SQL Data Sources – Softr Help Docs

Welcome to the ultimate guide for integrating SQL data sources with Softr! We’re thrilled to introduce support for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, and MariaDB. Follow these simple steps to connect your data and supercharge your Softr experience.

👉

SQL data sources are available on Business and Enterprise plans.

Getting started

Before diving into the specifics, make sure you have:

A Softr account.

Access to your SQL database credentials (hostname, database name, username, and password).

Necessary permissions to access and modify the database.

Connecting to your SQL data source

1. Access workspace data sources

Go to the Data sources section in the left sidebar of your dashboard page.

Click on Connect data source.

2. Selecting your SQL database

You’ll be presented with several options. Select SQL and then choose from the following:

PostgreSQL

MySQL

SQL Server

MariaDB

3. Entering your database credentials

Once you’ve selected your database, you’ll need to enter your database credentials. Here’s what you’ll typically need:

Host: The address where your database is hosted (e.g., db.example.com).

Port: The port number your database uses (default ports are usually 5432 for PostgreSQL, 3306 for MySQL and MariaDB, and 1433 for SQL Server).

Database name: The name of your specific database.

User: Your database username.

Password: Your database password.

4. Connection

After entering your credentials, click Connect. This will verify that Softr can successfully connect to your database. If the connection fails, double-check your credentials and try again.

Building internal tools and portals

Create Your App

Start by creating a new app or selecting an existing one in your Softr dashboard.

Add a Dynamic Block

Within your app, add a new dynamic block. This can be a list, grid, or any other block type that supports data integration.

Connect Your Block to Your SQL Database

Select your connected SQL database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or MariaDB) as your data source.

Either select a specific table you'd like to pull data from or write a custom SQL query to fetch the data you need.

Map Your Block

Map the fields from your SQL database to the elements in your block. This ensures the correct data is displayed in the right places.

Voila! Your data should appear in the block.

Style Your Block

Customize the appearance of your block to fit your app's design. Softr offers various styling options to make your data visually appealing.

Control Access

Use Softr's built-in user management and permissions to determine who can see which blocks and data. This ensures secure access control tailored to your needs.

By following these steps, you can create powerful internal tools and portals using your SQL data in Softr.

Why build apps on top of SQL data sources with Softr?

Connect your SQL database to Softr with ease

While SQL databases hold all your structured data, getting to that data usually requires advanced technical skills. Softr changes that. Now, anyone on your team can easily build customizable, data-driven apps using your database data.

Let internal teams or external partners securely access data

Let's say different teams or external vendors need access to your SQL databases, but you want to control what they can do or which data they can access. With Softr, you can easily customize user groups and granular permissions. Allow some users to view data while giving others the ability to make updates, all while keeping your data secure. This flexibility helps you reduce the risk of errors and maintain control over your data, ensuring everyone has the right level of access for their role.

Scale without record limitations

As your data grows, no-code databases can slow down and struggle with complex queries or record limits, impacting your app’s performance. With Softr, you can now scale to larger datasets without hitting record limits. Build sophisticated apps that grow with your business, ensuring you always have the flexibility and performance you need.

Restricting IP access

If you need to restrict IP addresses, you can add Softr’s IP addresses to your list of allowed IPs:

3.120.79.212

3.123.159.186

52.58.246.121

Current limitations

No auto-sync options: We currently do not support auto-syncing dropdown or quick select options.

No field compatibility mapping: We don’t currently specify which fields can and can’t be mapped, but you can still map fields as per normal.

No auto-mapping: Fields will not be auto-mapped when connecting a block to BigQuery.

FAQs

Q: Can I update my SQL database directly from Softr?

A: Yes! With Softr, you can create forms and interfaces that allow you to write back to your SQL database.

Q: What if I need to change my database credentials?

A: You can update your database credentials at any time from the Data Sources section by clicking on the existing connection and editing the details.

Q: Is my data secure?

A: Absolutely. Softr uses industry-standard encryption to ensure your data is safe and secure.

Q: Can I connect multiple databases to a single Softr application?

A: Yes, you can connect multiple databases and use them within a single application, providing you with greater flexibility and data management capabilities.