Create DataFinder instances to index your technical data in one or multiple workspaces in the SystemLink file service, or in one or multiple folders called search areas on the SystemLink server or other network computers. The instances you create can either serve as a data source in an automated analysis process, or you can use them to manually search data with Data Navigation or client software like DIAdem or LabVIEW.

Note If you want to store the index of a DataFinder instance in a Microsoft SQL database, enable Global Settings » Display SQL Server Settings before creating a DataFinder instance.
  1. In SystemLink Web Application, under Data Administration, click Data Indexing and then DataFinder Instances.
  2. Click New » DataFinder Instance to start the configuration wizard.
  3. Enter a name and click Next.
    You need to know the name when you want to add this DataFinder instance to an analysis automation procedure as a data source. Data Navigation and clients need this name to connect to the instance.
  4. Specify the type of DataFinder instance you want to create.
    Setting Description
    Network shares within the organization Indexes data on network computers. A search area specifies a folder, which DataFinder instances index to enable Data Navigation or a client software to browse and search for data. You can add more search areas later.
    SystemLink file service Indexes the data in the SystemLink file service. The file service is the central data storage in SystemLink.
    Note Data Indexing already has a default FileIndex instance dedicated to searching data in the SystemLink file service.
  5. If you select Network shares within the organization, complete the following steps:
    1. Specify a descriptive name for the search area and choose the folder with the data you want to index. Use UNC paths to specify folders, for example, \\Server\MyFolder.
    2. Choose a workspace to determine which users can access this search area in Data Navigation.
  6. Click Finish.
  7. Select the DataFinder instance in the overview and click » Start to start the instance.
If you created a DataFinder instance that indexes network shares, add one or more search areas.