The File Menu

The File Menu provides access to the following EMarketOffer features:

• Data Sources
• Map Settings
• Save All Settings
• Open EMO Data Directory
• Exit

The Data Sources Option

Please read in conjunction with the section on Connecting to a Database Server.

Data Source Concepts

Input data can be sourced from file (see Data Files), or from online database servers.

The Database Connection Configuration

EMarketOffer supports multiple connections to multiple database servers. Database connectivity is managed through the Database Connection Configuration (DCC). A DCC contains a number of queries which obtain data from one or more databases. While a DCC's queries can access data in more than one database on more than one database server, it is not possible to have more than one query handling data of the same type (e.g. only one query can return Price data, and only one query can return Demand data). To overcome this limitation it is possible to define multiple DCCs. Each configuration will define a different, but complete set of data access queries. EMarketOffer can use only one DCC at a time, which together with the data files loaded from the Inputs files directory, fully determine EMarketOffer's run-time data environment.

The Database Connection

A Database Connection is a set of data that describes the addressing, technical and security details required to a specific database on a specific database server. The details are combined in to a specific string format and used to access the required data. A DCC must contain one connection string for every database to be addressed in the configuration.

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NOTE: Only one Connection per server is required in DCC. Therefore if all your data is stored in the same database then all queries required to access data can use the same Connection.

Source Data Administration Window

Access

The Database Connections option in the Main Window File Menu.

Purpose

To manage Database Connection Configurations (DCC).

Features

Feature	Purpose
Database Connections Configuration Selector	To set the Current DCC from a drop down box of all currently available DCCs.
Open configuration Button	Opens the DCC Window for the selected configuration
New Configuration Button	Opens the New DCC Window Dialogue
Use Grid File Inputs Check Box	When checked (default) EMarketOffer processes Transmission System files in the Inputs/Grid sub-folder
Refresh All Cached Data Button	Reloads all cached data (from file and database)

The File Inputs Status Window

Access

The File Inputs option in the Main Window File Menu.

Purpose

Details the files currently being used to load Constraints data and any associated loading errors. The Window can also be used to access and reload external grid files.

Components and Features

Component	Feature	Purpose
Control Panel	Reload Grid Inputs Button	Reloads the Constraints data files (allows you to load modified or replaced Transmission System files without having to restart EMarketOffer)
	Open Grid Files Input Directory Button	Opens a standard Windows file directory window \Inputs\Grid for quick access to Transmission System files
Status Panel	External File Types Loaded List	Lists type of external transmission systems files loaded (in the above example the EM6 Constraints Change file type has been loaded)
	Loading Error List	List the types of errors found when attempting to load files line by line. Errors are listed by re-ratings or Group Constraint groupings a total of each is provided. Errors text for each loading failure are designed to be self-explanatory
	Setup Error List	Lists the errors when attempting to create a consistent set of Constraints after each line has been loaded

Database Connection Settings Window

Access

Either through the Open Configuration Button or the New Configuration Button, both on the External Data Administration Window.

Purpose

Specification of the database connection and query details used by a Database Connectivity Configuration (DCC).

Components and Features

Component	Feature	Purpose
Function Panel	Test Button	Tests the validity of the DCC. Test results are displayed in the Status Box (see below)
	Save Button	Saves the current set of configuration data to file. NOTE: Connection details changed through the interface will only remain effective for the current session. Unless saved using this button, future sessions will revert to the previously saved details.
	Done Button	Closes the Data Connections Window retaining any unsaved changes for the current session only.
	Date and Period Selector	Selects the Date and Trading Period for the data connectivity test.
	Status Box	Shows the results of the last connectivity test
Database Panel	Add Button	Creates a new Database Connection
	Delete Button	Delete an existing Database Connection
	Name Field	Contains the name of the Database Connection used to reference the connection in the Query Panel
	Connection Type Field	Determines the type of connection EMarketOffer will use for a specific connection. Currently supported connections are: OleDB ODBC Oracle SQL OleDB and ODBS are generic types and operate with most SQL compliant databases. The Oracle and SQL connection types are specific .net variants for the Oracle and Microsoft SQL server database type. They provide performance superior to the generic connection types and should be used by preference where possible.
	Connection String Field	Contains the Connection String required to access a database server
	Date Brackets Field	Contains the symbol used by database server to identify dates within query strings (varies by server type)
	Date Format Field	Defines how the database server interprets date formats
	Error Field	Displays results from the last test operation that are specific to this Database Connection
Query Panel	Entity Type Field	Informs EMarketOffer which entity type a query will return data for (either 'Node' or 'Unit')
	Connection Field	Defines the Connection String, named through the Database Panel which is used by the query
	Query Field	Contains the text of the query used to access data
	Date Field Field	Links the column containing the date in the query to EMarketOffer's date/time handler (allows you to use in-house column names)
	TP Field Field	Links the Trading Period column in the query to EMarketOffer's date/time handler (allows you to use in-house column names)
	Entity Field Field	Links the Entity column (defined in the Entity Type Field) in the query to EMarketOffer's Entity data handler (allows you to use column names from your in-house databases from queries)
	Other Fields Field	Links additional columns in the query to EMarketOffer's Entity.trait data handler
	Error Field	Displays the results of the last test operation specific to the query
	Sent Query Field	Displays the actual text of the last query sent to test the database connection (provided as a feature to assist with trouble shooting during setup)

Creating A New Database Connection Configuration

Usage

The ability to define multiple Database Connection Configurations allows you to create different data environments for different requirements and easily switch between these environments as needed. Examples of different data environments include:

• The standard (historical) market data in the corporate market database
• A short-term model of a specific market scenario (suitable for business development projects)
• An alternate data source for one or more data streams (e.g. Demand data from SCADA vs SPD Daily Demand)
• A database on a portable computer (suitable for away trips and business presentations)
• A training database of illustrative scenarios

>> To create a new Database Connection Configuration

1. Open the External Data Administration Window from the Data Source option of the Main Window File Menu
2. Open the New Connection Configuration Dialogue using the New Configuration Button
3. Enter the name for the new configuration in the Connection Configuration Name field
4. Chose whether to start the new configuration with a copy of the Current Configuration (saves much data re-rentry) or with a blank screen by selecting 'Yes' or 'No' in the Copy Current Connection Configuration field
5. Click OK Button to accept your entries and open the Database Connection Settings Window or the Cancel Button to reject entry and return to the External Data Administration Window