JDBC in Wallboard

JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) datasources connect Wallboard to relational databases, fetching data through SQL queries for display in widgets and templates.

• Connect to PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, and other databases
• Configure SQL queries to retrieve specific data sets
• Schedule automatic data refresh intervals
• Display live database content on your screens

Advanced Feature

JDBC integration requires database and SQL knowledge. This feature is intended for custom integration projects and does not come with standard support.

We strongly recommend contacting our support team and requesting professional services before proceeding.

Installing JDBC Drivers

Each database type requires its specific JDBC driver JAR file to be uploaded to the server before creating datasources.

Navigate to Administrator > JDBC Drivers to manage drivers.

Click the button to add a new driver:

1. Driver Name - A descriptive name (e.g., "PostgreSQL 15", "MySQL Production")
2. Driver Class Name - The main driver class from the JAR file
3. JAR File - Upload the JDBC driver file

Driver Requirements

Each database requires its specific JDBC driver JAR file. Common drivers include:

• PostgreSQL: https://jdbc.postgresql.org/download/
• MySQL: https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/j/
• SQL Server: Microsoft JDBC Driver
• Oracle: Oracle JDBC Downloads

Common Driver Class Names

Database	Driver Class
PostgreSQL	org.postgresql.Driver
MySQL 8+	com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver
MySQL 5.7	com.mysql.jdbc.Driver
SQL Server	com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerDriver
Oracle	oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver
SQLite	org.sqlite.JDBC
H2	org.h2.Driver

Please note

You can upload multiple drivers for different database types. The system automatically selects the appropriate driver based on the connection URL format.

Creating a JDBC Datasource

Go to Administrator > Datasources click Add new in the External datasource tab > choose JDBC.

Update Schedule

Configure how frequently the datasource fetches updated data:

• Refresh Frequency - Select a regular interval (every minute, hour, day, etc.)
• Cron Expression - Specify a custom schedule (e.g., 0 */10 * * * * for every 10 minutes)

tip

• Learn more: External Datasource Refreshing

Database Connection Settings

Connection URL - Enter the JDBC connection string for your database:

Database	Connection URL Format
PostgreSQL	jdbc:postgresql://hostname:5432/database_name
MySQL	jdbc:mysql://hostname:3306/database_name?useSSL=false&serverTimezone=UTC
SQL Server	jdbc:sqlserver://hostname:1433;databaseName=database_name
Oracle	jdbc:oracle:thin:@hostname:1521:SID
SQLite	jdbc:sqlite:/path/to/database.db

Authentication:

• JDBC Username - Database user account with read permissions
• JDBC Password - Corresponding password for the database user

SQL Query

Define the SQL query that retrieves your data. The query result is converted to JSON format for widget binding.

Basic Data Selection:

SELECT id, name, department, salary 
FROM employees 
ORDER BY name

Filtered Results:

SELECT product_name, stock_quantity, price 
FROM products 
WHERE stock_quantity > 0 
ORDER BY product_name

Aggregated Data:

SELECT department, COUNT(*) as employee_count, AVG(salary) as avg_salary
FROM employees 
GROUP BY department 
ORDER BY avg_salary DESC

Date-Based Queries:

SELECT order_id, customer_name, order_total, order_date
FROM orders 
WHERE order_date >= CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '30 days'
ORDER BY order_date DESC

Important

JDBC datasources use standard SQL syntax, not JPQL. Ensure your queries are compatible with your specific database system's SQL dialect.

Connection String Parameters

Additional connection options can be appended to the connection URL for SSL, authentication, and other database-specific settings:

Database	Example
PostgreSQL (SSL)	jdbc:postgresql://host:port/database?ssl=true&sslmode=require
MySQL (SSL)	jdbc:mysql://host:port/database?useSSL=true&requireSSL=true&verifyServerCertificate=false
SQL Server (Windows Auth)	jdbc:sqlserver://host:port;databaseName=database;integratedSecurity=true

Once all connection details and query are configured, click Save to create the datasource.

Please note

• For optimal performance, use indexed columns in WHERE clauses, limit result sets, and avoid complex JOINs that could impact database performance.
• We recommend creating dedicated read-only database users for Wallboard connections and enabling SSL/TLS where possible.