Handle Special Characters in Data Source Passwords in Bold Reports

When configuring a Data Source connection in Bold Reports, passwords containing special characters such as =, ;, or [ may trigger the following error: Format of the initialization string does not conform to specification. This occurs because the connection string parser may interpret these characters as delimiters instead of part of the password. To resolve this issue, wrap the password in single quotes (') so the parser treats it as a literal string.

This guide explains how to ensure successful authentication when using passwords that contain special characters.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Data Source Configuration

• Navigate to the Data Source panel.
• Click New Data Source, or edit an existing data source.

Step 2: Identify the Connection Error

• Enter your server details, username, and password.
• If the password contains special characters (such as =, ;, or [), the connection may fail with the initialization string format error message, as shown below.
  
  

Step 3: Wrap the Password in Single Quotes

• In the Password field, enclose the entire password in single quotes (').
• Click Save to store the Data Source.
  
  

Conclusion

After enclosing the password in single quotes, the connection string parser correctly interprets the password as a literal value. This allows successful authentication even when special characters are included.

See Also

• How to Create a Shared Data Source in Bold Reports
• Connecting to PostgreSQL