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i  want to use PostgresExecute - how do i pass the password to this task? it only seems to be possible through the run method?

I think <https://prefect-community.slack.com/archives/CL09KU1K7/p1649989921209999?thread_ts=1649978934.140039&amp;cid=CL09KU1K7|this> is how you can do this

ok you're right, it is through the run method and this was intentional so that you can pass Secrets as data dependencies:
```execute = PostgresExecute(db_name="", user="", ...)

with Flow() as flow:
    pwd = PrefectSecret("POSTGRES_DB_PASSWORD")
    execute(password=pwd)```


Hey there, jumping on this thread - I’m trying to get PostgresExecute to work since I want to register a flow, but when I run it I get an authentication error.

Strangely enough, when I replicate the task by using `psycopg2` and run the flow on my local machine, it works. Could anyone help me?

For context, I’m testing a simple write to a postgres database; it’s a single-row `record`

Task using PostgresExecute: (this fails with FATAL: password authentication failed for user …, SSL off)
```def load(record):
  pwd = PrefectSecret(PASSWORD)
  try:
    conn = PostgresExecute()
    conn.run(db_name="name", user=...)
    return
  except Exception as e:
    raise e```
Task using psycopg2 (this works):
```def load(record):
  try:
    conn = psycopg2.connect(user="admin", password=...)
    cursor = conn.cursor()
    query = """INSERT INTO test_table (col) values (%s)"""
    values = (record,)
    cursor.execute(query, values)
    conn.commit()
  except Exception as e:
    raise e
  finally:
    if conn:
      cursor.close()
      conn.close()```

there are a couple of issues here:
#1 You can only call this line within a Flow block, not within a task - ideally pass it to your task as data dependency
```pwd = PrefectSecret(PASSWORD)```
#2 You shouldn't have to use try-except blocks when using Prefect
#3 Usually you would initialize the task and then call it within your Flow, doing .run() is supported but discouraged
```conn.run(db_name="name", user=...)```

I think the main issue you are facing is #1 - if you want a quick workaround to your issue, try doing this instead:
```from prefect.client import Secret
...
def load(record):
  pwd = Secret(PASSWORD).get() # this way you retrieve it directly
  try:
    conn = PostgresExecute()
    conn.run(db_name="name", user=...)
    return
  except Exception as e:
    raise e```

Thanks <@U02H1A95XDW>! I managed to get it to work on local :slightly_smiling_face:. I’m trying to set it up on Prefect Cloud but when I try to run the mutation to set the secret, it throws me this error.

Mutation:
```mutation {
  set_secret( input: { 
    name: "PASSWORD", 
    value: "PASSWORD"
  } ) {
    success
  }
}```
Response:
```{
  "errors": [
    {
      "path": [
        "set_secret"
      ],
      "message": "Expected type JSON!, found \"PASSWORD\"; Expecting value: line 1 column 1 (char 0)",
      "extensions": {
        "code": "INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR",
        "exception": {
          "message": "Expected type JSON!, found \"PASSWORD\"; Expecting value: line 1 column 1 (char 0)",
          "locations": [
            {
              "line": 2,
              "column": 45
            }
          ],
          "path": null
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "data": {
    "set_secret": null
  }
}```
I saw in a <https://prefect-community.slack.com/archives/C014Z8DPDSR/p1651184226881699|separate thread> that you mentioned that this should only occur when using server and not cloud - but I’m using this on the cloud interface and still get this error

you can set secrets directly through UI, this is much easier than via GraphQL