Add a trusted data connection library

In this article:

- About trusted data connection libraries
- Add a trusted data connection library

About trusted data connection libraries

In Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, a trusted data connection library is a data connection library from which you have determined that it is safe to access Office data connection (.odc) files. The .odc files are used to centrally manage connections to external data sources.

Instead of allowing embedded connections to external data sources, Excel Calculation Services can be configured to require the use of .odc files for all data connections. The .odc files are stored in data connection libraries, and the data connection libraries have to be explicitly trusted before Excel Calculation Services will allow workbooks to access them.

If a data connection is linked from a workbook that is accessed by a server running Excel Calculation Services, the server checks the connection information and the list of trusted data connection libraries. If the data connection library is on the list, a connection is attempted by using the .odc file from the data connection library; otherwise, the connection request is ignored.

Before you can configure a data connection library as a trusted data connection for Excel Services in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, you must create a data connection library on a SharePoint site. To create a data connection library, click the Site Actions menu, select Create, and then click Data Connection Library. On the New page, type a name for the new data connection library and click Create.

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