How to read DropBox data in MS SQL/SSRS/Java using ZappySys Data Gateway?

In this section we will learn how to configure and use DropBox Connector in the API Driver to extract data from the DropBox.

Create Data Source in ZappySys Data Gateway based on API Driver

1. Download and install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack.

2. Search for gateway in start menu and Open ZappySys Data Gateway:
   

3. Go to Users Tab to add our first Gateway user. Click Add; we will give it a name tdsuser and enter password you like to give. Check Admin option and click OK to save. We will use these details later when we create linked server:
   

4. Now we are ready to add a data source. Click Add, give data source a name (Copy this name somewhere, we will need it later) and then select Native - ZappySys API Driver. Finally, click OK. And it will create the Data Set for it and open the ZS driver UI.

   DropBoxDSN

   
   

5. When the Configuration window appears give your data source a name if you haven't done that already, then select "DropBox" from the list of Popular Connectors. If "DropBox" is not present in the list, then click "Search Online" and download it. Then set the path to the location where you downloaded it. Finally, click Continue >> to proceed with configuring the DSN:

   DropBoxDSN

   DropBox

   

6. Now it's time to configure the Connection Manager. Select Authentication Type, e.g. Token Authentication. Then select API Base URL (in most cases, the default one is the right one). More info is available in the Authentication section.

    User Account [OAuth]

   Steps to get DropBox Credentials : User Account [OAuth]
   

   To use OAuth authentication, firstly, you need to create OAuth application:

   1. Log into your DropBox account.
   2. Go to https://www.dropbox.com/developers/apps.
   3. Press Create app button to create a new app.
   4. Once a new page opens, select Scoped access option.
   5. Next, select Full Dropbox to access all files and folders or App folder to access specific folder's files and folders option
   6. Give your app a name
   7. Click create app
   8. Once a new page opens, click Scoped App in Permission type line to select application scopes.
   9. Select all Individual Scopes and Team Scopes if you want to manage team data. Click Submit button.
   10. Select Settings tab, scroll down to App key and App secret and copy paste them into Notepad.
   11. Then in OAuth 2 section add a URL as Redirect URI. If you don't have a working Redirect URI, you may add https://zappysys.com/oauth as Redirect URI

   Use App key and App secret and Redirect URI for use in Connection String when connecting or in UI.

   NOTE: If you are planning to use your current data connection/token for automated processes, we recommend that you use a generic account for token generation when the login box appears (e.g. sales_automation@mycompany.com instead of bob_smith@mycompany.com). When you use a personal account which is tied to a specific employee profile and that employee leaves the company, the token may become invalid and any automated processes using that token will fail. Another potentially unwanted effect of using a personal token is incorrect logging; the API calls (e.g. Read, Edit, Delete, Upload) made with that token will record the specific user as performing the calls instead of an automated process.

   Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:

   DropBoxDSN

   DropBox

   User Account [OAuth]

   https://api.dropboxapi.com/2/

   Required Parameters
   UseCustomApp	Fill in the parameter...
   ReturnUrl	Fill in the parameter...
   Optional Parameters
   ClientId	Fill in the parameter...
   ClientSecret	Fill in the parameter...
   Scope	Fill in the parameter...
   RetryMode	Fill in the parameter...
   RetryStatusCodeList	Fill in the parameter...
   RetryCountMax	Fill in the parameter...
   RetryMultiplyWaitTime	Fill in the parameter...

   

7. Once the data source has been configured, you can preview data. Select the Preview tab and use settings similar to the following to preview data:
   

8. Click OK to finish creating the data source.

Reading data from client application

1. Firstly, to get data from ODBC data source based on ZappySys ODBC driver, in your client application, you would need to connect to ODBC source and then from the list select the data source.

2. Finally, to read the data just read tables/views in your app or enter a SQL statement to extract data, e.g.:

   SELECT * FROM Products

DropBox Connector Examples

The ZappySys API Driver is a user-friendly interface designed to facilitate the seamless integration of various applications with the DropBox API. With its intuitive design and robust functionality, the ZappySys API Driver simplifies the process of configuring specific API endpoints to efficiently read or write data from DropBox.

Click here to find more DropBox Connector examples designed for seamless integration with the ZappySys API ODBC Driver under ODBC Data Source (36/64) or ZappySys Data Gateway, enhancing your ability to connect and interact with Prebuilt Connectors effectively.

Consume Data inside your App / Programming Language

ODBC inside ETL / Reporting / BI Tools

• Power BI
• Tableau
• Excel
• Informatica PowerCenter
• QlikView
• SQL Server / Linked Server
• SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services)

ODBC inside Programming Languages

• C# (CSharp)
• JAVA
• PHP
• PowerShell
• Python
• T-SQL / SQL Server Linked Server

Key features of the ZappySys API Driver include:

The API ODBC driver facilitates the reading and writing of data from numerous popular online services (refer to the complete list here) using familiar SQL language without learning complexity of REST API calls. The driver allows querying nested structure and output as a flat table. You can also create your own ODBC / Data Gateway API connector file and use it with this driver.

1. Intuitive Configuration: The interface is designed to be user-friendly, enabling users to easily set up the specific API endpoints within DropBox without requiring extensive technical expertise or programming knowledge.

2. Customizable Endpoint Setup: Users can conveniently configure the API endpoint settings, including the HTTP request method, endpoint URL, and any necessary parameters, to precisely target the desired data within DropBox.

3. Data Manipulation Capabilities: The ZappySys API Driver allows for seamless data retrieval and writing, enabling users to fetch data from DropBox and perform various data manipulation operations as needed, all through an intuitive and straightforward interface.

4. Secure Authentication Integration: The driver provides secure authentication integration, allowing users to securely connect to the DropBox API by inputting the necessary authentication credentials, such as API tokens or other authentication keys.

5. Error Handling Support: The interface is equipped with comprehensive error handling support, ensuring that any errors or exceptions encountered during the data retrieval or writing process are efficiently managed and appropriately communicated to users for prompt resolution.

6. Data Visualization and Reporting: The ZappySys API Driver facilitates the seamless processing and presentation of the retrieved data from DropBox, enabling users to generate comprehensive reports and visualizations for further analysis and decision-making purposes.

Overall, the ZappySys API Driver serves as a powerful tool for streamlining the integration of applications with DropBox, providing users with a convenient and efficient way to access and manage data, all through a user-friendly and intuitive interface.