Sequel Ace

MySQL/MariaDB database management for macOS

Open a Connection via URL (mysql://)

Sequel Ace supports opening connection details via the mysql:// URL scheme.

This is useful when launching Sequel Ace from shell scripts, automation tools, PAM tooling, and other desktop apps.

Quick Start

open 'mysql://user:password@db.example.com:3306/app_db'

Sequel Ace will open a new connection tab using the values from the URL.

URL Format

mysql://[user[:password]@][host[:port]][/database][?query_parameters]

Examples:

# Standard TCP connection
open 'mysql://root:secret@127.0.0.1:3306/my_database'

# Host defaults to 127.0.0.1 when omitted
open 'mysql://root:secret@/my_database'

Supported Query Parameters

These query parameters are currently supported:

  • type (tcpip, socket, ssh, or aws_iam)
  • ssh_host
  • ssh_port
  • ssh_user
  • ssh_password
  • ssh_keyLocation
  • ssh_keyLocationEnabled (set to 1 to enable key-based auth; 0 or omission keeps password auth)
  • socket
  • aws_profile
  • aws_region

type explicitly sets the connection mode (tcpip, socket, ssh, or aws_iam) and takes precedence over inferred mode.

When type is omitted, Sequel Ace infers mode in this order:

  1. AWS IAM if aws_profile or aws_region is present
  2. Socket if socket is present
  3. SSH if ssh_host is present
  4. TCP/IP otherwise

If both socket and ssh_host are present without type, Socket mode is used. If ssh_keyLocation is provided but ssh_keyLocationEnabled is not 1, Sequel Ace still uses password auth.

Examples:

# SSH connection using password auth
open 'mysql://db_user:db_password@127.0.0.1:3306/my_database?ssh_host=ssh.example.com&ssh_port=22&ssh_user=ssh_user&ssh_password=ssh_password'

# SSH connection using key auth
open 'mysql://db_user:db_password@127.0.0.1:3306/my_database?ssh_host=ssh.example.com&ssh_port=22&ssh_user=ssh_user&ssh_keyLocation=%2FUsers%2Fyou%2F.ssh%2Fid_rsa&ssh_keyLocationEnabled=1'

# `ssh_keyLocation` without enabling key auth still uses password auth
open 'mysql://db_user:db_password@127.0.0.1:3306/my_database?ssh_host=ssh.example.com&ssh_port=22&ssh_user=ssh_user&ssh_keyLocation=%2FUsers%2Fyou%2F.ssh%2Fid_rsa&ssh_keyLocationEnabled=0'

# Socket connection (explicit type)
open 'mysql://root@localhost/my_database?type=socket&socket=%2FUsers%2Fyou%2FLibrary%2FContainers%2Fcom.sequel-ace.sequel-ace%2FData%2Fmysql.sock'

# Socket connection (type inferred from socket query parameter)
open 'mysql://root@localhost/my_database?socket=%2FUsers%2Fyou%2FLibrary%2FContainers%2Fcom.sequel-ace.sequel-ace%2FData%2Fmysql.sock'

# AWS IAM connection (explicit type)
open 'mysql://db_user@mydb.cluster-abcdefghijkl.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com:3306/my_database?type=aws_iam&aws_profile=default&aws_region=us-east-1'

# AWS IAM connection (type inferred from AWS parameters)
open 'mysql://db_user@mydb.cluster-abcdefghijkl.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com:3306/my_database?aws_profile=default'

If any unsupported query parameter is included, Sequel Ace shows an error and does not process that URL.

Notes

  • URL values should be percent-encoded when they contain special characters (@, :, /, ?, &, spaces, etc.).
  • If no host is provided, Sequel Ace uses 127.0.0.1.
  • The first path segment is treated as the database name.
  • For socket URLs, use the socket query parameter for the Unix socket path. Socket files must be inside Sequel Ace’s container path due to macOS sandboxing.
  • AWS IAM URLs require Sequel Ace to already have sandbox access to your ~/.aws directory. Grant access from the AWS IAM tab first.
  • If you use ssh_keyLocation, Sequel Ace must already have sandbox access to that key path. Grant access in Sequel Ace → Preferences → Files (add the key file or its containing folder).