Database

formcycle requires a pre-existing database for storing system related data. When installing formcycle, the database structure is initialized automatically by the system. You only need to provide a connection to working database.

formcycle no longer supplies database drivers. It is necessary to install the appropriate database driver for the database management system you are using. 

7.0.10+ Starting with formcycle version 7.0.10, this also applies to the H2 database driver that was still included in earlier releases. Further information can be found here.

CONTENTS

• Database connection
• Advanced settings
• Database encryption
• Migrating data sets
• Create or update the database

Database connection

Database type

Select the database type of the database you would like to use.

JDBC connection URL

Every database has got slightly different URL for establishing a connection. Click on the example button to the right to see a list of common URLs.

Database user

User name for the database login.

DB password

Password for the database login.

Advanced settings

7.1.0+ You can also use the JVM parameters xfcAutoUpdate and xfcUpdateCallbackEmails to override the settings for the auto update.

7.1.0+  Apply pending updates automatically on system start

When enabled, all pending database and system updates are run automatically when the formcycle application is started. This avoids having to run the updates manually and helps to reduces down times during updates.

8.0.0+  Update all plugins to their most recent version on system start.

If activated, all installed system and client plugins are automatically updated to the latest version when formcycle is started. The update report contains all information about plugin updates and possible failed updates.

7.1.0+  Send notification about update results to the following email addresses

A list of email addresses. When the automatic update finishes, a status report is sent to these email addresses (requires a valid mail server configuration). The report contains information about the update status (success or error) and any error messages in case of an error.

Connections

The maximum number of connections between formcycle and the database at any given time.

Timeout

The time an open connection between must remain idle for the connection between formcycle and the database to be closed. When set to 0, no timeout is applied.

Database encryption

formcycle provides the option to enable encryption for the database to prevent against unauthorized access. Meta data is always encrypted and form data may be encrypted optionally.

To activate encryption, you must set the following options:

Algorithm

The encryption alogrithm to be used. The default is PBE with SHA and Twofish-CBC (recommended).

Encrypt form data

Enable this option to encrypt data of submitted forms including all attachments. When you use a mySQL database, form specific data tables are encrypted as well.

Update encryption of data sets

When this option is checked, the data gets encrypted with the entered password.

Password confirmation

The password used to encrypt the data with the selected algorithm.

Depending on the chosen encryption algorithm, the password and the Java version you are using it may become necessary to install the Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) Unlimited Strength Jurisdiction Policy Files. If these files are missing, an appropriate error message will be displayed.

Migrating data sets

Enable the option Update encryption of data sets to migrate existing, encrypted data. The encrypted data is decrypted with the password entered in Password confirmation and encrypted again with the new password.

Create or update the database

Click on Save and update to continue to update the database and system. If the database is empty, new tables will be created. Otherwise, the database is updated. Once the database is up-to-date, all necessary system updates are run automatically.