DropBox Connector for Informatica

In this article you will learn how to integrate DropBox data in Informatica without coding in just a few clicks (live / bi-directional connection to DropBox). Read / write DropBox data inside your app; perform many DropBox operations without coding, just use easy to use high performance API Connector for DropBox.

Using DropBox 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 DropBox 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 DropBox 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 DropBox / 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 DropBox / 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  DropBox 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 DropBox 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 DropBox data using Informatica (Read DropBox API data)

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

  1. Download and Install ZappySys API Driver (for connecting to DropBox)
  2. Create ODBC DSN using ZappySys API driver and choose DropBox Connector during Wizard
  3. Create Relational > ODBC Connection in Informatica Workflow designer (Point to DSN we created in the previous step)
  4. Import DropBox 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 DropBox data into SQL Table. Verify your data and log.
    Loading JSON data to SQL Table in Informatica (Import DropBox / REST API / JSON Files)

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

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

Below video is not about DropBox 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 DropBox to SQL Server in Informatica

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

Create ODBC Data Source (DSN) based on ZappySys API Driver

Step-by-step instructions

To get data from DropBox using Informatica we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from DropBox. 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 API Driver

    ZappySys API Driver
    Create new User DSN for ZappySys API 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. 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
    ODBC DSN Template Selection

  5. 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.

    Steps how to get and use 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 DropBox My Apps.
    3. Then press Create app button to create a new app: My OAuth apps in Dropbox
    4. Once a new page opens, select Scoped access option: Create OAuth app to get Dropbox REST API data
    5. Next, select Full Dropbox to access all files and folders or App folder to access specific folder's files and folders option.
    6. Continue by giving your app a name.
    7. Then check I agree to Dropbox API Terms and Conditions checkbox.
    8. Click Create app button.
    9. Once a new page opens, click Enable additional teams and Enable additional users buttons: Configure OAuth app in Dropbox
    10. Then copy App key and App secret and copy paste them into your favorite text editor (you will need them later).
    11. Proceed by setting a Redirect URI and clicking Add button.

      NOTE: If you don't have a working Redirect URI, you can use https://zappysys.com/oauth (it's safe).

    12. Then click on Permissions tab and select application scopes: Set OAuth app permissions in Dropbox
    13. Select all Individual Scopes and Team Scopes if you want to manage team data.
    14. Click Submit button.
    15. Now go to SSIS package or ODBC data source and in User Account authentication set these parameters:
    1. For ClientId field use App key value.
    2. For ClientSecret field use App secret value.
    3. For ReturnUrl field use Redirect URI value.
  6. Done! Now you are ready to use Dropbox Connector!
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
ClientSecret
Scope
RetryMode RetryWhenStatusCodeMatch
RetryStatusCodeList 429
RetryCountMax 5
RetryMultiplyWaitTime True
ODBC DSN Oauth Connection Configuration

  • 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:
    ODBC ZappySys Data Source Preview

  • Click OK to finish creating the data source.

  • Video instructions

    Create Connection in Informatica Workflow Designer

    Once you create DSN using API Driver our next step is to define a connection for DropBox 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 DropBox 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 DropBox connection in Informatica for REST API – Using ZappySys API ODBC Driver

      Configure DropBox 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 DropBox Source Definition in Informatica Mapping Designer

    Now let’s look at steps to import DropBox 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 DropBox 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 DropBox 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).