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Connections Overview

Connections are the foundation of FactoryThread. They provide secure, managed access to your data sources - whether databases, files, APIs, or AI services. Once connected, FactoryThread discovers available entities (tables, endpoints, sheets) that you can use in your workflows.

Connection Types

The Connections Page​

Navigate to Connections in the left sidebar to access the Connections page.

Connection Board​

Your connections are displayed on a board organized by category:

  • SQL - Database connections (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc.)
  • Redshift - Amazon Redshift data warehouses
  • Upload - Uploaded files (Excel, CSV)
  • API - REST and OData endpoints
  • OpenAI - AI service connections
  • MES - Manufacturing Execution Systems
  • Planning - Planning and scheduling systems

Each connection is shown as a card with:

  • Name - Your descriptive name for the connection
  • Type - The connection type icon
  • Status - Health indicator (green, red, or gray)
  • Entity count - Number of discovered entities

Connection Status​

The status indicator shows connection health:

StatusMeaning
Green (Healthy)Connection is working, recently tested
Red (Error)Connection failed, needs attention
Gray (Unknown)Not recently tested

Click on a connection to see detailed status information, including any error messages.

Creating a Connection​

Step 1: Click New Connection​

Click the + New Connection button in the top right corner.

Step 2: Select Type​

Choose the connection type that matches your data source:

Databases:

  • SQL Server
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • Amazon Redshift
  • IBM DB2
  • Microsoft Access

Files:

  • Excel/Spreadsheet
  • CSV

APIs:

  • REST API
  • OData

AI Services:

  • OpenAI
  • Azure OpenAI

Step 3: Configure​

Fill in the connection details. Required fields vary by type:

For databases:

  • Server hostname
  • Database name
  • Authentication method
  • Credentials

For files:

  • Upload the file
  • Configure parsing options

For APIs:

  • Base URL
  • Authentication settings
  • Headers

Step 4: Test​

Click Test Connection to verify your settings work:

  • Success shows a green checkmark
  • Failure shows the error message

Always test before saving to catch configuration issues early.

Step 5: Save​

Click Save to create the connection. FactoryThread will:

  1. Store your connection securely
  2. Discover available entities
  3. Display the connection on your board

Managing Connections​

Editing Connections​

  1. Click on a connection card
  2. Make your changes in the detail panel
  3. Click Save

You can update:

  • Connection name
  • Server/URL settings
  • Credentials
  • Advanced options

Refreshing Entities​

If your data source schema changes (new tables, columns, etc.):

  1. Click on the connection
  2. Click Refresh Entities
  3. FactoryThread rediscovers available entities

Testing Connections​

Periodically verify your connections are healthy:

  1. Click on a connection
  2. Click Test Connection
  3. Check for any errors

Duplicating Connections​

Create a copy of an existing connection:

  1. Click the menu icon (⋮) on a connection card
  2. Select Duplicate
  3. Modify the copy as needed
  4. Save with a new name

Useful for creating dev/prod versions or similar connections with different credentials.

Deleting Connections​

  1. Click the menu icon (⋮) on a connection card
  2. Select Delete
  3. Confirm the deletion

Warning: Deleting a connection affects all workflows using its entities. Review dependencies before deleting.

Understanding Entities​

What Are Entities?​

An entity represents a specific data source within a connection:

  • Database entities: Tables and views
  • File entities: Sheets (Excel) or the file itself (CSV)
  • API entities: Endpoints

Viewing Entities​

  1. Click on a connection
  2. The entity list shows all discovered items
  3. Click an entity to see its schema (columns, types)

Entity Schema​

Each entity has a schema describing its structure:

  • Column names - The fields available
  • Data types - Text, number, date, boolean, etc.
  • Nullable - Whether the field can be empty

This schema is used when building workflows to ensure field compatibility.

Security​

Credential Storage​

Connection credentials are:

  • Encrypted at rest
  • Never exposed in the UI after entry
  • Transmitted securely

Access Control​

Connections are scoped to your workspace:

  • Only workspace members can see connections
  • Members can use connections in their workflows
  • Credentials are not visible to users

Best Practices​

  • Use service accounts with minimal required permissions
  • Rotate credentials periodically
  • Use separate connections for dev/staging/production
  • Document what each connection is for

Connection Types at a Glance​

TypeUse CaseAuth Options
SQL ServerMicrosoft databasesSQL, Windows, Azure AD
PostgreSQLPostgreSQL databasesPassword, SSL
RedshiftAWS data warehouseIAM, Password
Excel/CSVFile-based dataN/A (uploaded)
REST APIWeb servicesBasic, Bearer, API Key, OAuth
ODataSAP, Microsoft APIsVarious
OpenAIAI text processingAPI Key

Troubleshooting​

Connection Test Fails​

"Connection refused"

  • Verify server hostname is correct
  • Check firewall allows connections
  • Ensure the service is running

"Authentication failed"

  • Verify username and password
  • Check user has necessary permissions
  • For Windows auth, verify domain settings

"Connection timeout"

  • Network connectivity issues
  • Server is overloaded
  • Firewall blocking traffic

Entities Not Appearing​

  • Refresh entities after schema changes
  • Check user permissions on the database
  • Verify the schema/database name is correct

Performance Issues​

For slow connections:

  • Check network latency
  • Optimize database queries
  • Consider connection pooling settings

Next Steps​