Browse an existing external database with Django

Overview

• I used to run a database, but I wanted to refer to it from a newly built Django application.
• You can refer to other than Django's default DB.
• I've only tried it with Mysql, but I think Postgres can do the same.

Setting method

Added DB information

• Since DATABASES is in dictionary format, add it.

settings.py

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.mysql',
        'NAME': db,
        'USER': user,
        'PASSWORD': password,
        'HOST': 'mysql01',
        'PORT': '3306',
    },
    'otherdb': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.mysql',
        'NAME': otherdb,
        'USER': user,
        'PASSWORD': password,
        'HOST': 'mysql02'
        'PORT': '3306',
    }
}

Set model

• Define the model as usual.
• Enter the table name in the DB you want to refer to in "db_table" as metadata.
• If not specified, it is displayed in the form of " _ ". (Confirmed by debugging)

application/models.py

from django.db import models

class <name of the class>(models.Model):
    class Meta:
        db_table = '<table name>'
    id = models.IntegerField(primary_key=True)
    name = models.CharField(max_length = 255)

View settings

• You can refer to the external DB by specifying the DB added in settings.py using "db_manager".
• TablesName

application/views.py

from django.shortcuts import render
from .models import <name of the class>


def index(request):
    data = <name of the class>.objects.db_manager("<DB name>").all()
    params = { 'data': data }
    return render(request, 'sample.html', params)

Don't forget to migrate

$ python3 ./manage.py makemigrations
$ python3 ./manage.py migrate