Create or Modify a Data Source Signon

You add signons to existing data source connections so that users don’t have to enter database credentials when they run reports. When you create a signon, you specify the users and groups that can access the signon. The user ID and password that make up the signon must already be defined in the database.

For information about creating groups, see Users, Groups, and Roles.

You can modify an existing signon if the credentials to log on to the database change or if you want to change who can use the signon.

Steps to Create a Signon

1. In Cognos Connection, in the upper-right corner, click Launch, Cognos Administration.

2. On the Configuration tab, click Data Source Connections.

3. Click the data source and then click the connection to which you want to add a new signon.

4. Click the new signon button .

5. In the name and description page, type a unique name for the data source signon and, if you want, a description and screen tip, and then click Next.

6. Type the User ID and Password to connect to the database and click Next.

   The Select the users page appears.

7. Add users and groups that can use the signon and click Finish.

   The new data source signon appears under the connection.

Steps to Modify a Signon

1. In Cognos Connection, in the upper-right corner, click Launch, Cognos Administration.

2. On the Configuration tab, click Data Source Connections.

3. Click the data source and then click the connection for which you want to modify the signon.

   Tip: To remove a signon, select its check box and click the delete button.

4. Click the set properties button  for the signon you want to modify.

5. Click the Signon tab.

   A list of users and groups that can use the signon appears.

6. If you want to change the user ID and password that make up the signon click Edit the signon, type the new credentials, and click OK.

7. If you want to add users or groups to the signon list, click Add, and choose how to select users and groups:

   • To choose from listed entries, click the appropriate namespace, and then select the check boxes next to the users, groups, or roles.

   • To search for entries, click Search and in the Search string box, type the phrase you want to search for. For search options, click Edit. Find and click the entry you want.

   • To type the name of entries you want to add, click Type and type the names of groups, roles, or users using the following format, where a semicolon (;) separates each entry:

     namespace/group_name;namespace/role_name;namespace/user_name;

     Here is an example:

     Cognos/Authors;LDAP/scarter;

8. Click the right-arrow button and when the entries you want appear in the Selected entries box, click OK.

   Tips: To remove entries from the Selected entries list, select them and click Remove. To select all entries in a list, click the check box in the upper-left corner of the list. To make the user entries visible, click Show users in the list.

9. Click the right arrow button  to add the entries to the Selected entries box.

10. If you want to remove users or groups, select the check box next to the entries you want to remove and then click Remove.

11. Click OK.