About Working with Data Sources

Data sources define connection information to the server’s data stores, i.e., the physical place where the data is stored. There are two categories of data sources:

§  For existing data on the server (server-side) – These data sources define the connection information to an existing folder or database. The connection to this data store is primarily unidirectional: After connecting to this data store, scanning its data and allowing you to select which of its layers to publish, SkylineGlobe Server serves its data in response to client requests. This category of data sources includes the following data source types: SG Scanner for scanning and adding data from folders, and Oracle Spatial Database, Postgre SQL Spatial Database, Sql Server, and ArcSDE for scanning and adding data from databases.

§  For uploading and publishing to SkylineGlobe Server geospatial layers and complete projects from TerraExplorer or other Skyline client applications (client-side) – These data sources define the path to a repository folder for uploaded data. The connection to this data store is bi-directional: TerraExplorer or another Skyline client application first connects to SkylineGlobe Server to upload and publish its data. SkylineGlobe Server subsequently stores the uploaded data and serves it in response to client requests. The data source type used for this category is SG Upload.

Distinct SG Upload data sources can be defined for different user groups. Each user group’s data is automatically published to its predefined repository folder. See "Adding New User Groups" in the "Managing Users" chapter for information.

From SkylineGlobe Server Manager’s Data Sources page, you can add and delete data sources and modify their properties. When adding or editing a server-side data source, SkylineGlobe Server scans the data folder or database and allows you to select which of its layers to publish. Whenever changes are made to this data folder, the data source can be rescanned to update the server.

The following data source management activities can be performed from the Data Sources page:

§  Adding Data Sources

§  Editing Data Sources

§  Scanning Data Sources

§  Deleting Data Sources

§  Migrating TerraGate/SFS to SkylineGlobe Server