What is LiveSQL? LiveSQL is an easy, secure way to expose database data to an authorized user. LiveSQL allows a user to simply run a bookmarked URL and return data from a database in either XML, comma-separated (CSV), or tab-delimited (TXT) formats. An authorized user can get data using only a browser LiveSQL makes it simple for even novice users to get to database data for use in their spreadsheets, documents or other content because all they need to do is to use a browser, enter a web address and then use the data. Simply use the LiveSQL test page (see below for instructions), generate the correct URL (hyperlink) for the user to access the data and email the user the URL. The user can now get the data simply by entering the URL in his or her browser's address bar.

Step 1: Share an MDB file LiveSQL uses shared MDB (Microsoft Access database) files. You can share a file using either the Manage >> Setup search tab menu or the Manage >> Setup folders tab menu. Please make a note as to whether you've defined the MDB as a shared file or through a virtual directory. If you need help in learning how to share and/or password-protect a file, please review the tutorial. Once you've defined a shared MDB, you're ready to test LiveSQL support.

Step 2: Create LiveSQL URL From the Help tab, select Test LiveSQL support. The LiveSQL test page will ask that you specify the following: 1) A valid SQL statement for the MDB file. Microsoft Access' query design mode can let you view the SQL for any query. 2) A path to the file, using either virtual directory and file name (e.g., /mydata/inventory.mdb) or the fixed search path (e.g., /get/path1/inventory.mdb). 3) The file format: comma-separated (CSV), tab-delimited (TXT) or XML.

Comma-separated text (CSV) Press the Go! button to execute a query. Note the query that was used to generate the data. This URL can be used to generate the file either locally or (if the domain-name/IP address is specified) from a remote system. Note that the URL can be emailed to other users. They can bookmark the URL in their browser and can generate the file simply by using the bookmark!

Tab-delimited text (TXT) Tab-delimited text can be used/imported by a variety of other systems including Microsoft Excel.

XML XML is one of the most common formats for data-exchange between systems. The XML tags used to delimit the file are: <recordset> <rec> <field>value</field> ...other fields... </rec> ...other records... </recordset>

How do I password-protect the LiveSQL URL?

The MDB file that is the source of the data can be password-protected.

Can I assign some users the right to only SELECT while others can UPDATE, INSERT or DELETE?

Yes. When you assign password-protection for users, you can specify that certain users can read the MDB while others can only update it. These capabilities translate into the ability to perform SELECT statements and INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE statements, respectively.

Note: assigning the update right is available only in BadBlue Enterprise Edition.