Amazon S3 JSON File Connector for Informatica

In this article you will learn how to integrate Amazon S3 JSON File data in Informatica without coding in just a few clicks (live / bi-directional connection to Amazon S3 JSON File). Amazon S3 JSON File Connector can be used to read JSON Files stored in AWS S3 Buckets. Using this you can easily integrate AWS S3 JSON File data. It's supports latest security standards, and optimized for large data files. It also supports reading compressed files (e.g. GZip /Zip)..

Using Amazon S3 JSON File Connector you will be able to connect, read, and write data from within Informatica. Follow the steps below to see how we would accomplish that.

Download Documentation

NOTE: If you need to consume API which is not listed on connector library page then please refer to the below article links. It talks about how to read / write pretty much any API and not just Amazon S3 JSON File API. It explains various API tips / tricks using our other Universal Drivers not mentioned in this article (i.e. ZappySys JSON / XML and CSV Drivers).
How to read API data in Informatica (Call JSON / XML SOAP Service)
How to write data to API (POST) in Informatica (Call JSON / XML SOAP Service)

Introduction

Informatica PowerCenter LogoJSON / REST API is becoming more and more popular each day as everyone embrace cloud-centric services. This article is primarily focused on Informatica users who want to access Amazon S3 JSON File data or may be other API Integration in Informatica. However many tips and techniques described in this article will help you to understand how to integrate Amazon S3 JSON File / XML SOAP / JSON / REST API in other ETL / Reporting apps such as Tableau, Power BI, SSRS, Talend, Excel and many more.

After going through this article you will learn how to Read Amazon S3 JSON File / JSON / REST API data in Informatica and understand the concept of JSON / REST API. We will go through many screenshots and step-by-step examples to demonstrate  Amazon S3 JSON File or REST API integration in Informatica PowerCenter.

XML / JSON can come from a local file or REST API service (internal or public) so we will include both examples in this article (i.e. Read JSON files in Informatica,  Import REST API in Informatica). So let’s get started. Next article will focus on how to write data to API in Informatica (POST / PUT data)

Requirements

This article assumes that you have full filled following basic requirements.

  1. Download Install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack (API Driver for Amazon S3 JSON File included)
  2. Install Informatica PowerCenter Client Tools (e.g. Workflow and Mapping Designers)
  3. Access to a Relational database such as SQL Server (or use any of your choice e.g. Oracle, MySQL, DB2 ). If nothing available then you can use flat file target.

High level Steps for Import Amazon S3 JSON File data using Informatica (Read Amazon S3 JSON File API data)

Before we dive deep to learn how to load Amazon S3 JSON File data in Informatica (i.e. Amazon S3 JSON File to SQL Table), Here the summary of high-level steps you need to perform to import Amazon S3 JSON File in Informatica (same steps for Import JSON / XML / REST API).

  1. Download and Install ZappySys API Driver (for connecting to Amazon S3 JSON File)
  2. Create ODBC DSN using ZappySys API driver and choose Amazon S3 JSON File Connector during Wizard
  3. Create Relational > ODBC Connection in Informatica Workflow designer (Point to DSN we created in the previous step)
  4. Import Amazon S3 JSON File Source Definition in the Informatica Mapping Designer > Sources Tab
  5. Import Target Table Definition in the Informatica Mapping Designer > Targets Tab
  6. Create source to target mapping in Mappings tab
  7. Save mapping (name m_API_to_SQL_Load )
  8. Create Session using the mapping we created in the previous step
  9. Save Workflow and execute to load Amazon S3 JSON File data into SQL Table. Verify your data and log.
    Loading JSON data to SQL Table in Informatica (Import Amazon S3 JSON File / REST API / JSON Files)

    Loading Amazon S3 JSON File data to SQL Table in Informatica (Import REST API or JSON Files)

Video Tutorial – Read any API / JSON data in Informatica (Load Amazon S3 JSON File to SQL Table)

Below video is not about Amazon S3 JSON File API but its showing API access in general (for any API). By watching following ~5 min video can learn steps listed in this article to load JSON API data into SQL Server Table using ZappySys JSON Driver. You can go though full article to learn many useful details not covered in this video.

Getting Started – Import Amazon S3 JSON File to SQL Server in Informatica

Now let’s get started. For example purpose, we will read data from Amazon S3 JSON File and load data into SQL Server Table using Informatica Workflow.

Create ODBC Data Source (DSN) based on ZappySys Amazon S3 JSON Driver

Step-by-step instructions

To get data from Amazon S3 JSON File using Informatica we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from Amazon S3 JSON File. We will later be able to read data using Informatica. Perform these steps:

  1. Install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack.

  2. Open ODBC Data Sources (x64):
    Open ODBC Data Source

  3. Create a User Data Source (User DSN) based on ZappySys Amazon S3 JSON Driver

    ZappySys Amazon S3 JSON Driver
    Create new User DSN for ZappySys Amazon S3 JSON Driver
    You should create a System DSN (instead of a User DSN) if the client application is launched under a Windows System Account, e.g. as a Windows Service. If the client application is 32-bit (x86) running with a System DSN, use ODBC Data Sources (32-bit) instead of the 64-bit version.
  4. Create and configure a connection for the Amazon S3 storage account.

    Create Amazon S3 Storage Connection
  5. You can use select your desired single file by clicking [...] path button.

    mybucket/dbo.tblNames.json
    dbo.tblNames.json
    Read Amazon S3 JSON File data


    ----------OR----------

    You can also read the multiple files stored in Amazon S3 Storage using wildcard pattern supported e.g. dbo.tblNames*.json.

    Note: If you want to operation with multiple files then use wild card pattern as below 
    (when you use wild card pattern in source path then system will treat target path as folder regardless you end with slash)
    
    mybucket/dbo.tblNames.json (will read only single .JSON file)
    mybucket/dbo.tbl*.json (all files starting with file name)
    mybucket/*.json (all files with .json Extension and located under folder subfolder)
    

    mybucket/dbo.tblNames*.json
    Use wildcard pattern .* to read multiple Amazon S3 Files data


    ----------OR----------

    You can also read the zip and gzip compressed files also without extracting it in using Amazon S3 JSON Source File Task.

    mybucket/dbo.tblNames*.gz
    Reading zip and gzip compressed files (stream mode)
  6. Now select/enter Path expression in Path textbox to extract only specific part of JSON string as below ($.value[*] will get content of value attribute from JSON document. Value attribute is array of JSON documents so we have to use [*] to indicate we want all records of that array)

    NOTE: Here, We are using our desired filter, but you need to select your desired filter based on your requirement.

    Amazon S3 JSON Driver Select Filter
  7. Navigate to the Preview Tab and let's explore the different modes available to access the data.

    1. --- Using Direct Query ---

      Click on Preview Tab, Select Table from Tables Dropdown and select [value] and click Preview.
      ZappySys ODBC Driver - Preview Data
    2. --- Using Stored Procedure ---

      Note : For this you have to Save ODBC Driver configuration and then again reopen to configure same driver. For more information click here.
      
      Click on the Custom Objects Tab, Click on Add button and select Add Procedure and Enter an appropriate name and Click on OK button to create.
      ZappySys ODBC Driver - Custom Objects
      1. --- Without Parameters ---

        Now Stored Procedure can be created with or without parameters (see example below). If you use parameters then Set default value otherwise it may fail to compilation)
        ZappySys ODBC Driver : Without Parameters
      2. --- With Parameters ---

        Note : Here you can use Placeholder with Paramters in Stored Procedure.
        Example : SELECT * FROM $ WHERE OrderID = '<@OrderID, FUN_TRIM>' or CustId = '<@CustId>' and Total >= '<@Total>'
        
        ZappySys ODBC Driver : With Parameters
    3. --- Using Virtual Table ---

      Note : For this you have to Save ODBC Driver configuration and then again reopen to configure same driver. For more information click here.
      

      ZappySys APi Drivers support flexible Query language so you can override Default Properties you configured on Data Source such as URL, Body. This way you don't have to create multiple Data Sources if you like to read data from multiple EndPoints. However not every application support supplying custom SQL to driver so you can only select Table from list returned from driver.

      Many applications like MS Access, Informatica Designer wont give you option to specify custom SQL when you import Objects. In such case Virtual Table is very useful. You can create many Virtual Tables on the same Data Source (e.g. If you have 50 Buckets with slight variations you can create virtual tables with just URL as Parameter setting).

      vt__Customers
      DataPath=mybucket_1/customers.json
      
      vt__Orders
      DataPath=mybucket_2/orders.json
      
      vt__Products
      DataPath=mybucket_3/products.json
      
      1. Click on the Custom Objects Tab, Click on Add button and select Add Table and Enter an appropriate name and Click on OK button to create.
        ZappySys ODBC Driver - Custom Objects
      2. Once you see Query Builder Window on screen Configure it.
        ZappySys ODBC Driver - Custom Objects : Virtual Table Query Builder
      3. Click on Preview Tab, Select Virtual Table(prefix with vt__) from Tables Dropdown or write SQL query with Virtual Table name and click Preview.
        ZappySys ODBC Driver - Custom Objects : Virtual Table Query Execute

  8. Click OK to finish creating the data source

  9. That's it; we are done. In a few clicks we configured the to Read the Amazon S3 JSON File data using ZappySys Amazon S3 JSON File Connector

Create Connection in Informatica Workflow Designer

Once you create DSN using API Driver our next step is to define a connection for Amazon S3 JSON File source in Informatica PowerCenter Workflow designer.

  1. Open Workflow designer [W] icon
  2. Goto Connections > Relational
    Create new connection for JSON in Informatica

    Create a new connection for Amazon S3 JSON File in Informatica

  3. Click New and select ODBC
    Select ODBC connection type in Informatica (Using ZappySys JSON ODBC DSN)

    Select ODBC connection type in Informatica (Using ZappySys API ODBC DSN)

  4. Now on the ODBC connection setup enter connection name, some fake userid / password (this is a required field but its ignored by JSON Driver)
  5. In the Connection String field enter the exact same name of DSN (Open ODBC Data Sources UI to confirm)
    Configure Amazon S3 JSON File connection in Informatica for REST API – Using ZappySys API ODBC Driver

    Configure Amazon S3 JSON File connection in Informatica for REST API – Using ZappySys API Driver

  6. Click OK to close the connection properties.

That’s it. Now we ready to move to next step (define source and target in Mapping Designer).

Import Amazon S3 JSON File Source Definition in Informatica Mapping Designer

Now let’s look at steps to import Amazon S3 JSON File table definition.

  1. Open Informatica Mapping Designer (Click [D] icon)
  2. Click on Source Icon to switch to Sources designer
  3. From the top menu > Click on Sources > Import from Database
    Import JSON Source definition in Informatica Mapping Designer (JSON file or REST API)

    Import Amazon S3 JSON File Source definition in Informatica Mapping Designer (JSON file or REST API)

  4. Select ODBC data source from the dropdown (Find out DSN we created earlier to use as JSON Source)
  5. Click Connect button to get a list of tables. Any array node is listed as a table. Also, you will see array node with parent columns (e.g. value_with_parent). You may get some warning like below but they are harmless so just ignore by clicking OK.
    DLL name entry missing from C:\Informatica\PowerCenter8.6.1\client\bin\powrmart.ini Section = ODBCDLL Entry = ZappySys JSON Driver
    —————————————————-
    Using EXTODBC.DLL to support ZappySys JSON Driver. For native support of ZappySys JSON Driver make an entry in the .ini file.
    Select JSON Source Table in Informatica Mapping Designer (JSON file or REST API)

    Select Amazon S3 JSON File Source Table in Informatica Mapping Designer (JSON file or REST API)

  6. Select Table you wish to get (You can filter rows by custom SQL query. We will see later in this article how to do)
  7. Optionally once table structure is imported you can rename it
    Rename imported table definition in Informatica Source Designer

    Rename imported table definition in Informatica Source Designer

  8. That’s it, we are now ready to perform similar steps to import Target table structure in the next section.

Import SQL Server Target Definition in Informatica Mapping Designer

Now let’s look at steps to import Target table definition (very similar to the previous section, the only difference is this time we will select DSN which points to SQL Server or any other Target Server).

Now lets look at steps to import target table definition in Informatica mapping designer.

  1. In the Mapping Designer, Click on Target Icon to switch to Target designer
  2. From the top menu > Click on Targets > Import from Database
  3. Select DSN for your Target server (if DSN doesn’t exist then create one by opening ODBC Sources just like we created one for JSON API source (see the previous section about creating DSN).
    Import target Table Definition in informatica

    Import target Table Definition in informatica

  4. Enter your userid , password and Schema name and click Connect to see tables
  5. Select Table name to and click OK import definition.
    Import Target SQL Table Definition in Informatica - Select table from the list

    Import Target SQL Table Definition in Informatica – Select table from the list

Create Source to Target Mapping in Informatica (Import JSON to SQL Server)

Once you have imported source and target table definition, we can create mapping and transformation to load data from JSON to SQL Table.

  1. First open Mapping Designer (Click [D] icon)
  2. Drag JSON Source from sources folder
  3. Drag SQL Table from Targets folder
  4. Map desired columns from Source to target
    Define Source to Target mapping for JSON to SQL Table load in Informatica

    Define Source to Target mapping for Amazon S3 JSON File to SQL Table load in Informatica

  5. For certain columns you may have to do datatype conversion. For example to convert OrderDate form nstring to DataTime you have to use Expression Transform like below and map it to target. In below example, our JSON has date format (e.g. 2018-01-31 12:00:00 AM ). To import this to DateTime field in SQL server we need to convert it using TO_DATE function. Use double quotes around T to make this format working.
    TO_DATE(OrderDate,'YYYY-MM-DD H12:MI:SS AM')
    
     --For ISO use below way
                    TO_DATE(OrderDate,'YYYY-MM-DD"T"HH24:MI:SS')
    Informatica JSON to SQL Table Mapping - Datatype conversion (nstring to datetime)

    Informatica Amazon S3 JSON File to SQL Table Mapping – Datatype conversion (nstring to datetime)

  6. Once you done with mapping save your mapping and name it (i.e. m_Api_To_SQL)
  7. Now lets move to next section to create workflow.

Create Workflow and Session in Informatica

Now the final step is to create a new workflow. Perform following steps to create workflow which with a session task to import JSON data into SQL table.

  1. Open workflow designer by click [W] icon.
  2. Launch new workflow creation wizard by click Workflow top menuWizard
    name your workflow (e.g. wf_Api_Tp_Sql_Table_Import)

    Creating Informatica Workflow - Wizard UI (Import JSON data to SQL Table)

    Creating Informatica Workflow – Wizard UI (Import Amazon S3 JSON File data to SQL Table)

  3. Finish the wizard and double-click the Session to edit some default properties.
  4. First change Error settings so we fail session on error (By default its always green)
    Fail Informatica Session on error (JSON to SQL Load)

    Fail Informatica Session on error (Amazon S3 JSON File data to SQL Load)

  5. Select JSON connection for Source
    Select JSON Source Connection in Informatica - JSON File / REST API Load to SQL Table

    Select Amazon S3 JSON File Source Connection in Informatica – Load Amazon S3 JSON File data to SQL Table

  6. Change default Source query if needed. You can pass parameters to this query to make it dynamic.
    Modify JSON Source SQL query - Pass parameters, change URL, set filter etc

    Modify Amazon S3 JSON File Source SQL query – Pass parameters, change URL, set filter etc

  7. Select Target connection of SQL Target Table
    Select SQL Target Connection in Informatica - JSON File / REST API Load to SQL Table

    Select SQL Target Connection in Informatica – Load Amazon S3 JSON File data to SQL Table

  8. Save workflow
  9. That’s it. We ready to run our first workflow to load JSON data to SQL.

Execute Workflow and Validate Log in Informatica

Now once you are done with your workflow, execute it to see the log.

Loading JSON data to SQL Table in Informatica (Import REST API or JSON Files)

Loading Amazon S3 JSON File data to SQL Table in Informatica (Import REST API or JSON Files)

 

POST data to Amazon S3 JSON File in Informatica

There will be a time when you like to send Source data to REST API or SOAP Web Service. You can use below Query for example. For detailed explanation on how to POST data in Informatica check this article.

Video Tutorial – How to POST data to REST API in Informatica

Here is detailed step by step video on REST API POST in informatica PowerCenter

 

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Advanced topics

Create Custom Stored Procedure in ZappySys Driver

You can create procedures to encapsulate custom logic and then only pass handful parameters rather than long SQL to execute your API call.

Steps to create Custom Stored Procedure in ZappySys Driver. You can insert Placeholders anywhere inside Procedure Body. Read more about placeholders here

  1. Go to Custom Objects Tab and Click on Add button and Select Add Procedure:
    ZappySys Driver - Add Stored Procedure

  2. Enter the desired Procedure name and click on OK:
    ZappySys Driver - Add Stored Procedure Name

  3. Select the created Stored Procedure and write the your desired stored procedure and Save it and it will create the custom stored procedure in the ZappySys Driver:
    Here is an example stored procedure for ZappySys Driver. You can insert Placeholders anywhere inside Procedure Body. Read more about placeholders here

    CREATE PROCEDURE [usp_get_orders]
        @fromdate = '<<yyyy-MM-dd,FUN_TODAY>>'
     AS
        SELECT * FROM Orders where OrderDate >= '<@fromdate>';
    

    ZappySys Driver - Create Custom Stored Procedure

  4. That's it now go to Preview Tab and Execute your Stored Procedure using Exec Command. In this example it will extract the orders from the date 1996-01-01:

    Exec usp_get_orders '1996-01-01';

    ZappySys Driver - Execute Custom Stored Procedure

  5. Let's generate the SQL Server Query Code to make the API call using stored procedure. Go to Code Generator Tab, select language as SQL Server and click on Generate button the generate the code.
    As we already created the linked server for this Data Source, in that you just need to copy the Select Query and need to use the linked server name which we have apply on the place of [MY_API_SERVICE] placeholder.

    SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([MY_API_SERVICE], 'EXEC usp_get_orders @fromdate=''1996-07-30''')

    ZappySys Driver - Generate SQL Server Query

  6. Now go to SQL served and execute that query and it will make the API call using stored procedure and provide you the response.
    ZappySys Driver - Generate SQL Server Query

Create Custom Virtual Table in ZappySys Driver

ZappySys API Drivers support flexible Query language so you can override Default Properties you configured on Data Source such as URL, Body. This way you don't have to create multiple Data Sources if you like to read data from multiple EndPoints. However not every application support supplying custom SQL to driver so you can only select Table from list returned from driver.

If you're dealing with Microsoft Access and need to import data from an SQL query, it's important to note that Access doesn't allow direct import of SQL queries. Instead, you can create custom objects (Virtual Tables) to handle the import process.

Many applications like MS Access, Informatica Designer wont give you option to specify custom SQL when you import Objects. In such case Virtual Table is very useful. You can create many Virtual Tables on the same Data Source (e.g. If you have 50 URLs with slight variations you can create virtual tables with just URL as Parameter setting.

  1. Go to Custom Objects Tab and Click on Add button and Select Add Table:
    ZappySys Driver - Add Table

  2. Enter the desired Table name and click on OK:
    ZappySys Driver - Add Table Name

  3. And it will open the New Query Window Click on Cancel to close that window and go to Custom Objects Tab.

  4. Select the created table, Select Text Type AS SQL and write the your desired SQL Query and Save it and it will create the custom table in the ZappySys Driver:
    Here is an example SQL query for ZappySys Driver. You can insert Placeholders also. Read more about placeholders here

    SELECT
      "ShipCountry",
      "OrderID",
      "CustomerID",
      "EmployeeID",
      "OrderDate",
      "RequiredDate",
      "ShippedDate",
      "ShipVia",
      "Freight",
      "ShipName",
      "ShipAddress",
      "ShipCity",
      "ShipRegion",
      "ShipPostalCode"
    FROM "Orders"
    Where "ShipCountry"='USA'

    ZappySys Driver - Create Custom Table

  5. That's it now go to Preview Tab and Execute your custom virtual table query. In this example it will extract the orders for the USA Shipping Country only:

    SELECT * FROM "vt__usa_orders_only"

    ZappySys Driver - Execute Custom Virtual Table Query

  6. Let's generate the SQL Server Query Code to make the API call using stored procedure. Go to Code Generator Tab, select language as SQL Server and click on Generate button the generate the code.
    As we already created the linked server for this Data Source, in that you just need to copy the Select Query and need to use the linked server name which we have apply on the place of [MY_API_SERVICE] placeholder.

    SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([MY_API_SERVICE], 'EXEC [usp_get_orders] ''1996-01-01''')

    ZappySys Driver - Generate SQL Server Query

  7. Now go to SQL served and execute that query and it will make the API call using stored procedure and provide you the response.
    ZappySys Driver - Generate SQL Server Query

Conclusion

In this article we discussed how to connect to Amazon S3 JSON File in Informatica and integrate data without any coding. Click here to Download Amazon S3 JSON File Connector for Informatica and try yourself see how easy it is. If you still have any question(s) then ask here or simply click on live chat icon below and ask our expert (see bottom-right corner of this page).

Download Amazon S3 JSON File Connector for Informatica Documentation 

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