Use TablePlus to visually browse and manage your MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or Redis databases hosted on Galaxy.

TablePlus

Want to visually browse your Galaxy database without writing SQL? TablePlus is a slick database manager that works with MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Redis, and more. It's the easier way to poke around your data.

This guide gets you connected in just a few minutes.

Before You Start

You'll need:

Access to your Galaxy dashboard
A database already provisioned on Galaxy (MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or Redis)
TablePlus installed on your computer
An internet connection

Don't have TablePlus yet? Download it from the official site for your operating system. It's available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

TablePlus is free to download and use. They offer a paid version with extra features, but the free version works great for connecting to Galaxy databases.

Get Your Connection Details

Your Galaxy database connection credentials are right in your dashboard. Here's where to find them.

Log Into Galaxy

Head to your Galaxy dashboard.

Navigate to Databases

Click Databases in the sidebar menu.

Select Your Database

Find the database you want to connect to and click on its name.

Copy the Credentials

Scroll to the Credentials section. You'll see three important pieces:

Username: Your database user
Password: Your database password
Connection String: The complete URL you'll paste into TablePlus

Copy that connection string (it looks something like mongodb://user:pass@host:27017/dbname?ssl=true). You'll need it in the next step.

That connection string contains your password. Keep it secure. Don't commit it to Git, don't paste it in chat, don't leave it lying around.

Connect TablePlus to Your Database

Now open TablePlus and point it at your Galaxy database.

Launch TablePlus

Open the TablePlus application on your computer.

Create a New Connection

Click Create a New Connection on the welcome screen, or go to Connection > New > Connection in the menu.

Pick Your Database Type

TablePlus shows you a list of database types. Find the one matching your Galaxy database (MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Redis, etc.) and select it.

Look for an Import from URL button. Click it.

Paste Your Connection String

A dialog appears asking for a URL. Paste that connection string you copied from Galaxy earlier. The full URL should look something like:

mongodb://your_user:your_password@host.region.galaxy.mongodb.net:27017/dbname?ssl=true

Then click Import.

Verify and Save

TablePlus automatically parses the URL and fills in the connection fields: host, port, username, password, database name, and SSL settings. Everything should be populated correctly.

Give your connection a friendly name if you want (like "Production MongoDB" or "Galaxy Dev Database"). This makes it easier to find later if you have multiple databases.

Click Test to verify the connection works. If it connects, you're good to go. Click Save and you're done.

Connected? You now have direct visual access to your database. Browse tables, run queries, and manage data without touching the command line.

What You Can Do Now

Once connected, TablePlus gives you full visual access to your database:

Browse tables and collections: See your data structure at a glance
Run queries: Write and execute SQL or database-specific commands
Edit data: Update records directly from the table view
Manage schema: Modify tables, add columns, create indexes (depending on database type)
Export data: Pull data out for backups or migration

Keeping It Secure

Your database connection is as secure as your computer and the connection credentials you're using. A few things to keep in mind:

Never share your connection string. It includes your password. If someone gets it, they get full access to your database.

If you accidentally expose your connection string, change your database password immediately from the Galaxy dashboard. Don't wait.

Keep TablePlus updated. Security patches matter. Check for updates regularly in TablePlus settings.

Use strong database passwords. Long, complex, unique. If you inherited a weak password, change it.

Review access regularly. In the Galaxy dashboard, check which users have access to your database. Remove users who no longer need it.

Troubleshooting

Connection times out? Make sure your database is running (check the Galaxy dashboard). Also verify the connection string is exactly right, especially the host, port, and database name.

"Authentication failed" error? Double-check your username and password. Spaces, special characters, and case sensitivity all matter. If you're not sure, reset your database password in the Galaxy dashboard and use the new one.

Can't find Import from URL? Different versions of TablePlus have slightly different UIs. Look for an option to paste a connection URL, or manually fill in the host, port, username, password, and database name fields instead.

Still stuck? Reach out to Galaxy support. We can help verify your connection details and troubleshoot connection issues.

What's Next?

Manage Your Database

Learn about backups, scaling, and performance monitoring

Connect Your Database with TablePlus