Install a Database Driver
Access to a database server is through a DBMS driver, which you install on to your machine and is specific to the DBMS you want to connect to. A driver allows MapInfo Pro to connect to the database. Each type of database supplies its own driver. You may need to obtain the driver from your database administrator and have your database administrator help you set up properties for the driver after installing it.
For the version numbers that MapInfo Pro supports, see the MapInfo Pro Install Guide.
Prepare your Connection and Database
To work with your DBMS data in MapInfo Pro, you need to set up your database connection by following the steps in the sections:
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Creating a Data Source Connection
There may be prerequisites, in addition to installing a driver, that you need to connect and work with a database. Each of the following sections provides details:
- Creating a Data Source Connection to SQL Server
- Creating a Data Source Connection to PostGIS
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Creating a Data Source Connection to Oracle
When you connect to a data server, you will have two choices: to use windows authentication or to provide a username and password unique to the data server. Windows authentication is the username and password you use to log in to your network. Depending on how your database server is set up, you may only require your windows authentication to log in. Otherwise, you would provide a username and password that is unique to the server. Your database administrator will tell you whether or not you can use your windows authentication or a username and password specific to the server.
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Creating a Map Catalog in the DBMS
Your database administrator may need to grant you specific access privileges to the database to work with the data. The following section gives details:
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Adding a Spatial Primary Key to a DBMS Table
To view your data on a map in MapInfo Pro it must contain geometry data (polygon regions) or X and Y data (coordinates, such as Latitude and Longitude values). This is what displays on the map as regions or points. The geometry column or X and Y columns must have specific names for MapInfo Pro to recognize them, and the table requires a unique spatial primary key for MapInfo Pro to reference the data on a map.
- Making a DBMS Table Mappable to Display it on a Map
Access your Data
After setting up your database connection, you are ready to work with your data in MapInfo Pro, see Opening a DBMS Table in MapInfo Pro.
For details, see:
If your data includes spatial data, which can be columns holding X and Y values, such as Latitude/Longitude, or a column holding spatial data in the format specified by the database system. With no spatial information, you can work with your data in a table browser (a Browser window) in MapInfo Pro.
If your data does not include coordinate information, then consider geocoding, adding the coordinate information, using a Precisely product, such as MapMarker or Spectrum.
Troubleshoot or Enhance Performance
If you encounter issues, see Troubleshooting your DBMS Access. To improve your data access performance, see Improving Data Performance to a DBMS.