# Use Forest Admin with a read-only database

{% hint style="warning" %}
Please be sure of your agent type and version and pick the right documentation accordingly.
{% endhint %}

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Node.js" %}
{% hint style="danger" %}
This is the documentation of the `forest-express-sequelize` and `forest-express-mongoose` Node.js agents that will soon reach end-of-support.

`forest-express-sequelize` v9 and `forest-express-mongoose` v9 are replaced by [`@forestadmin/agent`](https://docs.forestadmin.com/developer-guide-agents-nodejs/) v1.

Please check your agent type and version and read on or switch to the right documentation.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

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This is still the latest Ruby on Rails documentation of the `forest_liana` agent, you’re at the right place, please read on.
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If you’re using a Django agent, notice that `django-forestadmin` v1 is replaced by [`forestadmin-agent-django`](https://docs.forestadmin.com/developer-guide-agents-python) v1.

If you’re using a Flask agent, go to the [`forestadmin-agent-flask`](https://docs.forestadmin.com/developer-guide-agents-python) v1 documentation.

Please check your agent type and version and read on or switch to the right documentation.
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{% tab title="PHP" %}
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{% endtabs %}

## Use Forest Admin with a read-only database

Although you'd be denying yourself some native features of Forest Admin (CRUD), this may be mandatory for you because of your project's architecture or security requirements.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you only want *some* fields to be read-only, check out [this section](https://docs.forestadmin.com/user-guide/collections/customize-your-fields#basic-settings).
{% endhint %}

To set up Forest Admin with a read-only database, follow those steps:

#### Step 1: set all your collections as read-only

A collection can be set as read-only from its settings, accessible using the Layout Editor mode:

You must **disable all permissions** there, as described in [this section](https://docs.forestadmin.com/user-guide/project-settings/teams-and-users/manage-roles#collection-permissions-1).

{% hint style="warning" %}
Repeat this for each of your collections.
{% endhint %}

#### Step 2 (optional): interact with your data using Smart Actions

At this point, your Forest interface allows you only to browse your data and not interact with it.

You still have the opportunity to interact with your data according to your processes with a little coding:

{% content-ref url="/pages/-LZ\_NNMHdg2N9Ycw1bkS" %}
[Create and manage Smart Actions](/documentation/reference-guide/actions/create-and-manage-smart-actions.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.forestadmin.com/documentation/extra-help/setup/use-forest-admin-with-a-read-only-database.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.