# Connect to Amazon Keyspaces using AWS CloudShell from the console
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AWS CloudShell provides a streamlined way to connect to Amazon Keyspaces directly from the console. The AWS CloudShell integration automatically initializes the `cqlsh-expansion` for you and establishes a connection to a specific keyspace.

## Getting started with AWS CloudShell integration
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1. **Access the AWS CloudShell integration** – From the Amazon Keyspaces console, navigate to the keyspace you want to connect to and choose the **Connect to Keyspaces** AWS CloudShell button.

1. **Pre-filled setup command** – When you choose the AWS CloudShell button, the system provides a pre-filled command that includes the necessary initialization and connection parameters:

   ```
   cqlsh-expansion.init ; cqlsh-expansion cassandra.region.amazonaws.com 9142 --ssl -my_keyspace
   ```

1. **Click **Run****

1. **Wait for Amazon Keyspaces to establish the connection** – Allow time for the setup process to complete and the connection to your selected keyspace to be established.

1. **Execute commands** – When connected, you can write and execute CQL commands directly against the selected keyspace.

## Available CQLSH commands
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The AWS CloudShell integration provides access to standard CQLSH functionality, including support for commands beyond basic CQL.
+ **Describe** – List and view detailed descriptions of keyspaces and tables.
+ **Copy** – Export query output to a file for later processing.
+ **Source** – Execute CQL statements from a file.
+ **Command history navigation** – Scroll through previous commands using keyboard shortcuts.
+ **Query execution** – Run queries directly from the keyboard interface.
+ **Output copying** – Copy results as simple text for use in other applications.

## Feature considerations
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When using the AWS CloudShell integration, consider the following trade-offs.

**The following features are not supported:**
+ CQL syntax suggestions and auto-complete functionality.
+ Editor tools such as show autocomplete, show tooltip, find, find and replace, redo, toggle block comments, toggle code folding, toggle line comment, and undo.

**Modified functionality:**
+ **CSV downloads** – To download results as CSV format, specify the `>` operator to pipe command output:

  ```
  SELECT * FROM my_table > file_name.csv
  ```
+ **JSON viewing** - You can view items in JSON format without requiring data conversion.
+ **Terminal-style interface** - The experience operates as a terminal interface rather than a full-featured code editor.

The AWS CloudShell integration simplifies the connection process while providing essential CQL functionality for managing your Amazon Keyspaces data directly from the AWS Management Console.