How to Query Box Data in MySQL Workbench



Execute MySQL queries against live Box data from MySQL Workbench.

You can use the SQL Gateway from the ODBC Driver for Box to query Box data through a MySQL interface. Follow the procedure below to start the MySQL remoting service of the SQL Gateway and work with live Box data in MySQL Workbench.

Connect to Box Data

If you have not already done so, provide values for the required connection properties in the data source name (DSN). You can use the built-in Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to configure the DSN. This is also the last step of the driver installation. See the "Getting Started" chapter in the help documentation for a guide to using the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure a DSN.

Box uses the OAuth standard to authenticate. To authenticate to Box, you will need to obtain the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL by registering an app. See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide to using OAuth.

Configure the SQL Gateway

See the SQL Gateway Overview to set up connectivity to Box data as a virtual MySQL database. You will configure a MySQL remoting service that listens for MySQL requests from clients. The service can be configured in the SQL Gateway UI.

Creating a MySQL Remoting Service in SQL Gateway (Salesforce is shown)

Query Box from MySQL Workbench

The steps below outline connecting to the virtual Box database created in the SQL Gateway from MySQL Workbench and issuing basic queries to work with live Box data.

Connect to Box through the SQL Gateway

  1. In MySQL Workbench, click to add a new MySQL connection.
  2. Name the connection (CData SQL Gateway for Box).
  3. Set the Hostname, Port, and Username parameters to connect to the SQL Gateway.
  4. Click Store in Vault to set and store the password.
  5. Click Test Connection to ensure the connection is configured properly and click OK.

NOTE: When we refer to Username and Password, we mean the credentials for the user(s) created for the SQL Gateway.

Query Box Data

  1. Open the connection you just created (CData SQL Gateway for Box).
  2. Click File -> New Query Tab.
  3. Write a SQL query to retrieve Box data, like SELECT * FROM `CData Box Sys`.Files;

With access to live Box data from MySQL Workbench, you can easily query and update Box, just like you would a MySQL database. Get started now with a free, 30-day trial of the CData ODBC Driver for Box and the CData SQL Gateway.

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Box Icon Box ODBC Driver

The Box ODBC Driver is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with live Box cloud storage, directly from any applications that support ODBC connectivity.

Access Box like you would a database - read, write, and update Files, Folders, Tasks, Groups, etc. through a standard ODBC Driver interface.