDBC driver information file, by selecting File > Import. Select Connection and JDBC library settings from the Import window. The Import Connection and JDBC Library Settings page of the wizard opens.
    Note: You can import the repository connections and JDBC driver information file in the ZIP format as well as the XML format. This is intended as a backward compatibility feature, because in previous versions of QMF the repository connections and JDBC driver information file was exported in the XML format.
  9. Specify where to find the settings.zip/settings.xml file in the Settings file field. You can use Browse to locate the file.
  10. Select the Repository connections check box to import the repository connections that have been included in the settings.zip/settings.xml file.
  11. Select the JDBC library settings check box to import the JDBC driver information that has been included in the settings.zip/settings.xml file.
  12. Select the Driver files check box to import the JAR files that have been included in the settings.zip file. Then, specify the folder where to save the imported driver files.
  13. Select the Export driver files option if you wish to manually export the selected options.
  14. Specify how you want conflicts with previous settings files to be resolved using the Conflict resolving radio buttons. Select Override existing settings to replace all conflicting information with new information. Select Keep existing settings to not update any existing information with new information. Select Manually resolve conflicts to open the Conflicts window where you will manually resolve conflicts between existing and new setting information. For each conflict you can specify whether you want to overwrite the current settings or keep them intact.
  15. Click Finish. The Import Connections and JDBC Library Settings window closes. The repository connection settings and JDBC driver information files are updated for the current machine running QMF for Workstation and the current server (or workstation) running QMF for WebSphere. You can repeat this process each time the JDBC driver information or repository connection information is updated.

Procedure 2: Exporting and importing QMF Workstation configuration with QMF Server

Alternately, administrators can distribute the repository connection and JDBC driver information across the network by exporting the changes in the settings_{version}.zip file and sharing this file to the QMF Server. A notification is then sent to all connected QMF Workstations and then the changes can be implemented by importing the settings_{version}.zip file.

Note: Ensure that you have set the Server Registry URL from the View > Preferences > QMF Server Registry. For more information on setting the QMF Server Registry, see Setting QMF Server Registry preferences
To export the connection and JDBC driver information across the network, perform the following steps:
  1. Open the Administrator perspective by clicking Window > Open Perspective > Administrator.
  2. Open the Export window by clicking File > Export.
  3. Select Connection and JDBC library settings from the list of available export wizards.
  4. Click Next. The Export Connection and JDBC Library Settings page of the wizard opens.
  5. On the Export Connection and JDBC Library Settings window, enter the following details:
    1. Repository connections: Select the connection information that you want to include in the exported settings file. All of the repository connections that are currently defined are listed in the Repository connections list box. Select the check box for each connection that you want to include in the output file.
    2. JDBC Libraries: All of the JDBC driver libraries that you have defined are listed in the JDBC libraries list box. Select the check box for each JDBC driver library that you want to include in the output file.
    3. Driver files: Select the driver files that you wish to export.
    4. Export driver files: Select this option if you wish to manually export the selected options.
    5. Publish to QMF Server: Select this option to publish the selection to the QMF Server.
  6. Click Next. The Publish to QMF Server dialog box opens.
  7. On the Publish to QMF Server dialog box, enter or verify the following details:
    1. Registry type: Displays the registry type as None, Auto, or Custom.
    2. Registry URL: Displays the URL of QMF Server.
    3. Status: Displays the status of QMF Server as online or offline based on the availability of the Server specified in the Registry URL.
    4. Notification message: Enter the message that you want to notify to the workstation users.
    5. Select Message Groups: Displays the list of message groups of which the particular workstation is a part. Select the message group to which you want to send the update. To send the update to all the message groups, select All Members. All the workstations that are subscribed to the selected message group are notified.
  8. Click Finish.

    If you are using QMF for Workstation, the Export Connection and JDBC Library Settings page of the wizard closes. QMF Server notifies all connected QMF Workstations that a new configuration is available for import.

    Every connected workstation receives a notification that the settings_{version}.zip file is available for import. You can import changes by clicking on the Import button. Verify the Server URL and version to be imported on the Import Connections and JDBC Library Settings wizard.

    Note: If you want to explicitly check for updates and import them, then click Help > Show Update Notifications. The configuration updates from the QMF server will be displayed as a notification pop-up.
  9. Select the Repository connections check box to import the repository connections that have been included in the settings_{version}.zip/settings.xml file.
  10. Select the JDBC library settings check box to import the JDBC driver information that has been included in the settings_{version}.zip/settings.xml file.
  11. Select the Driver files check box to import the JAR files that have been included in the settings_{version}.zip file. Then, specify the folder where to save the imported driver files.
  12. Specify how you want conflicts with previous settings files to be resolved using the Conflict resolving radio buttons. Select Override existing settings to replace all conflicting information with new information. Select Keep existing settings to not update any existing information with new information. Select Manually resolve conflicts to open the Conflicts window where you will manually resolve conflicts between existing and new setting information. For each conflict you can specify whether you want to overwrite the current settings or keep them intact.
  13. Click Finish. The Import Connections and JDBC Library Settings window closes. The repository connection settings and JDBC driver information files are updated for the current machine running QMF for Workstation.