Data Sources

You can use either remote agents or a direct Microsoft SQL connection to query external data sources and transmit the results to Laserfiche Cloud. This allows you to store sensitive data securely within your organization's firewalls, while providing a method to share this data securely with Laserfiche Cloud.

Getting Started with External Data Sources

Laserfiche Process Automation supports the following data sources:

  • Microsoft SQL Server databases, supports direct data queries and remote agents.
  • PostgreSQL databases, supports remote agents.
  • Oracle databases, supports remote agents.
  • MySQL databases, supports remote agents.
  • CSV files, supports direct data queries and remote agents.

Note: Direct data queries against Microsoft SQL Server databases is currently in a technical preview and not available to all users. If you are interested in this feature, please contact your Laserfiche service provider for more information.

Note: If you previously used your remote agent only for SQL Server data sources, you may need to download a newer version of the remote agent to use PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL, or CSV data sources.

Free Training: Introduction to Data Queries in Laserfiche Cloud course in Aspire.

Creating a Data Source

  1. In Integrations, select Data Sources and click New.
  2. Type a name for the data source. This name will be used to reference the data source in your data queries.
  3. Optional: Type a description to help you remember details about the data source.
  4. Specify the type of database. You cannot change this type later.
  5. Select whether to Send requests directly to the SQL Server, or Send requests through remote agent to use a remote agent.
    1. [Optional]: If sending directly, select Allow Custom SQL to enable the custom SQL editor.
    2. If using a remote agent, specify the remote agent that will carry out data queries on that data source. The remote agent must contain a queue with the data query plugin.
  6. Click Next.
  7. Specify the data source's details, including server, port, database name, and authentication details. If the data source is a CSV file, specify its folder path.
  8. Click Verify. This option tests the connection between process automation and the data source. When a connection is made, the status of the data source is updated to display a check mark.
  9. Click Create.

Importing and Exporting a Data Source

The import and export options allow you to migrate a data source from one account to another (e.g., from a test account to a production account). The export feature allows you to extract the contents of the connection onto a .dsi file (Data Source Import file). When the data source is imported, you must verify the connection on the new account.

To export a data source

  1. Click the Export button in the toolbar.
  2. Provide a name for the file.
  3. Click Export.

To import a data source

  1. Click the Import button in the toolbar.
  2. Select the .dsi file that contains the data source connection that you want to import.
  3. Click Next.
  4. If a data source with the same name exists on the machine, select an action to resolve the conflicts.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Review the provided import summary. If everything looks correct, click Finish.

Allowing Laserfiche to Access Your Database

For direct data queries to work, there are a few items that will need to be arranged on the database servers. Please make the following adjustments to your port and whitelist settings in your firewall.

Review the IP Address list for endpoints that will need to be allowed access to the SQL Server via SSL over port 1433.

Review the Data Sources FAQs and Best Practices for additional information.