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Connecting Your Data

Data is the lifeblood of PlotsAlot. By establishing secure connections or adding files, you give the assistant the context it needs to deliver powerful insights and visualisations.

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1. Database Connections

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Supported Engines

PlotsAlot currently supports major relational databases. The most popular choice is a hosted or local PostgreSQL instance. Additional engines can be enabled on request.

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Connection Process

1. Open the Data Panel – From any chat, click Connect Database.
2. Enter Credentials – Provide host, port, database name, username, and password. All fields are required to establish a secure tunnel.
3. Choose Visibility – Decide whether this connection is private to you or shared with your workspace.
4. Test & Save – Hit Test Connection. PlotsAlot validates credentials in real-time and confirms success. Once saved, the connection becomes immediately available for chat prompts.

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What PlotsAlot Can Access

• Table names and column structures, enabling schema-aware suggestions. • Sample rows for context when generating data previews.

The connection is strictly read-only. PlotsAlot will never perform insert, update, or delete operations.

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2. File Uploads

When your data lives in files rather than a live database, simply drag-and-drop them into the chat window or click Attach File. Supported formats include:

• CSV • Excel spreadsheets (single-sheet or multi-sheet) • PDFs containing tabular data • Image assets for contextual analysis (e.g., product screenshots)

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Behind the Scenes

• The platform validates file size against your subscription allowance. • The first few lines of each dataset are sampled and presented to you for confirmation. • The assistant learns column names and detects data types (numbers, dates, text, etc.) to craft accurate responses.

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3. Integration Tokens

PlotsAlot goes beyond traditional data sources by offering connectors to external services such as Google Analytics or Stripe. The flow is similar to database connections:

1. Click Add Integration in the chat toolbar.
2. Select the provider.
3. Authorise using OAuth; you are redirected back once successful.
4. PlotsAlot now has scoped access to the specific metrics or events you approved.

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4. Best Practices for Secure Data Handling

• Use Service Accounts – When possible, generate dedicated read-only users for databases. • Rotate Credentials – Update passwords or tokens regularly. You can edit or remove connections at any time. • Limit Scope – Grant the minimum level of access needed for analysis.

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5. Troubleshooting Tips

Symptom	Likely Cause	Resolution
Connection test fails	Incorrect host or port	Verify server address and firewall rules.
Upload stuck at 99%	File exceeds plan limits	Remove large attachments or upgrade plan.
Missing tables in suggestions	Limited user permissions	Ensure the database user can list tables.

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Once your data is connected, proceed to the next guide to craft your very first conversation with PlotsAlot.