# Data access without SQL Bridge or Historian **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Created:** [March 27, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685 "2023-03-27T22:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Babla\_Bogam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecb155/32.png) [@Babla\_Bogam](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Babla_Bogam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/1 "2023-03-27T22:46:31Z")
I have the core Ignition license without any sql bridge or tag historian module. Is it possible to query Ignition on current tag values and store those values in a database manually using custom code without the sql bridge or the tag history module installed? I do have web dev module. ---
**Author:** ![paul-griffith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/paul-griffith/32/37249_2.png) [@paul-griffith](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/paul-griffith)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 10:52pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/2 "2023-03-27T22:52:44Z")
Yes. The base platform exposes the ability to connect to databases via scripting (with the exception of some Edge editions). The SQL Bridge module adds transaction groups, and the tag historian module is required to use our historian, both storing and querying, but you are definitely able to set up your own storage and querying of whatever information you want via scripting. ---
**Author:** ![Babla\_Bogam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecb155/32.png) [@Babla\_Bogam](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Babla_Bogam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/3 "2023-03-27T22:58:27Z")
Thank you so much PGriffith. ---
**Author:** ![Babla\_Bogam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecb155/32.png) [@Babla\_Bogam](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Babla_Bogam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/4 "2023-03-27T23:01:51Z")
Could you please guide me to any resources/literature on how to achieve this (scripting to connect to databases using the base platform)? ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/5 "2023-03-27T23:15:55Z")
You generally do not script the database connection. You **configure** a named database connection in the gateway, and **use** that with Ignition's `system.db.*` scripting functions for querying and data manipulation. ---
**Author:** ![Babla\_Bogam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecb155/32.png) [@Babla\_Bogam](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Babla_Bogam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/6 "2023-03-27T23:19:17Z")
Thank you pturmel. To configure a named database connection in the gateway and use that with Ignition's system.db.\* - can you do it with just the base platform (without the sql bridge or tag historian license/module installed)? ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/7 "2023-03-27T23:20:47Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Babla\_Bogam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecb155/32.png) [@Babla\_Bogam](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Babla_Bogam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/8 "2023-03-27T23:21:35Z")
Thank you! 👍 ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/9 "2023-03-27T23:22:59Z")
Do note that many Ignition UI components are tailored to take advantage of the tag historian. (And the SQL bridge, to a lesser extent.) You can go this route, but be aware that it may cost you more in engineering time than you are saving in license costs. ---
**Author:** ![nminchin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/nminchin/32/6911_2.png) [@nminchin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nminchin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2023, 11:09am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/data-access-without-sql-bridge-or-historian/71685/10 "2023-03-28T11:09:43Z")
You also won't get the nice interface integration such as enabling history on tags via the tag configuration.