DropBox Connector for ODBC

In this article you will learn how to integrate DropBox data in ODBC 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 ODBC. Follow the steps below to see how we would accomplish that.

Download Documentation

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

Step-by-step instructions

To get data from DropBox using ODBC we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from DropBox. We will later be able to read data using ODBC. 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