Query Factorial Data as a MySQL Database in Node.js

Jerod Johnson
Jerod Johnson
Director, Technology Evangelism
Execute MySQL queries against Factorial data from Node.js.

You can use the SQL Gateway from the ODBC Driver for Factorial to query Factorial data through a MySQL interface. Follow the procedure below to start the MySQL remoting service of the SQL Gateway and start querying using Node.js.

Connect to Factorial 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.

Authentication

Factorial uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication to connect to your HR data or to allow other users to connect to their data.

Using OAuth Authentication

To connect using OAuth, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to your Factorial admin panel and create a new OAuth application.
  2. Copy the Client ID and Client Secret from your application configuration.
  3. Configure the following connection properties:

After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:

  • AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth.
  • OAuthClientId: Set this to your OAuth Client ID.
  • OAuthClientSecret: Set this to your OAuth Client Secret.
  • Scope: Set this to specify the data access permissions (default: "read write").

Configure the SQL Gateway

See the SQL Gateway Overview to set up connectivity to Factorial 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 Factorial from Node.js

The following example shows how to define a connection and execute queries to Factorial with the mysql module. You will need the following information:

  • Host name or address, and port: The machine and port where the MySQL remoting service is listening for MySQL connections.
  • Username and password: The username and password of a user you authorized on the Users tab of the SQL Gateway.
  • Database name: The DSN you configured for the MySQL remoting service.

Connect to Factorial data and start executing queries with the code below:

var mysql      = require('mysql');
var connection = mysql.createConnection({
  host     : 'localhost',
  database : 'CData API Sys',
  port	   : '3306',
  user     : 'mysql_user',
  password : 'test'
});
connection.connect();
connection.query('SELECT * FROM Agreements', function(err, rows, fields) {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(rows);
});

connection.end();

Ready to get started?

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