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### External (Shared) Database Connections

External (shared) database connections are connections that can be used in multiple graphs. They are stored outside the graphs and that is why graphs can share them.

Only the connection configuration is shared. If two graphs use the same external (shared) connection, they use the same connection configuration, but each of them has its independent database connection.

Best practice is to place an external (shared) connections into `conn` directory.

#### Creating External (Shared) Database Connections

To create an external (shared) database connection, select File → New → Other... from the main menu. Expand the CloverETL category and its Connection subcategory. Either click the Database Connection item and then Next, or double-click the Database Connection item. The Database Connection properties dialog will open.

Then you specify the properties of the external (shared) database connection in the same way as in the case of internal one. See Database Connection Properties for detailed information about how database connections should be created.

When all properties of the connection have been set, you can validate your connection by clicking the Validate connection button.

After clicking Next, select the project, its `conn` subfolder and choose the name for your external database connection file. Finally, click Finish.

#### Linking External (Shared) Database Connections

External (shared) database connections can be linked to each graph in which they should be used.

Right-click either the Connections group or any of its items. Select Connections → Link DB connection from the context menu. A File URL dialog displaying the project content will open. Expand the `conn` folder and select the desired connection configuration file from all the files contained.

##### Linking Multiple Connections

You can even link multiple external (shared) connection configuration files at once.

To do this, right-click either the Connections group or any of its items and select Connections → Link DB connection from the context menu. After that, a File URL dialog displaying the project content will open. Expand the `conn` folder in this dialog and select the desired connection configuration files from all the files contained.

You can select adjacent file items when you press Shift and move the Down Cursor or the Up Cursor key. If you want to select non-adjacent items, use Ctrl+Click at each of the desired file items instead.

The same is valid for both database and JMS connections.

#### Internalizing External (Shared) Database Connections

Any linked external (shared) connection can be converted into an internal connection. The connection becomes a part of the graph, but the external configuration file does not disappear. In such a case you would see the connection structure in the graph itself.

You can convert any external (shared) connection configuration file into an internal connection by right-clicking the linked external (shared) connection item in the Outline pane and using Internalize connection from the context menu.

##### Internalizing Multiple Connections

You can even internalize multiple linked external (shared) connection configuration files at once.

To do this, select the desired linked external (shared) connection items in the Outline pane. You can select adjacent items when you press Shift and move the Down Cursor or the Up Cursor key. If you want to select non-adjacent items, use Ctrl+Click at each of the desired items instead.

After that, the selected linked external (shared) connection items disappear from the Outline pane Connections group, but, at the same location, newly created internal connection items appear.

However, the original external (shared) connection configuration files still remain in the `conn` subfolder what can be seen in the Navigator pane.

The same is valid for both database and JMS connections.

Figure 33.3. Internalizing External (Shared) Database Connection

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