# tInformixInput

Reads a database and extracts fields based on a query.

tInformixInput executes a DB query with a strictly defined order which must correspond to the schema definition. Then it passes on the field list to the next component via a Main row link.

## tInformixInput Standard properties

These properties are used to configure tInformixInput running in the Standard Job framework.

The Standard tInformixInput component belongs to the Databases family.

The component in this framework is available in all Talend products.

Information noteNote: This component is a specific version of a dynamic database connector. The properties related to database settings vary depending on your database type selection. For more information about dynamic database connectors, see [DB Generic components](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/components/db-generic/db-generic-component).

## Basic settings

| Properties | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Database | Select the desired database type from the list and click<br>Apply. |
| Property type | <ul> <li> <p> <span>Either <span>Built-in</span> or										<span>Repository</span> </span>.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Built-in</span>: No property data stored								centrally.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Repository</span>: Select the repository								file in which the properties are stored. The fields that follow are								completed automatically using the data retrieved.</p> </li> <li></li> </ul> |
| ![](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/Resources/images/Save_Icon.png) | Click this icon to open a database connection wizard and store the<br>database connection parameters you set in the component Basic settings view.<br><br>For more information about setting up and storing database<br>connection parameters, see [Centralizing database metadata](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/centralizing-database-metadata). |
| Host | Database server IP address |
| Port | Listening port number of DB server. |
| Database | Name of the database |
| DB server | Name of the database server |
| Username and<br>Password | DB user authentication data.<br><br>To enter the password, click the [...] button<br>next to the password field, enter the password in double quotes in the pop-up dialog box,<br>and click OK to save the settings. |
| Schema and Edit<br>schema | <ul> <li> <p>A schema is a row description. It defines the number of fields            (columns) to be processed and passed on to the next component. When you create a Spark            Job, avoid the reserved word <kbd>line</kbd> when naming the            fields.</p> <p>This component offers the advantage of the                  dynamic schema feature. This allows you to retrieve unknown columns from source                  files or to copy batches of columns from a source without mapping each column                  individually. For further information about dynamic schemas, see <a href="https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/dynamic-schema" target="_blank">Dynamic schema</a>.</p> <p>This            dynamic schema feature is designed for the purpose of retrieving unknown columns of a            table and is recommended to be used for this purpose only; it is not recommended for the            use of creating tables.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Built-In</span>: You create and store the schema locally for this component                only.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Repository</span>: You have already created the schema and stored it in the                Repository. You can reuse it in various projects and Job designs.</p> </li> <li> <p>Click <span>Edit        schema</span> to make changes to the schema. If the current schema is of the <span>Repository</span> type, three options are available:</p> <ul> <li> <p> <span>View schema</span>: choose this                option to view the schema only.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Change to built-in property</span>:                choose this option to change the schema to <span>Built-in</span> for local changes.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Update repository connection</span>:                choose this option to change the schema stored in the repository and decide whether                to propagate the changes to all the Jobs upon completion.</p> <p>If you just want to                propagate the changes to the current Job, you can select <span>No</span> upon completion and choose this schema metadata                again in the <span>Repository Content</span>                window.</p> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> |
| Query type and Query | Enter your DB query paying particularly attention to properly<br>sequence the fields in order to match the schema definition.<br><br><br>*If using the<br>dynamic schema feature, the SELECT query must include the \* wildcard, to retrieve all of the columns from the<br>table selected.* |

## Advanced settings

| Properties | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Additional JDBC Parameters | Specify additional connection properties for the DB connection you are<br>creating. This option is not available if you have selected the Use an<br>existing connection check box in the Basic<br>settings.<br><br>Information noteTip: You can press Ctrl+Space to access a list<br>of predefined global variables. |
| Trim all the String/Char columns | Select this check box to remove leading and trailing whitespace from all the String/Char columns. |
| tStatCatcher Statistics | Select this check box to gather the Job processing metadata at a Job level<br>as well as at each component level. |

## Global Variables

| Variables | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Global Variables | NB\_LINE:<br>the number of rows processed. This is an After variable and it returns an integer.<br><br><br>QUERY: the query statement<br>being processed. This is a Flow variable and it returns a string.<br><br><br>ERROR\_MESSAGE: the error message generated by the<br>component when an error occurs. This is an After variable and it returns a string. This<br>variable functions only if the Die on error checkbox is<br>cleared, if the component has this checkbox.<br><br>A Flow variable functions during the execution of a component<br>while an After variable functions after the execution of the component.<br><br>To fill up a field or expression with a variable, press Ctrl+Space to access the variable list and choose the variable to use from<br>it.<br><br>For more information about variables, see [Using contexts and variables](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/contexts-and-variables). |

## Usage

| Usage guidance | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Usage rule** | This component covers all possible SQL queries for DB2<br>databases. |
| Dynamic settings | Click the [+] button to add a row in the table<br>and fill the Code field with a context<br>variable to choose your database connection dynamically from multiple<br>connections planned in your Job. This feature is useful when you need to<br>access database tables having the same data structure but in different<br>databases, especially when you are working in an environment where you<br>cannot change your Job settings, for example, when your Job has to be<br>deployed and executed independent of Talend Studio.<br><br>The Dynamic settings table is<br>available only when the Use an existing<br>connection check box is selected in the Basic settings view. Once a dynamic parameter is<br>defined, the Component List box in the<br>Basic settings view becomes unusable.<br><br>For examples on using dynamic parameters, see [Reading data from databases through<br>context-based dynamic connections](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/components/defining-context-groups/reading-data-from-databases-through-context-based-dynamic-connections) and [Reading data from different MySQL databases<br>using dynamically loaded connection parameters](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/components/context/reading-data-from-different-mysql-databases-using-dynamically-loaded-connection-parameters). For more information on<br>Dynamic settings and context variables, see<br>[Dynamic schema](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/dynamic-schema) and [Creating a context group and define context<br>variables in it](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/creating-context-group-and-define-context-variables-in-it). |
| Limitation | This component requires installation of its related jar files. |