

Get in touch

Download Plugin Now
  • Follow
  • Follow
WP Data Access
  • Download
  • Support
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Documentation
    • Tool Guide
    • App Builder
    • Data Explorer
    • SQL Query Builder
    • Plugin Settings
    • Legacy Tools
    • Remote Connections
a
M
  • Download
  • Support
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Documentation
    • Tool Guide
    • App Builder
    • Data Explorer
    • SQL Query Builder
    • Plugin Settings
    • Legacy Tools
    • Remote Connections
Download Plugin Now

Remote Databases

  • MySQL | MariaDB
  • Heterogeneous Connections
  • Using ODBC | JDBC
  • Connect to SQL Server
  • WordPress user ID in SQL

Premium Data Services

  • Remote wizard
  • START HERE
  • Errors and messages
  • Limitations
  • Tutorials
  • Remote Databases
    • Overview
    • SQL Server
    • PostgreSQL
    • Oracle
    • MariaDB | MySQL
  • Remote Data Files
    • Overview
    • CSV files
    • JSON files
    • MS Access
    • XML files
    • Public URL
    • Synchronization
  • Advanced features
    • Performance
    • Indexes
View Categories

Heterogeneous Connections

WordPress uses a MariaDB or MySQL database to store its data. A connection to another remote MariaDB or MySQL database can be defined as a homogeneous database connection, which is a connection to a similar database management system.

A heterogeneous database connection is a remote connection to a different database management system (e.g. SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL or MS Access). A heterogeneous database connection is more complex and requires additional resources and technologies.

WP Data Access users can connect to heterogeneous databases in three ways:
  1. Using the CONNECT engine (requires MariaDB and full OS access)
  2. Setup your own proxy server (requires a proxy server and full OS access)
  3. Connect through our Premium Data Service (zero configuration)
Article “Using ODBC | JDBC” explains the general preparation to setup a proxy server or use the MariaDB connect engine directly to connect to heterogeneous databases. Article “Connect to SQL Server (tutorial)” describes how to connect to SQL Server using a proxy or the MariaDB connect engine. Our premium data service makes it very easy to connect to homogeneous and heterogeneous databases and is explained in a separate article. Read more…

Using a heterogeneous database connection #

Plugin tools #

Heterogeneous connections are available from all WP Data Access tools. Just select a table or view from your heterogeneous remote database connection to create a publication, project or chart. Please be aware that a table must have a primary key or unique index to support data management, which is a general requirement in WP Data Access. Check your data types before you start updating (see limitations).

Custom PHP code #

Heterogeneous database connections can be used in custom PHP code as well. Here is a template:

<?php

function heterogeneous_connection_example() {
	$wpdadb = WPDataAccess\Connection\WPDADB::get_db_connection( 'rdb:wpdafree.youniquedata.com' );
	$rows   = $wpdadb->get_results( 'select * from my_table' );
	foreach ( $rows as $row ) {
		// Process table row...
	}
}

add_action('plugins_loaded', 'heterogeneous_connection_example');

?>

The code example above connects to “rdb:wpdafree.youniquedata.com“. This is a free premium data service for premium users. Table ‘my_table‘ can be a SQL Server, MS Access, Oracle, or PostgreSQL table, but can also be a public CSV, JSON, or XML file converted to a table automatically.

Class WPDADB is a subclass of WordPress class wpdb. You can use all available wpdb methods (query, get_results, insert, update, delete, and so on) to access your remote heterogeneous database.

Limitations #

Heterogeneous connections have limitations:

  • A connection through a proxy adds a delay. The duration of the delay depends on the location of the servers (web server, proxy server, database server) involved.
  • Remote table structure modifications need to be synchronized locally.
  • Remote data types that are not available in MariaDB | MySQL are converted. Check your columns before you start updating.
  • Text columns are truncated after 1024 characters.
Share This Article :
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Still stuck? How can we help?

How can we help?

Updated on 2025-02-07
MySQL | MariaDBUsing ODBC | JDBC

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Table of Contents
  • Using a heterogeneous database connection
    • Plugin tools
    • Custom PHP code
  • Limitations
WP Data Access
  • Follow
  • Follow
Links
$

Imprint

$

Privacy policy

$

Cookie policy

Get in touch
$

Contact us

$

Free support forum

$

Premium support

Resources


WordPress plugin directory



YouTube tutorials

Copyright © 2025 | All Right Reserves

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}