Problem connecting to SQL Anywhere 17 to Power BI using OLE DB - the workaround

 This is a continuation of my previous post wherein the Power BI created connection string spawned an error.

In the previous post we saw that the following connection information did not work.

 

I changed the connection string by using database instead of Initial Catalog and it seemed to work by displaying the demo database database objects in the Navigator.

 

However attempting to expand any of them displayed other error messages. Also, even without changing initial catalog to database displayed the same objects in the Navigator.  

There are no other connections to this database and it is not to reason out this error.

It was then decided to try out the Advanced Option in the From OLE DB dialog. 

 

Used the same Connection Information and then in the Advanced Option dialog inserted a SELECT query (you can use any other query) and clicked OK. However there was one more dialog requesting Username/Password.

The response was correctly returned as shown.

I believe the From OLE DB stage of the wizard is not working too well unless you use the Advanced Option. Even with SQL Server 2016, the problem was if one did not use the Advanced Option (this has not been tested yet) the connection will open all the objects on the server and not just the one chosen with the Data Link stage of the wizard.

Problem connecting to SQL Anywhere 17 to Power BI using OLE DB

SQL Anywhere 17 is a relational database from SAP. The earlier editions were from the parent company Sybase.

SQL Anywhere 17 is a SAP database. The earlier editions were from the parent company Sybase.

Start SQL Central which is like SQL Server Management Studio for SQL Server and connect to SQL Anywhere Demo 17 database with credentials dba/sql.

Launch Power BI and click on Get Data and choose From OLE DB. Click on Build to open Data Link Properties as shown.

SqlAnyOleDB_00

Choose SQL Anywhere OLE DB Provider 17 from the above drop-down.
Click Next. Provide User Name and Password and click allow saving password and browse to find the database demo. as shown

SqlAnyOleDB_01

Click demo and click Test Connection.
This should display a success message as shown.

SqlAnyOleDB_02

Click OK. The From OLE DB window gets filled as shown.

SqlAnyOleDB_03

Again the Access a datasource using OLEDB Provider comes up as shown. Actually this UI needs to be better designed. The credentials were already entered in a previous wizard screen.

SqlAnyOleDB_04

Again use the dba/sql password and click connect.

Looks like the Power BI does not accept the UI designed connection string

SqlAnyOleDB_05

The connection string was created by Power BI after accepting valid entries. Looks like there is a problem.



 This is being looked into and come back to this site. The work around will be posted as soon as it is found.