Transitioning to a new ACL connector version

Analytics 17 is the last major release to contain ACL data connectors provided by our data connectivity partner Insightsoftware (formerly Simba). For data sources currently supported by our Simba connectors, we are transitioning to CData connectors. For a list of Simba connectors and replacement CData connectors, see Affected connectors.

During the transition period, all versions of Analytics 17.x will contain both the Simba connectors and the CData connectors for the same data source. Making both versions available for a period of time gives your organization a window during which you can test the new CData connectors and begin updating scripts as necessary.

If you are using one of the Simba connectors scheduled to be discontinued, you should begin your transition to the CData version of the connector now.

Update a script to use a CData connector

If any of your scripts currently use a Simba data connector, you can update the script to use the CData version of the connector. Updating a script now prepares you in advance for the release of Analytics 18, which will not include the Simba data connectors. Any script that uses a Simba data connector to import data will not work in Analytics 18.

Note

To avoid disrupting any of your current data automation and data analysis processes, do the required script updating using a development copy of a production script. Once a development copy of a script is running successfully with a CData connector, you can use it to replace the current production script.

Follow these steps to update a script:

  1. In the Data Access window, manually import some data using the appropriate CData connector.

    In the Data Access window, in the New Connections tab, CData connectors are contained in the ACL DSN Connectors (Bundled) section.

    For more information about manually importing data, see Working with the Data Access window.

    Review the ACCESSDATA command in the existing production script for the tables and fields that need to be included in the manual data import.

  2. After a successful manual import, copy the ACLScript import syntax from the Analytics command log, and use it to update the data import syntax in the development copy of the script.

  3. Run the development copy of the script to test that it successfully imports data using the updated import syntax.

  4. Use the development copy of the script as the new production script.

Identifying the version of a connector

For data connectors that have both a Simba version and a CData version, use the following methods to identify the version.

In a script

The form of the ACCESSDATA command differs depending on the connector version.

  • Simba version ACCESSDATA32 CONNECTOR NAME "connector_name"...

  • CData version ACCESSDATA32 ODBC "Dsn" NAME "DSN_name"...

In the Analytics user interface

  • Simba version In the Data Access window, Simba connectors are contained in the ACL Connectors section.

  • CData version In the Data Access window, CData connectors are contained in the ACL DSN Connectors (Bundled) section.

Note

Some connectors with only a CData version also use the native Analytics data connector syntax ( ACCESSDATA32 CONNECTOR NAME "connector_name"... ) and are contained in the ACL Connectors section in the Data Access window.

Continuing to use an old version of a data connector

The Simba data connectors will continue to work in Analytics 17, and earlier versions of Analytics, for as long as a specific connector and a data source remain compatible. Compatibility of a Simba data connector and a data source is beyond the control of Diligent. Given this uncertainty, the best course of action is to transition to using corresponding CData connectors.

Diligent will continue to support Analytics 17 and the Simba data connectors until the release of Analytics 19 (tentative release Fall 2025). Once Analytics 19 is released, Analytics 17 and the Simba data connectors will no longer be supported.

Key dates

Date Analytics version Details
Fall 2023 17.x

Includes: Both the old and the new versions of the connectors.

Support: Diligent supports both old and new versions of the connectors.

If any connector that you use is scheduled to be discontinued, start testing and transitioning to the new version of the connector.
Q1 2025 (tentative)

18.0

End of life for old versions of the connectors

Includes: Only the new versions of the connectors.

Support: Diligent supports both old and new versions of the connectors.

Any scripts that use syntax for old versions of the connectors will not run. Transition to the new version of the connector.
Fall 2025 (tentative)

19.0

End of support for old versions of the connectors

Includes: Only the new versions of the connectors.

Support: Diligent supports new versions of the connectors only. Old versions of the connectors are no longer supported.

Any scripts that use syntax for old versions of the connectors will not run. Transition to the new version of the connector.

Affected connectors

Simba connector New CData version of the connector
Cassandra (v.1) Cassandra (v.2)
Concur (v.1) SAP Concur (v.2)
Couchbase (v.1) Couchbase (v.2)
Drill New version not available. Contact Diligent Support for guidance.
DynamoDB (v.1) DynamoDB (v.2)
Google BigQuery (v.1) Google BigQuery (v.2)
HBase (v.1) HBase (v.2)
Hive (v.1) Hive (v.2)
Impala (v.1) Impala (v.2)
MongoDB (v.1) MongoDB (v.2)
Oracle (v.1) Oracle (v.2)
Redshift (v.1) Redshift (v.2)
Salesforce (v.1) Salesforce (v.2)
Spark (v.1) Spark (v.2)
SQL Server (v.1) SQL Server (v.2)
Teradata (v.1) Teradata (v.2)