SQL connection identifier

Purpose of SQL connection identifiers

When connecting to databases such as PostgreSQL or SQL Server, it is possible to define a name for the database client program.

This allows for the association of a name with a database client connection in the database server, to be used in logging and trace utilities.

For example, if you don't define the application identifier for SQL Server client programs, all connections will get the name "ODBC".

SQL application identifier with SQL Server

The SQL Server client application identifier can be defined by using the APP=name ODBC connection string parameter. The ODBC application identifier will be available in the SQL Server session with sp_who and APP_NAME() SQL functions. This name will also be visible in the "ApplicationName" column of SQL Profiler trace logs.

To pass ODBC connection string parameters to SQL Server, use the ?options notation in the "source" connection parameter.

With an FGLPROFILE entry:

dbi.database.mydb.source = "mydatasource?APP=myappid;"

At runtime with connection parameters in database specification:

CONNECT TO "mydb+source='mydatasource?APP=myappid;'" USER un USING up

ODBC connection string parameters must be terminated by a ; semi-colon.

SQL application identifier with PostgreSQL

The PostgreSQL client application identifier can be defined with the application_name PostgreSQL URL connection string parameter.

To pass URL connection string parameters to PostgreSQL, use the ?options notation in the "source" connection parameter:

With an FGLPROFILE entry:

dbi.database.mydb.source = "mydatabase?application_name=myappid"

At runtime with connection parameters in database specification:

CONNECT TO "mydb+source='mydatabase?application_name=myappid'" USER un USING up

PostgreSQL URL connection string parameters must be separated by a & ampersand.