Prerequisites

MySQL Database - A running MySQL instance (version 5.7 or higher) with your data

Database Credentials - Host, port, database name, username, and password with read access

Network Access - Database should be accessible from the internet or through VPN/SSH tunnel

SSL Certificate - SSL encryption for secure data transmission

Connection Methods

Choose the connection method that best fits your security requirements and infrastructure setup.

Database Connection Form

Connect directly using your database credentials with SSL encryption.

Connection String

Use a MySQL connection string with SSL encryption.

SSH Tunnel

Connect through an SSH tunnel for maximum security.

Connection Guide

Step 1: Access MySQL Integration

Navigate to Integrations in Datapad and select MySQL:

MySQL connect screen on Datapad UI

Step 2: Fill Connection String

Enter your MySQL database connection string:

MySQL connection string form in Datapad

Required Fields:

Connection Name
Connection String
Database Schema

The MySQL connection string format is: mysql://USERNAME:PASSWORD@HOST:PORT/DATABASE_NAME

Step 3: Fill Connection Details

Enter your MySQL database connection details:

MySQL connection form in Datapad

Required Fields:

Database Host
Port (default: 3306)
Database Name
Username
Password
SSL Mode

Create Read-Only User (Recommended)

For security, create a dedicated user with read-only permissions:

-- Create a new user for Datapad
CREATE USER 'datapad_readonly'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'secure_password';

-- Grant connect permission to the database
GRANT USAGE ON *.* TO 'datapad_readonly'@'%';

-- Grant select permissions on specific database
GRANT SELECT ON your_database.* TO 'datapad_readonly'@'%';

-- Apply the changes
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Replace your_database with your actual database name and choose a strong password for the datapad_readonly user.

Example Queries

Here are some example questions you can ask once your MySQL data is connected:

"Show me the top 10 customers by revenue this month"

"What's the average order value by customer segment?"

"How many new users signed up each day this week?"

"Which products have the highest profit margin?"

"Show me monthly revenue growth for the last year"

"What's our customer retention rate by cohort?"

💬 Natural Language Tips

Be specific about time periods ("last 30 days", "this month vs last month")

Include table names when possible ("orders table", "users table")

Ask for comparisons to get more insights ("compare X vs Y")

Use business terms that align with your data schema

Behind the Scenes

Datapad automatically converts your natural language questions into optimized SQL queries. You can always view the generated SQL to learn and verify the results.

Troubleshooting

Connection timeout

If the connection times out:

Check firewall settings and whitelist Datapad IPs
Verify the host and port are correct
Ensure MySQL is accepting connections
Test connectivity from your network

Authentication failed

If authentication fails:

Verify username and password are correct
Check if the user has access to the database
Ensure user can connect from external hosts ('%' wildcard)
Try connecting with the same credentials using mysql client

SSL connection issues

If SSL connection fails:

Verify SSL is enabled on your MySQL server
Check if you have valid SSL certificates
Try different SSL modes (REQUIRED, PREFERRED, DISABLED)
Contact support for help with certificate issues