How to Search Tasks (Advanced Filter) — Asana Connector for UiPath

Introduction

In this article we will delve deeper into Asana and UiPath integration, and will learn how to search tasks (advanced filter). We are continuing from where we left off. By this time, you must have created ODBC Data Source and connected to Asana. So, let's not waste time and begin.

Use Query Builder to generate SQL query

  1. The first thing you have to do is open Query Builder:

    ZappySys API Driver - Asana
    Read and write data related to Tasks, Projects, Workspaces, Portfolios, TimeEntries, Memberships and more.
    AsanaDSN
    Open Query Builder in API ODBC Driver to read and write data to REST API
  2. Then simply select the Search Tasks (Advanced Filter) endpoint (action).

  3. Continue by configuring the Required parameters. You can also set optional parameters too.

  4. Move on by hitting Preview Data button to preview the results.

  5. If you see the results you need, simply copy the generated query:

    Search Tasks (Advanced Filter)
    Optional Parameters
    Fields
    Workspace Id
    Text
    Projects (NOT)
    Projects (ALL)
    Projects (ANY)
    Sections (NOT)
    Sections (ALL)
    Sections (ANY)
    Tags (NOT)
    Tags (ALL)
    Tags (ANY)
    Assigned By (NOT)
    Assigned By (ALL)
    Assigned By (ANY)
    Portfolios (ANY)
    Teams (ANY)
    Due On
    Due On Before
    Due On After
    Due On (Null)
    Start On
    Start On Before
    Start On After
    Start On (Null)
    Created On
    Created On Before
    Created On After
    Created On (Null)
    Modified On
    Modified On Before
    Modified On After
    Modified On (Null)
    Completed On
    Completed On Before
    Completed On After
    Completed On (Null)
    Due At
    Due At Before
    Due At After
    Start At
    Start At Before
    Start At After
    Created At
    Created At Before
    Created At After
    Modified At
    Modified At Before
    Modified At After
    Completed At
    Completed At Before
    Completed At After
    Is Blocked
    Is Blocking
    Is Subtask
    Has Attachment
    Completed
    Sort By
    Sort Ascending
    Continue On 404 Error (When record not found) False
    Advanced Properties
    Continue On 404 Error (When record not found) False
    --//search text in task title or description
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(Text='Hotfix')
    
    --//search text in all tasks from any projects listed below
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(Text='Hotfix', ProjectsAny='1200652735638082,1206028542305053')
    
    --//list all tasks from any projects listed below
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(Text='Hotfix', ProjectsAny='1200652735638082,1206028542305053')
    
    --//list all tasks due on specified date (same way you can use CreatedOn, CompletedOn ...) 
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOn='2024-12-21')
    
    --//list all tasks with due date after specified date (same way you can use CreatedOnAfter, CompletedOnAfter ...) 
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnAfter='2024-12-21')
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnAfter='yearstart+1d')
    
    --//list all tasks with due date after specified date (same way you can use CreatedOnBefore, CompletedOnBefore ...) 
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnBefore='2024-12-21')
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnBefore='monthstart-5d')
    
    --//list all tasks with due date after specified datetime (same way you can use CreatedAtBefore, CompletedAtBefore ...) 
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueAtBefore='2024-12-21T23:59:59')
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueAtBefore='now-10h')
    
    --//list all tasks with attachment
    SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(HasAttachment='true')
    Query Builder
  6. That's it! You can use this query in UiPath.

Let's not stop here and explore SQL query examples, including how to use them in Stored Procedures and Views (virtual tables) in the next steps.

SQL query examples

Use these SQL queries in your UiPath data source:

How to Search Tasks (Advanced Filters - Just like Asana Search UI)

--//search text in task title or description
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(Text='Hotfix')

--//search text in all tasks from any projects listed below
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(Text='Hotfix', ProjectsAny='1200652735638082,1206028542305053')

--//list all tasks from any projects listed below
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(Text='Hotfix', ProjectsAny='1200652735638082,1206028542305053')

--//list all tasks due on specified date (same way you can use CreatedOn, CompletedOn ...) 
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOn='2024-12-21')

--//list all tasks with due date after specified date (same way you can use CreatedOnAfter, CompletedOnAfter ...) 
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnAfter='2024-12-21')
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnAfter='yearstart+1d')

--//list all tasks with due date after specified date (same way you can use CreatedOnBefore, CompletedOnBefore ...) 
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnBefore='2024-12-21')
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueOnBefore='monthstart-5d')

--//list all tasks with due date after specified datetime (same way you can use CreatedAtBefore, CompletedAtBefore ...) 
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueAtBefore='2024-12-21T23:59:59')
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(DueAtBefore='now-10h')

--//list all tasks with attachment
SELECT * FROM search_tasks WITH(HasAttachment='true')

Stored Procedures and Views

Create Custom Stored Procedure

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([LS_TO_ASANA_IN_GATEWAY], '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

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([LS_TO_ASANA_IN_GATEWAY], '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

Search Tasks (Advanced Filter) in UiPath

We are at the point where we can reiterate on how to use the SQL query, Stored Procedures or Views in UiPath:

  1. Open UiPath Studio.
  2. Before we really begin the work, make sure UiPath Studio is set as your profile (blue application icon).
  3. In case, it is set to UiPath StudioX, you can change it in UiPath StudioX Settings: Choosing UiPath Studio profile Simply select UiPath Studio option: Choosing UiPath Studio profile
  4. Start by creating a new project based on UiPath Process template: Creating new process in UiPath Studio to import ODBC data
  5. Add Run Query activity in Main Sequence box: Adding ODBC data source in UiPath Studio
  6. Click Configure Connection... button to create an ODBC connection: Configuring ODBC data source in UiPath in Run Query activity
  7. Continue by clicking Connection Wizard: Using connection wizard to setup ODBC source in UiPath Studio
  8. When the window opens, select ODBC-based driver, provider, and then choose ODBC data source:
    AsanaDSN
    AsanaDSN
    Choosing ODBC DSN in UiPath Studio connection wizard
    You can also select Use connection string option and use whole ODBC connection string instead. Obtain the connection string by pressing Copy Settings button in your data source configuration.
  9. Once you do that, it's time to configure a SQL query: Inputting SQL query for ODBC data source in UiPath Studio
    Make sure, you enclose the query in double quotes!
  10. Proceed by adding a Write CSV activity after Run Query: Adding Write CSV activity to write ODBC data in UiPath
    In this article we are using Write CSV, but you can freely add any other destination of your choice, e.g. Write DataTable to Excel.
  11. Once you do that, configure the added Write CSV, this will write Asana data to a CSV file: Configuring Write CSV activity to write ODBC data in UiPath
  12. It's time for fun! Which means it's time for debugging! Just run the package locally to debug: Running UiPath process package to get ODBC data
  13. Finally, ensure there are no execution errors! Successful UiPath package debugging

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