I had to resend a ticket because I couldn't upload files to a comment on an old ticket.  My site is not yet viewable, as I am working on its initial completion.

My problem is in connecting from WPDatatables to my database.  I am trying to use a database outside of my wordpress database.    I have verified everything 8 times over.  The port used is not the default.  Hostgator uses 2083, as can be seen in my attached screen shot.  Is there a problem with the username not being acceptable because of the underscore?  I copied and pasted it exactly.  There is no other option as hostgator appends the name of the new database  after the default Wordpressdatabase and an underscore.    You can see the name of my database on one of the screenshots, as well as my username.

I have tried each of the three drivers offered as optional choices. sqlsrv, DBLIB, ODBC.  Same result each time.  I even tried the default port, even though it isn't what hostgator uses. I haven't edited the config.php file.      One of the errors I get sometimes, appears as though WPdatatables has "yes" stored as a default and isn't recognizing that I've input my password correctly.  I have assigned all priviledges within the database to my user and it is confirmed in the mysql console as correct.  I attached the original, unchanged php file.  Is there something that must be changed here?  

It seems that this should be very basic and straight forward if the code is correct on the plugin.  Yet, I am at my wits end on this.  Unfortunately, Hostgator tech support says this is beyond them.   I am concerned that if I use the standard mysql database without creating another, I am asking for trouble.  I will have potentially a few million records and lots of front end user changes to their own tables.  

I thought this would be easy.

Thoughts, help!