--- title: "Defining a Data Source | Microsoft Docs" ms.custom: "" ms.date: "03/06/2017" ms.prod: "sql-server-2014" ms.reviewer: "" ms.technology: "analysis-services" ms.topic: conceptual ms.assetid: 5a3e83c9-8788-431e-85b0-a68c79377ff3 author: minewiskan ms.author: owend manager: craigg --- # Defining a Data Source After you create an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] project, you generally start working with the project by defining one or more data sources that the project will use. When you define a data source, you are defining the connection string information that will be used to connect to the data source. For more information, see [Create a Data Source (SSAS Multidimensional)](multidimensional-models/create-a-data-source-ssas-multidimensional.md). In the following task, you define the AdventureWorksDWSQLServer2012 sample database as the data source for the [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] Tutorial project. While this database is located on your local computer for the purposes of this tutorial, source databases are frequently hosted on one or more remote computers. ### To define a new data source 1. In Solution Explorer (on the right of the Microsoft Visual Studio window), right-click **Data Sources**, and then click **New Data Source**. 2. On the **Welcome to the Data Source Wizard** page of the **Data Source Wizard**, click **Next** to open the **Select how to define the connection** page. 3. On the **Select how to define the connection** page, you can define a data source based on a new connection, based on an existing connection, or based on a previously defined data source object. In this tutorial, you define a data source based on a new connection. Verify that **Create a data source based on an existing or new connection** is selected, and then click **New**. 4. In the **Connection Manager** dialog box, you define connection properties for the data source. In the **Provider** list box, verify that **Native OLE DB\SQL Server Native Client 11.0** is selected. [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] also supports other providers, which are displayed in the **Provider** list. 5. In the **Server name** text box, type `localhost`. To connect to a named instance on your local computer, type **localhost\\**. To connect to the specific computer instead of the local computer, type the computer name or IP address. 6. Verify that **Use Windows Authentication** is selected. In the **Select or enter a database name** list, select **AdventureWorksDW2012**. 7. Click **Test Connection** to test the connection to the database. 8. Click **OK**, and then click **Next**. 9. On the **Impersonation Information** page of the wizard, you define the security credentials for [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] to use to connect to the data source. Impersonation affects the Windows account used to connect to the data source when Windows Authentication is selected. [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] does not support impersonation for processing OLAP objects. Select **Use the service account**, and then click **Next**. 10. On the **Completing the Wizard** page, accept the default name, **Adventure Works DW 2012**, and then click **Finish** to create the new data source. > [!NOTE] > To modify the properties of the data source after it has been created, double-click the data source in the **Data Sources** folder to display the data source properties in **Data Source Designer**. ## Next Task in Lesson [Defining a Data Source View](lesson-1-3-defining-a-data-source-view.md) ## See Also [Create a Data Source (SSAS Multidimensional)](multidimensional-models/create-a-data-source-ssas-multidimensional.md)