An administrator wants to ensure that a datasource can be referenced when creating data modules in the IBM Cognos Analytics Portal (New > Data…

To make a data source available for use in web-based modeling tools like data modules, the administrator must explicitly enable this capability within the data source connection properties. The "Allow web-based modeling" option configures the connection for use with the Dynamic Query Mode (DQM) service, which is required for creating and using data modules and dashboards in the Cognos Analytics portal. Without this setting enabled, the data source will not appear in the list of available sources when a user attempts to create a new data module.

A. IBM Cognos Configuration is used for core server settings like the content store, dispatchers, and cryptography, not for managing properties of individual data source connections for specific features.

B. IBM Cognos Transformer is a separate client tool used for creating PowerCubes (OLAP models) and is not involved in configuring relational data sources for web-based modeling.

C. Access permissions are managed in the administration console, not within the modeling tool itself. Furthermore, this setting controls who can create data modules, not which data sources are available for modeling.

1. IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.x Documentation, Managing, "Creating a data source": In the section describing the properties for a new data source connection, the documentation states for the Connection tab: "Allow web-based modeling: Select this check box to allow the data source to be used in web-based modeling tools, such as data modules."

2. IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.x Documentation, Data Modeling, "Data sources for data modules": This section explicitly states the prerequisite: "To be used in data modules, JDBC data sources must be configured to Allow web-based modeling in their connection properties. This setting is enabled by default for new JDBC data source connections."