The Generic Data Adapter (GDA) is a tool allowing the user to link assets in the asset database to external data. Asset attributes are linked via GDA to an external data source such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Access or Excel, and the results--attribute values from other systems--are available to V-Suite CORE users, like any other attributes. The results are available in the production view to any user with appropriate permissions.

GDA is not intended for V-Suite CORE end-users but is typically used by an Administrator or power user. The GDA user should have basic knowledge of database and data analysis concepts. As with all authoring functions, you must have permissions and work in a work order or standing task to set up or configure GDA.

GDA is distributed both on the V-Suite CORE client installation and the Visionaize Enterprise Server installation. So when running V-Suite CORE in a client/server environment, each client can choose to use any GDA connection through the server. This is specially useful when the GDA link uses a special provider which can not be distributed to all clients but can be installed on the server.