Connecting Bold BI to PostgreSql data source

The Bold BI dashboard designer supports connecting to PostgreSql database using the SQL Live Query (C# API).

Supported Server Versions: PostgreSQL (v9.5, v9.6, v10, v11, v12, v13, v14 and v15)

Choose PostgreSql data source

To configure the PostgreSql data source, follow these steps:

1. Click Data Sources in the configuration panel to add a new data connection.

   

2. Click CREATE NEW to launch a new connection from the connection panel.

3. Select the PostgreSql connection in the connection panel.

   

NOTE: You can also create a data source from the home page by clicking on the Data Sources menu on the left menu panel and selecting Create Data Source from the data sources page.

Connect to PostgreSql

Create PostgreSql data source

After clicking on the data source, the NEW DATA SOURCE configuration panel opens. Follow the given steps to create a PostgreSql data source:

1. Enter a name and description (optional) for the data source.

2. Enter a valid PostgreSql server or host name in the ServerName text box.

3. Enter a valid PostgreSql username in the UserName text box.

4. Enter a valid PostgreSql password in the Password text box.

5. Enter a valid PostgreSql database in the Database text box.

   To kill the created sessions, enter the connection string Maximum Pool Size=1;Connection Idle Lifetime=45;Command Timeout=15 in Additional connection parameters text box.

   

There are two connection types available in a data source:

* Live mode
* Extract mode

NOTE: To connect a data source with SSH, enable the SSH check box in the NEW DATA SOURCE configuration panel and enter the necessary credentials.

Live mode connection

In this type of connection, a data source is directly fetched from source. Choose the Live mode option for this connection.

Data Preview

1. Click Connect to connect to the PostgreSql server with the configured details.

The schema represents the collection list retrieved from the PostgreSql server. This dialog displays a list of schemas in a treeview and their corresponding values.

2. Now, the data design view page with the selected table schema opens. Drag the table.

   

   You can use the Code View option for passing a query to display data.

   

3. Click Save to save the data source with a relevant name.

Extract mode connection

To Connect to Bold ETL from postgres, switch to extract mode. Refer Bold ETL

1. switch to Extract mode, Redirect dialog will pop up.

2. Click on the Redirect to Bold ETL button to be redirect to Bold ETL. Or
3. To continue with Bold BI, click on Continue with connector.

In this connection type, a data source is fetched from source periodically. Choose the Extract mode option for this connection.

NOTE: Initially, data will be extracted based on the Max Rows selected in order to proceed with data model creation. The remaining records (there is no limit) will be extracted during the next refresh.

Refresh Settings

Steps to configure the data source refresh settings:

1. Click Refresh Settings in the configuration panel.

   

2. Select the recurrence type, recurrence start, and end dates in the Refresh Setting dialog box.

   • Data refresh can be scheduled hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly.
   • Application Time Zone is displayed below the date picker. The Start time of the schedule is converted to the client Time Zone and shown at the right-side for users convenience. After making your selections, click Schedule.

   

Preview and data import

1. Click Connect to connect to the PostgreSql server with the configured details.
2. The Extract Data dialog opens. This dialog has two modes of connection either via Table or Custom query. Under custom query option, write the required query and click Connect.

Under Table option, this dialog displays list of tables and views in a treeview. Select the required table(s) or view(s) from the treeview to use in the designer. Incremental Update can be performed on both tables and views. The option is available for configuring the incremental refresh column for the selected items in the right-side panel. * The table must have a primary key column and date column to configure the incremental refresh option. * The Views must have a date column to configure the incremental refresh option and unique column(s) are optional which is used to update the modified records.

If you configure it, the data source will work on Incremental update, otherwise, it will work on Full load concept. Finally, click Connect.

3. Now, the data design view page with the selected table schema opens. Drag the table.

   

   You can use the Code View option for passing query to display data.

   

4. Click Save to save the data source with a relevant name.

NOTE: In future, you can edit the connection information for both live and extract mode connections using the Edit Connection option.

Note: After a successful connection, Query Designer will list tables, views, and stored procedures. Materialized views will be listed under the Views section.

Connect using custom attribute and dashboard parameter

We have added support for custom attributes and dashboard parameters in the data source connection. You can now connect to the data source using custom attributes or dashboard parameters.

Custom Attribute

Dashboard Parameter

Note: Refer to the Dashboard Parameter Documentation and Custom Attributes Documentation for more details.

Connecting Bold BI to PostgreSQL Data Source via REST API

Prerequisites

Supported Server Versions: PostgreSQL (v9.5, v9.6, v10, v11, v12, v13, v14 and v15)

Type while creating the data source needs to be postgresql.

Rest API - v4.0

Modes

Through the REST API, only the live mode data source can be created and edited.

Parameters for creating Data Source

NOTE: The ability to provide join support is available only during the creation of a new data source. Join in edit connection mode is not supported.

Parameters for edit the connection while upload the dashboard via API

Parameters for adding expressions when creating Data Source

Parameters for editing Data Source

NOTE: To edit a Data Source via API, all parameters are optional. Only the parameter that needs to be changed should be provided.

Parameters for modifying expressions when editing Data Source

Connection Sample for Table Mode

For creating connection:

"Connection":
{
"Servername": "string",
"Port": "string",
"Username": "string",
"Password": "string",
"Database": "string",
"Schemaname": "string",
"Tablename": "string",
"AdvancedSettings": "string",
"CommandTimeout": "string",
"IsSshConnection": "false",
"SshServerName": "string",
"SshPort": 0,
"SshUsername": "string",
"SshPassword": "string",
"Expressions" : [{
"Name": "Expression1",
"Expression" : "SUM(numeric expression)"
    },
    {
"Name": "Expression2",
"Expression" :  "UPPER(string expression)"
}]
}

For creating connection with multiple tables :

"Connection":
{
"Servername": "string",
"Port": "string",
"Username": "string",
"Password": "string",
"Database": "string",
"Tables": [
            {
                "Tablename": "string",
                "Schemaname": "string"
            },
            {
                "Tablename": "string",
                "Schemaname": "string"
            }
        ],
"JoinInfo": [
            {
                "JoinType": "string",
                "LeftTable": "string",
                "RightTable": "string",
                "JoinFieldInfos": [
                    {
                        "Condition": "string",
                        "LeftField": "string",
                        "Operator": "string",
                        "RightField": "string",
                        "Value": "string"
                    },
                    {
                        "Condition": "string",
                        "LeftField": "string",
                        "Operator": "string",
                        "RightField": "string",
                        "Value": "string"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
"AdvancedSettings": "string",
"CommandTimeout": "string",
"IsSshConnection": "false",
"SshServerName": "string",
"SshPort": 0,
"SshUsername": "string",
"SshPassword": "string",
"Expressions" : [{
"Name": "Expression1",
"Expression" : "SUM(numeric expression)"
    },
    {
"Name": "Expression2",
"Expression" :  "UPPER(string expression)"
}]
}

For editing connection:

"Connection":
{
"Servername": "string",
"Port": "string",
"Username": "string",
"Password": "string",
"Database": "string",
"Schemaname": "string",
"Tablename": "string",
"AdvancedSettings": "string",
"CommandTimeout": "string",
"IsSshConnection": "false",
"SshServerName": "string",
"SshPort": 0,
"SshUsername": "string",
"SshPassword": "string",
"Expressions" : [{
"Name": "Expression1",
"Expression" : "SUM(numeric expression)",
"NewName" : "Sum",
"Action": "edit"
    },
    {
"Name": "Expression2",
"Expression" :  "UPPER(string expression)"
"Action": "delete"
}]
}

NOTE: Through the Rest API, the data source can be created or edited with only one table. If different table is provided in edit data source, the table will be replaced. The widgets will be retained only if the schema is same as the previous table.

Connection Sample for Code View Mode

"Connection":
{
"Servername": "string",
"Port": "string",
"Username": "string",
"Password": "string",
"Database": "string",
"Query": "string",
"AdvancedSettings": "string",
"CommandTimeout": "string",
"IsSshConnection": "false",
"SshServerName": "string",
"SshPort": 0,
"SshUsername": "string",
"SshPassword": "string",
"Expressions" : [{
"Name": "Expression1",
"Expression" : "SUM(numeric expression)"
    },
    {
"Name": "Expression2",
"Expression" :  "UPPER(string expression)"
}]
}

Sample connection for editing the connection while uploading the dashboard via API.

"Connection":  {   
      "ServerName": "string", 
      "Database": "string",
      "UserName": "string",
      "Password": "string",
      "Port": "string",
      "Schema": "string",
      "SslMode": "false",
      "TrustServerCertificate": "string",
      "AdvancedSettings": "string",
      "CommandTimeout": "string"     
  } 

How to enable SSL through connection parameters for PostgreSQL data source

Bold BI application allows you to enable SSL through connection parameters in the PostgreSQL data source by following these steps.

Steps to connect PostgreSQL with SSL

1. Refer to the Connecting Bold BI to PostgreSQL data source for successfully connecting to it.

2. For connecting the PostgreSQL with SSL connection, you need to add the connection string sslmode=Require;TrustServerCertificate=true in the Additional connection parameters textbox along with the existing server details and click Connect.

   

In this way, you can enable SSL in the connection by passing parameters in the connection string.

3. Drag and drop the table from the table schema in the data design view page.

   

4. Click Save to save the data source with a relevant name to proceed with designing a dashboard.

   

Related links

Data Transformation

Editing a Data Connection

Dashboard Designer Walkthrough