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Knowledge Base / Designer / How to Set up DCM for Designer and Server
How to Set up DCM for Designer and Server
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Created/Edited - 8/3/2026 by Nora Tobon | Alteryx

How To

Set up DCM for Designer and Server, understand what DCM is, see common errors, and understand what is important about sharing.

Environment

Alteryx Designer, Server

    • 2021.4+
Prerequisites

Supported Connectors and Tools

Procedure

About DCM

NOTE: DCM and DCM.E is the same. The terms can be used interchangeably.

Data Connection Manager (DCM) is a centralized storage for Database and Cloud interoperable connections (credentials linked to data sources) that facilitates workflow connection management and collaboration across Alteryx products. Use DCM to enter and use your connections and credentials among tools and workflows.

  • With DCM you can manage data sources, credentials and connections:
    • Data source objects represent databases, cloud services and more.
    • Credential objects represent username and password combinations and OAuth tokens. 
    • Connection objects join data sources to credentials and are used by one or many tools in your Workflow.

 

  • The benefits of using DCM are:
    • to allow workflow owners to update credentials in a single location and have that update propagate to all tools in all workflows.
    • to abstract credentials utilized within the workflow and house them elsewhere. This is considered more secure.
    • to allow users to back up connection details.

 Common errors

Selected Connection is not available. Set one up to use the tool.

Cause: The author of the workflow used DCM and didn’t share with you.

Resolution: The person who created the Connection needs to share it with you.

 

DCM requested, but not enabled.

Cause: The workflow was built with DCM, but Designer doesn’t have DCM enabled. 
Resolution: Enable DCM

 

Designer DCM

Steps to Set Up:

 

Enable DCM

It must be enabled, either in User Settings or in System Settings, to use.

  1. As an administrator, you can choose to Enable DCM for your Organization in Options - Advanced Options - System Settings - DCM. This will enable DCM and set the selected DCM Mode for all users on the selected machine or organization.

 


 

  1. If allowed by the administrator, as a user you have permission to Override DCM System Settings set for your organization, enable or disable DCM, change DCM Mode, and choose SDK Access Mode in User Settings > DCM. 





 

Once it is enabled you will see the option File > Manage Connections where you can can control the Data Sources and Credentials that authenticate to the Data Sources.

 

Connection Manager
 

There are two ways to access the Connection Manager:

  1. Go to File > Manage Connections
  2. Or when you place the tool on the Canvas, the box 'Use Data Connection Manager (DCM) is checked, and you click on Set up a Connection and select your Data Source.

 

 

DCM consists of the following objects: 

  • Data source objects represent the data source technology. This includes databases, cloud services, and more. 
  • Credential objects represent username and password combinations, OAuth tokens, etc.
  • Connection objects join data sources to credentials and are used by one or many tools in your Workflows.

 

 

 

  1. Manage Credentials: You can Add, View, Edit or Delete Credentials.
     
    • To add a Credential:
      • Select + Add Credential.
      • Enter Credential Name.
      • Select a Method. Enter required info (for example, Client ID, Secret Key, Username, Password) for the selected method.
      • Select Save.

 

 

    • View Credentials: Select the credential you want to view from the list.
    • Edit Credentials: Select the credential you want to edit from the list. Select Edit. Select Save.
    • Delete Credentials: Select the credential you want to delete in Connection Manager. Select the trashcan icon. Select Delete.

 

  1. Manage Data Sources: You can Add, View, Edit or Delete Data Sources
     
    • To Add a Data Source and Connect : 
      • Select + Add Data Source. 
      • Choose Technology from the dropdown
      • Fill in the information needed for the technology you want to connect.
      • Click on Save.

 

    • View Data Sources: Select the Data Source you want to view from the list.
    • Edit Data Sources: Select the Data Source you want to edit from the list. Select Edit. Select Save.
    • Delete Data Sources: Select the Data Source you want to delete in Connection Manager. Select the trashcan icon. Select Delete.

 

  1. Manage Connections:  You can combine the Data Source with the Credential to create a Connection. You can Link, Unlink or Edit Connections.
     
    • To Link Data Sources to credentials:
      • Select the Data Source you want to Connect to Credential
      • Select + Connect Credential.
      • Choose an Authentication Method.
      • Fill in the credential information.
      • Optionally you can choose to Allow connection for SDK.
      • Click on Link button.

 

    • Unlink Connection: Select the Data Source you want to edit from the list. Click on the 3 dots. Select Unlink. 
    • Edit Connection: Select the Data Source you want to edit from the list. Click on the 3 dots. Select Edit. 

 

  1. Synchronize: DCM allows you to synchronize credentials between Server and Designer. DCM allows users to sync their connections to and from Server. The purpose of this sync is to enable workflows using that connection to run on the Server.
    • To Add new Server connection:
      • Select + Add Gallery.
      • Enter the Server instance URL and select Connect.
      • Enter Email and Password and select Sign In.


 

    • To Synchronize: 
      • Select Server instance to sync with.
      • Select Synchronize.
      • Select Done

 



Notice the Last Synced Date/Time. If you try to synchronize again and you haven't added, edited, or deleted credentials then there is nothing to be synchronize and you will see the message "All synchronized".

If you add, edit, or delete credentials you need to synchronize again. When you Sync, you will see the Action performed by the Synchronization.



 

    1. Backup & Restore: You can backup your DCM storage and restore it from the backup file.
      • Backup
        • Go to File > Manage Connections to open Connection Manager.
        • Select Backup.
        • Enter your backup file password.
        • Select the Backup.
        • Choose a location and optionally a name for your backup file.
        • Select Save.

     

      • Restore
        • Go to File > Manage Connections to open Connection Manager.
        • Select Restore.
        • Enter your backup file password.
        • Select the Restore

     

    How to connect with your DCM Connection:

      • Place the tool on the Canvas.
      • Be sure 'Use Data Connection Manager DCM' checkbox is selected.
      • Click on Select Set up a Connection. 
      • Click on Data Sources. Select you Data Source. 
      • The Connection Manager window will show the existing Connections for that type of Data Source.

     

     

      • Choose your Connection and use linked credentials by selecting the Connect button

     



    Note: If the box 'Use Data Connection Manager (DCM) is unchecked and you just click on Set Up a Connection, it will not use DCM.
     

    Server DCM

     

    1. Enable DCM: 

    To configure DCM for your Server, review the section 'Enable DCM' in this page.

    1. Data Connection Manager Configuration: 




      1. DCM Data Sources: You can Add, View, Edit or Delete Credentials. Review the section Manage Data Sources (in Designer) in this page. 
      2. DCM Credentials:   You can Add, View, Edit or Delete Credentials. Review the section Manage Credential  (in Designer) in this page.  

        You can combine the Data Source with the Credential to create a Connection. You can Link, Unlink or Edit Connections. Review the section Manage Connections (in Designer) in this page.  

     

    1.  Share a Connection with Users and Groups:

      To Share a Connection with Users and Groups, follow these steps: 
      1. On the DCM Data Sources page, select the connection you want to share. 
      2. In the three-dot menu, select Share.  
      3. In the Share Connection window, select Users or Custom Groups, then Add User or Add Group. 
      4. Enter the name of a user or group. 
      5. Select the user or group.  
      6. Select Add. The added users or custom groups display in the Users or Custom Groups list.  
      7. Select Done.

    To revoke a user's or group's access to a connection, follow these steps:  

      1. On the DCM Data Sources page, select the connection of a data source you want to share. 
      2. In the three-dot menu, select Share.  
      3. In the Share Connection window, select the trash icon next to the user or group name. To confirm, select Remove.  
      4. Select Done

     

    Important note about sharing:

     Before Server 2023.2:  You can only share a connection for workflow execution on Server. 

    • DCM is completely different from Gallery Data Connections and they are not related. It is not analogous to Gallery Data Connections. They have distinct uses and do not interact with each other currently.
      Simply put, DCM is managed by users and is a personal store, while Server Data Connections are managed by Admins and allow connections to be shared with multiple users.
    • All that sharing does is it allows users to run workflows that contain DCM resources. It only allows users to run workflows on Gallery with those credentials embedded. Sharing connections in DCM between users is only for execution on the Alteryx Server. Here's an example:
      • User A builds a workflow in Designer using a DCM connection. They publish that workflow to Server.
      • User A syncs that connection to the Server. Now, when the user runs or schedules the workflow on Server, it will execute.
      • User A places that workflow in a Collection so User B can run it.
      • In order for the workflow to execute successfully by User B, User A must share the connection with User B.
      • User B cannot sync this shared connection to their own Designer for use. It is only for use in Server.
    • The only person who can see the Connections is the person who created them. User will see in Gallery>DCM Data Source or Gallery>DCM Credentials whatever they created and synced with the gallery. 
    • DCM does not ever show up for admins or users with whom the Connections are shared. If you share a DCM Data Source you created with a user, that user won't see it in Gallery>DCM Data Source. 
    • On your own Server UI, you don't see any of the DCM Data Source that other user created and synced. 
    • The ability to see the shared credentials is not available.  Shared creds are still unseen and just for running existing workflows.  
    • Sharing credentials does not allow a shared user to utilize credentials in a workflow. It is for the individual user’s Connections that they created themselves.
    • DCM connections have limited collaboration. If a user shares a workflow that contains a DCM connection, the recipient will need to reconfigure the connection from scratch.


    After Server 2023.2: When sharing a connection, you can now select from 2 options how to share this data source: 
    Share for Collaboration 
    Share to Run on Server Only.

     

    • Share for Collaboration: Share a connection allowing multiple users to collaborate on creating workflows. This form of sharing allows other users to synchronize the connection to their Designers to build workflows using this connection.

      • The connection owner can choose to share their credentials together with the connections. If they choose to, other users won’t be able to view the secrets but will be able to use them in workflows. Other users won’t be able to re-use the shared credentials in any other connection - it will be bound to the shared connection only. If the connection owner decides to not share the credentials, each user will then be required to connect their own credentials—for the same authentication method—in order to use the connection.

      • No updates in workflows are necessary to execute the workflow by other users who have this connection shared.

      • Only Server Curators are allowed to share connections for Collaboration.

    • Share to Run on Server Only: Share a connection for workflow execution on Server. The user can’t see the connection, nor can they synchronize it and use it in Designer. 

    For more information about new feature "Share for Collaboration" refer the Release Notes

     

    1. Synchronize DCM between Server and Designer 

      To synchronize DCM between Server and Designer, follow these steps: 
      • Go to Designer > File > Manage Connections to open Connection Manager. Then select Synchronize in the menu.  
      • Select from the list the Server you want to synchronize. 
      • Select Synchronize.


    After you have synchronized DCM between Server and Designer, any credentials you own and all data sources you have access to will be visible and ready for use in Connection Manager. 

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