Squirrel Sql Postgres Drivers For Mac

SQuirreL SQL is one of the most popular options when it comes to SQL clients. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the SQuirreL SQL client: what it is, what its benefits are, and how you can get started using it.

Step 3: Adding the Drill JDBC Driver to SQuirreL. To add the Drill JDBC Driver to SQuirreL, define the driver and create a database alias. The alias is a specific instance of the driver configuration. SQuirreL uses the driver definition and alias to connect to Drill so you can access data sources that you have registered with Drill. May 16, 2018. The CData JDBC Driver for PostgreSQL enables you to execute queries to PostgreSQL data in tools like Squirrel SQL Client. In this article, you will create a JDBC data source for PostgreSQL data and execute queries. Add the JDBC Driver for PostgreSQL. Follow the steps below to add the driver JAR. In Squirrel SQL, click Windows - View Drivers.

SQL Databases and Reporting

Today's business landscape is dominated by 'big data,' and it's only getting bigger and bigger. The average company is now storing163 terabytes (163,000 gigabytes) of information--that's enough room for more than 40,000 feature-length movies on DVD.

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Much of this data is stored in relational databases, in which data follows a predefined model and is organized into tables with rows and columns. Data workers can access the information inside a relational database using the language SQL (Structured Query Language), which is used to request and edit information.

However, businesses have a number of options when it comes to SQL databases:Microsoft SQL Server,Oracle Database,MySQL,IBM DB2, and dozens of other alternatives. In order to deal with all this complexity, SQL clients attempt to provide a 'one-stop shop' for users who need an easy way to interact with these different SQL database types, like a translator that speaks multiple languages.

SQL clients are software applications that let you view a relational database's model, browse the information inside the database, and create SQL queries. Just like you use a web browser on your computer to access websites stored on other machines, you use a SQL client to access data stored in a remote database. SQL clients attempt to put a more 'human-friendly' face on the bits and bytes inside a relational database.

What is SQuirreL SQL?

SQuirreL SQL is a client for accessing SQL databases through a user-friendly GUI (graphical user interface). Because SQuirreL SQL is written in the Java programming language, it can run on any computer with a JVM (Java Virtual Machine).

In addition, the SQuirreL SQL client is capable of interacting with any relational database that is compliant with the JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) interface. This includes the most popular relational databases, such as:

  • Microsoft SQL Server

  • Oracle Database

  • MySQL

  • IBM DB2

  • PostgreSQL

  • Sybase

Even better, SQuirreL SQL is completely free--'free' in terms of both its price and its source code. SQuirreL SQL uses the GNU General Public License v2.0, the most popular option for open-source software. The software is available in a dozen different languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, and Chinese.

SQuirreL SQL is useful for anyone who interacts with SQL databases on a regular basis: application administrators, software developers, software testers, database administrators, etc.

For example, an application administrator might use SQuirreL SQL to fix a bug with the software application at the database level. Using SQuirreL SQL, the administrator can much more easily scan for the incorrect value in a table, and then correct it by typing in the new value.

Meanwhile, database administrators may need to oversee a large variety of relational databases of various types on remote machines. SQuirreL SQL can help DBAs manage the databases under their command, viewing metadata and checking for problems with the tables.

The Benefits of SQuirreL SQL

Anyone who's worked extensively with SQL databases knows the pain of writing out long queries over and over again, or having to work with different types of databases on different machines. Often, each type of database comes with its own front-end GUI tool for interacting with the data, multiplying the complexity even further.

SQuirreL SQL solves this issue by providing a single coherent interface for users to interact with many different databases, located on both local and remote computers. There's no need to learn multiple database administration tools just to have access to the information you want--SQuirreL SQL is all you need.

What's more, if a certain type of SQL database has some non-standard 'quirks' or behavior, you can install a Java plugin for SQuirreL SQL that make it fully capable of handling those operations. The plugins available for SQuirreL SQL are able to perform tasks such as:

  • Importing data from Excel and CSV files into a database (Data Import Plugin)

  • Copying and comparing tables between different sessions (DBCopy Plugin)

  • Storing 'bookmarks' for commonly used snippets of SQL code (SQL Bookmarks Plugin)

  • Validating your SQL queries against the ISO SQL standard (SQL Validator Plugin)

  • Adding functionality for SQL database types such as IBM DB2, Firebird RDBMS, H2, and Apache Derby (DB2 Plugin, Firebird Plugin, Derby Plugin, etc.)

How to Use SQuirreL SQL

Installing SQuirreL SQL

To use SQuirreL SQL, you'll first need to installJava. The exact version of Java you need will depend on the version of SQuirreL SQL that you want to use. As of SQuirreL SQL version 3.0, you'll need at least Java 6; older or newer versions of the software will have different requirements.

SQuirreL SQL is available from the project website (http://www.squirrelsql.org/) as a JAR package file. The file name will take the form of 'squirrel-sql-version-install.jar' or 'squirrel-sql-version-MacOSX-install.jar' for Mac OS X systems, whereversionis the version of the SQuirreL SQL software.

Once the file is downloaded, install SQuirreL SQL using the setup assistant. You can select either a barebones 'basic' installation, or a 'standard' installation that comes with a few common useful plugins: code completion, highlighting syntax, changing the look and feel of the software, etc.

The next task is to launch the software for the first time and connect it to one of your relational databases. This requires two different steps:

  • Defining the driver:First, you need to point SQuirreL SQL to the JDBC JAR file that contains the driver for the correct type of database.

  • Creating an alias:Second, you need to use the driver to link to the specific database, on a specific machine, that you want to access.

When you open SQuirreL SQL, you should see a list of the different types of databases that the client supports. Each database should have either a blue checkmark next to it (indicating that the JDBC driver for that database is in your JVM classpath) or a red X (indicating that it is not).

If the SQL database type that you want to use (i.e. MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM DB2, etc.) has a red X next to it, you'll need to get the appropriate driver from the database vendor. Download the driver to your local machine and use the Drivers window within SQuirreL SQL to point to that file.

Next, you'll need to create an alias. From the software's menu bar, selectAliasesand then click onNew Alias…You can also use the Ctrl+N keyboard shortcut.

You'll now be asked to input more information about the database, such as the URL and your username and password. Depending on the type of SQL database you're accessing, the URL may need to contain parts such as the machine name and the port number. Check with your database administrator if you're not sure what exactly needs to go in this space.

Assuming you've done everything correctly, that's it! You're now ready to start usingSQuirreL SQL with your favorite JDBC-compliant databases.

Squirrel Sql Postgres Drivers For Mac

Working with SQuirreL SQL

To start interacting with the database that you've connected to, double-click its name in SQuirreL SQL's Aliases window. This will open a new session. You can have multiple sessions open at the same time in SQuirreL SQL, each one connected to a different database.

Within the Session window, you have two options for viewing and interacting with the database: the Objects tab and the SQL tab.

The Objects tab is used for viewing the database's data and metadata. On the left-hand side of the window, you can navigate the database in tree form. Click on the name of a table within the database to display that table's contents and metadata, such as the types of columns and the number of rows it contains.

You can use the Objects tab to make changes to the database in-place. When viewing a table in editable mode, changing a value in the table will alter its value within the database itself. The Objects tab also allows for inserting and deleting rows and importing and exporting data.

The SQL tab is used for more sophisticated SQL queries and operations on the database, such as joins. Clicking on this tab allows you to enter any SQL text, which is then sent to the database and processed there. The result of this operation is returned as a table as well as the associated metadata.

SQuirreL SQL Plugins

As mentioned above, SQuirreL SQL supports a number of official and third-party Java plugins to enhance the user experience.

For example, with the right plugin, you can also create 'bookmarks' for your most commonly used SQL code templates. To insert a template into SQuirreL SQL's editor, use the Ctrl+J keyboard shortcut. This will open a pop-up window from which you can select the correct template.

Another plugin worth mentioning here is the Graph plugin, which charts the relationships between the tables in your database, as well as their foreign key relations. This helps you visualize the most important connections when working with large databases with many different tables.

The Limitations of SQuirreL SQL

While SQuirreL SQL is a highly powerful and useful tool for anyone who interacts with SQL databases, the software nevertheless has some drawbacks:

  • The process of manually configuring drivers and aliases can be difficult for first-time users.
  • Some users find that SQuirreL SQL's interface is too 'cluttered' and not immediately intuitive.
  • As an open-source tool, SQuirreL SQL has only limited support options. Users should likely be at least moderately technically proficient in order to help themselves.

SQuirreL SQL and SQLBot

There's a lot to like about SQuirreL SQL: its compatibility with a wide range of relational databases, its simple and straightforward user interface, its low overhead and speedy performance, its open-source code base, its plugin-friendly architecture, etc.

Although there's a great deal of use you can extract from SQuirreL SQL, the most valuable part might just be how it interfaces with other SQL tools such as SQLBot.

When you use SQLBot in combination with SQuirreL SQL, you can easily generate reports from a variety of different SQL databases, and then post them to Slack or schedule email reports at the times of your choosing.

Looking for the best way to get scheduled SQL reports in your Slack feed? Sign up for afree account on SQLBotto see how it can benefit your organization.

Reviews of Other SQL Editors

Want to compare SQuirrel SQL with other SQL Editors? Check out our reviews!

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Try SQLBot - It's Free!

Sign up for afree account on SQLBotto see how easy it is to get SQL reports into your Slack. What are you waiting for, it's free!

About the Author

David Tidmarsh is a freelance software and technology writer and graduate student in computer science who specializes in artificial intelligence and big data. He's passionate about translating complex tech issues into clear, comprehensible language.

Postico requires macOS 10.10 or later. Version 1.5.14 was released on Jul 17, 2020. Read the Changelist.
Also available on the Mac App Store. We also offer Legacy Downloads for older versions of macOS.

Postico is under active development. Leave your email adress and I'll tell you about new features as soon as they're ready.

PostgreSQL is an absurdly powerful database, but there's no reason why using it should require an advanced degree in relational theory. Postico provides an easy to use interface, making Postgres more accessible for newcomers and specialists alike.

Postico will look familiar to anyone who has used a Mac before. Just connect to a database and begin working with tables and views. Start with the basics and learn about advanced features of PostgreSQL as you go along.

Postico is an intuitive app for looking at data. Filter rows, sort them, rearrange columns. You can examine long text or images conveniently in the sidebar. Even related rows from referenced tables are shown.

Edit rows directly, or use the sidebar — a great choice for long text. You can even change multiple rows at once. Batch saving (with SQL preview) lets you commit changes to multiple rows in a single transaction.

Add and remove columns, rename them, change types. Modify tables and views without having to remember the ALTER TABLE syntax.

The unified structure editor displays everything you need to know about a table. Comments and constraints are shown right next to the columns.

When you need hard questions answered, PostgreSQL offers many advanced tools for data analysis: Common table expressions, recursive queries, filter aggregates, window functions.

To access these tools, Postico sports a powerful query view with support for multiple result sets. The editor has all the standard features you expect, like syntax highlighting and automatic indentation.

Native Experience
Native Cocoa controls ensure consistency. Keyboard shortcuts follow platform conventions. Commands like undo/redo or copy/paste work just as you'd expect. And of course, Postico plays nice with other apps and services you use every day.

Vibrant Design
Postico was designed from the ground up with Apple's modern design language in mind. Its high resolution artwork looks great on Retina displays.

Secure out of the box
Postico uses industry standard encryption: both SSL and SSH can be used for secure connections. Server certificates are always validated. Passwords are stored safely in the system keychain. A warning is shown if the server requests a plain text connection.

Dependable Customer Support
When you have a question, you can contact the developers directly — We personally answer all customer emails. You don't have to deal with outsourced support agents, and you'll never get a canned response.

A Companion to Postgres.app
Postgres.app is the fastest way to run a PostgreSQL server locally. Since Postico is made by the maintainer of Postgres.app, the two apps co-operate perfectly.

Optimized for small displays
A slim toolbar conserves vertical screen estate. The sidebars can be hidden to show more of your data. And if you don't want to waste a single pixel, switch to full screen mode.

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  • Announcements of major new features
  • Notification when security issues come up
  • 3-4 emails per year

Which versions of PostgreSQL are supported?
Postico supports PostgreSQL 8.0 and later. We run automated tests to ensure compatibility with PostgreSQL 8.4, 9.x, 10, 11, and 12. Postico also supports database systems derived from PostgreSQL like Amazon Redshift or Greenplum, and systems that use the PostgreSQL protocol like CockroachDB.

What are the limitations of the free trial?

Squirrel Sql Postgres Drivers For Mac Os

  • At most 5 connection favorites
  • Only a single window per connection
  • Table filters are disabled
  • There is no time limit — use the trial as long as you want!

Should I buy Postico on the Mac App Store or from your website?
It's your choice! Many customers prefer the convenience of the App Store. You have all licenses in one place, and your software is automatically updated. The store on my website (operated by Fastspring) has better support for business customers. Also, Fastspring charges a lower commission, so the version on my website is slightly cheaper.

I work for a software reseller. Who should I contact to get quotes?
Please see this document with information for resellers.

Do you have an issue tracker for bug reports and feature requests?
I've set up a Github repository for public feature requests and bug reports. But of course you can also reach out privately via email: postico@eggerapps.at.
If you need a bug fixed quickly, consider following the best practices for bug reporting.