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Getting Started

This guide will walk you through setting up your first database connection to access Ed Controls data through the ED Dataset Service.

Prerequisites​

  • Access to Ed Controls project data
  • An analytics tool that supports MySQL/MariaDB connections (PowerBI, Tableau, Excel, etc.)
  • Basic knowledge of database connections

Step 1: Request Dataset Access​

Contact your Ed Controls administrator to request access to the Dataset Service. You'll need to provide:

  • Contract IDs: The specific contracts/projects you need access to
  • Dataset Name: A unique name for your dataset (e.g., "marketing_analytics", "project_reports")
  • Use Case: Brief description of how you'll use the data
  • Data Requirements: Specify which data types you need (projects, audits, tickets, etc.)
  • Refresh Frequency: How often you need updated data (daily, weekly, real-time)

What You'll Get​

Your dataset will include:

  • Dedicated Database: A MySQL/MariaDB database containing only your contracted data
  • Secure Access: Unique credentials for your dataset
  • Optimized Schema: Clean, normalized tables designed for analytics
  • Regular Updates: Automated data synchronization from Ed Controls systems

Step 2: Receive Connection Credentials​

Once your dataset is created, you'll receive:

Database Host: datasets.edcontrols.com
Port: 3306
Database Name: [your_dataset_name]
Username: [your_dataset_name]
Password: [generated_password]

Step 3: Test Your Connection​

Using MySQL Command Line​

mysql -h datasets.edcontrols.com -P 3306 -u [your_dataset_name] -p [your_dataset_name]

Using MySQL Workbench​

  1. Open MySQL Workbench
  2. Click "+" to create a new connection
  3. Enter the connection details:
    • Connection Name: ED Dataset - [your_dataset_name]
    • Hostname: datasets.edcontrols.com
    • Port: 3306
    • Username: [your_dataset_name]
    • Password: [your_password]
    • Default Schema: [your_dataset_name]
  4. Click "Test Connection"

Step 4: Explore Your Data​

Once connected, you'll see tables containing your project data. The database schema is organized into several categories:

Core Data Tables​

  • projects - Project information, timelines, and locations
  • contracts - Contract details and billing information
  • users - User profiles and contact information

Operational Data​

  • tickets - Issues, tasks, and work items with custom fields
  • audits - Audit instances with questions, answers, and templates
  • maps - Site maps and spatial references

Relationship Tables​

  • project_participants - User assignments to projects
  • contracts_projects - Contract-project associations
  • audit_roles - User permissions for audits
  • ticket_roles - User assignments for tickets

Key Data Points Available​

  • Time Tracking: Creation dates, due dates, completion times
  • Status Information: Current status of projects, tickets, and audits
  • Geographic Data: Coordinates and location information
  • Custom Fields: Flexible data fields for tickets and forms
  • User Activity: Who created, modified, or is responsible for items

Example Connection Strings​

PowerBI​

Important: PowerBI requires the MariaDB ODBC Connector. See our PowerBI guide for complete installation instructions.

Server: datasets.edcontrols.com
Database: [your_dataset_name]
Username: [your_dataset_name]
Password: [your_password]
Connection Type: MariaDB (not MySQL)

Tableau​

Server: datasets.edcontrols.com
Port: 3306
Database: [your_dataset_name]
Username: [your_dataset_name]
Password: [your_password]

Excel (Power Query)​

Data Source: datasets.edcontrols.com;
Port: 3306;
Database: [your_dataset_name];
Uid: [your_dataset_name];
Pwd: [your_password];

Next Steps​

Now that you're connected:

  1. Explore the Database Schema - Understand the data structure
  2. Connect Analytics Tools - Set up your preferred tools
  3. Build Reports - Start creating insights with your data

Troubleshooting​

Connection Timeout​

  • Verify the hostname and port (datasets.edcontrols.com:3306)
  • Check your firewall settings
  • Ensure your network allows outbound connections on port 3306

Authentication Failed​

  • Double-check your username and password
  • Ensure you're using the correct database name
  • Contact support if credentials aren't working

No Data in Tables​

  • Your dataset may still be processing
  • Verify you have access to the specified contracts
  • Contact support if tables remain empty after 24 hours

Support​

Need help? Contact the Ed Controls support team with:

  • Your dataset name
  • The analytics tool you're using
  • Specific error messages
  • Screenshots if applicable