Accessing the Data Warehouse with FileMaker - Configuring ODBC for Macintosh

This page contains a subset of instructions on configuring FileMaker to access the Data Warehouse. For details on the overall process, see: Accessing the Data Warehouse with FileMaker - Configuration Instructions

Important: The ODBC connection is set up on the machine where the FileMaker database lives. If the database is hosted with FileMaker Server (strongly recommended), this is the server machine; if it's a local single-user file, this is the user's machine. These instructions are for Macintosh systems; instructions for Windows may be found at Accessing the Data Warehouse with FileMaker - Configuring ODBC for Windows.

Install the Oracle Driver

Download and install the Actual Technologies ODBC Driver for Oracle from the MIT software download page.

Set Up ODBC Data Source (DSN)

1. Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities.
2. Launch ODBC Manager (called "ODBC Administrator" in earlier versions).
3. Select the System DSN tab.
   
   
   
4. Click on the Padlock icon and enter your MacOS administrator account username and password.
   
   
   
5. In the ODBC Administrator window, go to the System DSN tab, and click the Add button.
6. When prompted to choose a driver, select Actual Oracle and click OK.
   
   
   
7. In the Configuration window, click the Licenses... button.
   
   
   
8. Enter the License Key from the MIT product page for the Actual Oracle ODBC driver and click OK.
   
   
   
9. Click Continue.
   
   
   
10. Configure the ODBC data source:
    • Name: warehouse
    • Description: MIT Data Warehouse
    • Server: warehouse.mit.edu
    • Port: 1521
      
      
      
11. Click Continue.
12. In the Database field, enter DWRHS
    Click to select SID as the Type
    
    
    
13. Click to check Always include views in table lists.
14. Click Advanced Options.
15. In Advanced Options, click to check the box for Use Oracle Advanced Security and click OK.
    
    
    
16. In the Configuration window, click Continue.
17. A summary of your settings is displayed on the Conclusion screen.
    
    
    
18. Click Test. When prompted, enter your MIT Kerberos account username and Data Warehouse password, and click OK.
    
    
    Note: if you do not remember your Data Warehouse password, you can [reset it online]. For security reasons, IS&T recommends that your Data Warehouse password be different from your MIT Kerberos account password.
19. The test results are displayed. Click OK to return to the Conclusion screen.
    
    
    
20. If the test fails, use the Go Back buttons to check your settings for typographical errors.
21. Click Done.
22. Quit ODBC Manager.

Configure FileMaker Database

Now we are ready to create a connection to the Data Warehouse in the FileMaker database. Return to Accessing the Data Warehouse with FileMaker - Configuration Instructions and proceed to Step C: Configure FileMaker ODBC Connectivity.