Google BigQuery Connector for MS Access

Read / write Google BigQuery data inside your app without coding using easy to use high performance API Connector

In this article you will learn how to quickly and efficiently integrate Google BigQuery data in MS Access without coding. We will use high-performance Google BigQuery Connector to easily connect to Google BigQuery and then access the data inside MS Access.

Let's follow the steps below to see how we can accomplish that!

Download Documentation

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

Step-by-step instructions

To get data from Google BigQuery using MS Access we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from Google BigQuery. We will later be able to read data using MS Access. Perform these steps:

  1. Download and install 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
    • Create and use User DSN if the client application is run under a User Account. This is an ideal option in design-time, when developing a solution, e.g. in Visual Studio 2019. Use it for both type of applications - 64-bit and 32-bit.
    • Create and use System DSN if the client application is launched under a System Account, e.g. as a Windows Service. Usually, this is an ideal option to use in a production environment. Use ODBC Data Source Administrator (32-bit), instead of 64-bit version, if Windows Service is a 32-bit application.
  4. When the Configuration window appears give your data source a name if you haven't done that already, then select "Google BigQuery" from the list of Popular Connectors. If "Google BigQuery" 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:

    GoogleBigqueryDSN
    Google BigQuery
    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.

    User accounts represent a developer, administrator, or any other person who interacts with Google APIs and services. User accounts are managed as Google Accounts, either with Google Workspace or Cloud Identity. They can also be user accounts that are managed by a third-party identity provider and federated with Workforce Identity Federation. [API reference]

    Steps how to get and use Google BigQuery credentials

    Follow these steps on how to create Client Credentials (User Account principle) to authenticate and access BigQuery API in SSIS package or ODBC data source:

    WARNING: If you are planning to automate processes, we recommend that you use a Service Account authentication method. In case, you still need to use User Account, then make sure you use a system/generic account (e.g. automation@my-company.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 start to fail.

    Step-1: Create project

    This step is optional, if you already have a project in Google Cloud and can use it. However, if you don't, proceed with these simple steps to create one:

    1. First of all, go to Google API Console.

    2. Then click Select a project button and then click NEW PROJECT button:

      Start creating a new project in Google Cloud
    3. Name your project and click CREATE button:

      Create a new project in Google Cloud
    4. Wait until the project is created:

      Wait until project is created in Google Cloud
    5. Done! Let's proceed to the next step.

    Step-2: Enable Google Cloud APIs

    In this step we will enable BigQuery API and Cloud Resource Manager API:

    1. Select your project on the top bar:

      Select project in Google Cloud
    2. Then click the "hamburger" icon on the top left and access APIs & Services:

      Access APIs and services in Google Cloud
    3. Now let's enable several APIs by clicking ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES button:

      Enable API for project in Google Cloud
    4. In the search bar search for bigquery api and then locate and select BigQuery API:

      Search for API in Google Cloud
    5. If BigQuery API is not enabled, enable it:

      Enable Google BigQuery API
    6. Then repeat the step and enable Cloud Resource Manager API as well:

      Enable Cloud Resource Manager API
    7. Done! Let's proceed to the next step.

    Step-3: Create OAuth application

    1. First of all, click the "hamburger" icon on the top left and then hit VIEW ALL PRODUCTS:

      View all products in Google Cloud
    2. Then access Google Auth Platform to start creating an OAuth application:

      Open Google Auth Platform in Google Cloud
    3. Start by pressing GET STARTED button:

      Start creating an app in Google Cloud
    4. Next, continue by filling in App name and User support email fields:

      Fill app info in Google Cloud
    5. Choose Internal option, if it's enabled, otherwise select External:

      Choose app audience in Google Cloud
    6. Optional step if you used Internal option in the previous step. Nevertheless, if you had to use External option, then click ADD USERS to add a user:

      Add test user in Google Cloud app
    7. Then add your contact Email address:

      Enter app contact info in Google Cloud
    8. Finally, check the checkbox and click CREATE button:

      Create app in Google Cloud
    9. Done! Let's create Client Credentials in the next step.

    Step-4: Create Client Credentials

    1. In Google Auth Platform, select Clients menu item and click CREATE CLIENT button:

      Start creating app client in Google Cloud
    2. Choose Desktop app as Application type and name your credentials:

      Create OAuth app client in Google Cloud
    3. Continue by opening the created credentials:

      View app client credentials in Google Cloud
    4. Finally, copy Client ID and Client secret for the later step:

      Use client ID and secret to read Google REST API data
    5. Done! We have all the data needed for authentication, let's proceed to the last step!

    Step-5: Configure connection

    1. Now go to SSIS package or ODBC data source and use previously copied values in User Account authentication configuration:

      • In the ClientId field paste the Client ID value.
      • In the ClientSecret field paste the Client secret value.
    2. Press Generate Token button to generate Access and Refresh Tokens.

    3. Then choose ProjectId from the drop down menu.

    4. Continue by choosing DatasetId from the drop down menu.

    5. Finally, click Test Connection to confirm the connection is working.

    6. Done! Now you are ready to use Google BigQuery Connector!

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

    GoogleBigqueryDSN
    Google BigQuery
    User Account [OAuth]
    https://www.googleapis.com/bigquery/v2
    Required Parameters
    UseCustomApp Fill-in the parameter...
    ProjectId (Choose after [Generate Token] clicked) Fill-in the parameter...
    DatasetId (Choose after [Generate Token] clicked and ProjectId selected) Fill-in the parameter...
    Optional Parameters
    ClientId
    ClientSecret
    Scope https://www.googleapis.com/auth/bigquery https://www.googleapis.com/auth/bigquery.insertdata https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-platform https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-platform.read-only https://www.googleapis.com/auth/devstorage.full_control https://www.googleapis.com/auth/devstorage.read_only https://www.googleapis.com/auth/devstorage.read_write
    RetryMode RetryWhenStatusCodeMatch
    RetryStatusCodeList 429|503
    RetryCountMax 5
    RetryMultiplyWaitTime True
    Job Location
    Redirect URL (Only for Web App)
    ODBC DSN Oauth Connection Configuration

    Service accounts are accounts that do not represent a human user. They provide a way to manage authentication and authorization when a human is not directly involved, such as when an application needs to access Google Cloud resources. Service accounts are managed by IAM. [API reference]

    Steps how to get and use Google BigQuery credentials

    Follow these steps on how to create Service Account to authenticate and access BigQuery API in SSIS package or ODBC data source:

    Step-1: Create project

    This step is optional, if you already have a project in Google Cloud and can use it. However, if you don't, proceed with these simple steps to create one:

    1. First of all, go to Google API Console.

    2. Then click Select a project button and then click NEW PROJECT button:

      Start creating a new project in Google Cloud
    3. Name your project and click CREATE button:

      Create a new project in Google Cloud
    4. Wait until the project is created:

      Wait until project is created in Google Cloud
    5. Done! Let's proceed to the next step.

    Step-2: Enable Google Cloud APIs

    In this step we will enable BigQuery API and Cloud Resource Manager API:

    1. Select your project on the top bar:

      Select project in Google Cloud
    2. Then click the "hamburger" icon on the top left and access APIs & Services:

      Access APIs and services in Google Cloud
    3. Now let's enable several APIs by clicking ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES button:

      Enable API for project in Google Cloud
    4. In the search bar search for bigquery api and then locate and select BigQuery API:

      Search for API in Google Cloud
    5. If BigQuery API is not enabled, enable it:

      Enable Google BigQuery API
    6. Then repeat the step and enable Cloud Resource Manager API as well:

      Enable Cloud Resource Manager API
    7. Done! Let's proceed to the next step and create a service account.

    Step-3: Create Service Account

    Use the steps below to create a Service Account in Google Cloud:

    1. First of all, go to IAM & Admin in Google Cloud console:

      Access IAM & Admin in Google Cloud
    2. Once you do that, click Service Accounts on the left side and click CREATE SERVICE ACCOUNT button:

      Start creating service account in Google Cloud
    3. Then name your service account and click CREATE AND CONTINUE button:

      Create service account in Google Cloud
    4. Continue by clicking Select a role dropdown and start granting service account BigQuery Admin and Project Viewer roles:

      Start granting service account project roles in Google Cloud
    5. Find BigQuery group on the left and then click on BigQuery Admin role on the right:

      Grant service account BigQuery Admin role
    6. Then click ADD ANOTHER ROLE button, find Project group and select Viewer role:

      Grant service account project viewer role
    7. Finish adding roles by clicking CONTINUE button:

      Finish granting service account project roles in Google Cloud
      You can always add or modify permissions later in IAM & Admin.
    8. Finally, in the last step, just click button DONE:

      Finish configuring service account in Google Cloud
    9. Done! We are ready to add a Key to this service account in the next step.

    Step-4: Add Key to Service Account

    We are ready to add a Key (JSON or P12 key file) to the created Service Account:

    1. In Service Accounts open newly created service account:

      Open service account in Google Cloud
    2. Next, copy email address of your service account for the later step:

      Copy service account email address in Google Cloud
    3. Continue by selecting KEYS tab, then press ADD KEY dropdown, and click Create new key menu item:

      Start creating key for service account in Google Cloud
    4. Finally, select JSON (Engine v19+) or P12 option and hit CREATE button:

      Create JSON or P12 key for service account in Google Cloud
    5. Key file downloads into your machine. We have all the data needed for authentication, let's proceed to the last step!

    Step-5: Configure connection

    1. Now go to SSIS package or ODBC data source and configure these fields in Service Account authentication configuration:

      • In the Service Account Email field paste the service account Email address value you copied in the previous step.
      • In the Service Account Private Key Path (i.e. *.json OR *.p12) field use downloaded certificate's file path.
    2. Done! Now you are ready to use Google BigQuery Connector!

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

    GoogleBigqueryDSN
    Google BigQuery
    Service Account [OAuth]
    https://www.googleapis.com/bigquery/v2
    Required Parameters
    Service Account Email Fill-in the parameter...
    Service Account Private Key Path (i.e. *.json OR *.p12) Fill-in the parameter...
    ProjectId Fill-in the parameter...
    DatasetId (Choose after ProjectId) Fill-in the parameter...
    Optional Parameters
    Scope https://www.googleapis.com/auth/bigquery https://www.googleapis.com/auth/bigquery.insertdata https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-platform https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-platform.read-only https://www.googleapis.com/auth/devstorage.full_control https://www.googleapis.com/auth/devstorage.read_only https://www.googleapis.com/auth/devstorage.read_write
    RetryMode RetryWhenStatusCodeMatch
    RetryStatusCodeList 429
    RetryCountMax 5
    RetryMultiplyWaitTime True
    Job Location
    Impersonate As (Enter Email Id)
    ODBC DSN Oauth Connection Configuration

  6. Once the data source connection has been configured, it's time to configure the SQL query. Select the Preview tab and then click Query Builder button to configure the SQL query:

    ZappySys API Driver - Google BigQuery
    Read / write Google BigQuery data inside your app without coding using easy to use high performance API Connector
    GoogleBigqueryDSN
    Open Query Builder in API ODBC Driver to read and write data to REST API
  7. Start by selecting the Table or Endpoint you are interested in and then configure the parameters. This will generate a query that we will use in MS Access to retrieve data from Google BigQuery. Hit OK button to use this query in the next step.

    #DirectSQL SELECT * FROM bigquery-public-data.samples.wikipedia LIMIT 1000 /* try your own dataset or Some FREE dataset like nyc-tlc.yellow.trips -- 3 parts ([Project.]Dataset.Table) */
    Configure table/endpoint parameters in ODBC data source based on API Driver
    Some parameters configured in this window will be passed to the Google BigQuery API, e.g. filtering parameters. It means that filtering will be done on the server side (instead of the client side), enabling you to get only the meaningful data much faster.
  8. Now hit Preview Data button to preview the data using the generated SQL query. If you are satisfied with the result, use this query in MS Access:

    ZappySys API Driver - Google BigQuery
    Read / write Google BigQuery data inside your app without coding using easy to use high performance API Connector
    GoogleBigqueryDSN
    #DirectSQL SELECT * FROM bigquery-public-data.samples.wikipedia LIMIT 1000 /* try your own dataset or Some FREE dataset like nyc-tlc.yellow.trips -- 3 parts ([Project.]Dataset.Table) */
    API ODBC Driver-based data source data preview
    You can also access data quickly from the tables dropdown by selecting <Select table>.
    A WHERE clause, LIMIT keyword will be performed on the client side, meaning that the whole result set will be retrieved from the Google BigQuery API first, and only then the filtering will be applied to the data. If possible, it is recommended to use parameters in Query Builder to filter the data on the server side (in Google BigQuery servers).
  9. Click OK to finish creating the data source.

Video Tutorial

Read data in Microsoft Access from the ODBC data source

  1. First of all, open MS Access and create a new MS Access database.

  2. In the next step, start loading ODBC data source we created: Load ODBC data source

  3. Then click next until data source selection window appears. Select the data source we created in one of the previous steps and hit OK:

    GoogleBigqueryDSN
    DSN selection

  4. Continue with tables and views selection. You can extract multiple tables or views:
    DSN Table Selection

  5. Finally, wait while data is being loaded and once done you should see a similar view: In Access DSN Data Loaded

Using Linked Table for Live Data (Slow)

Linked tables in Microsoft Access are crucial for online databases because they enable real-time access to centralized data, support scalability, facilitate collaboration, enhance data security, ease maintenance tasks, and allow integration with external systems. They provide a flexible and efficient way to work with data stored in online databases, promoting cross-platform compatibility and reducing the need for data duplication.

  1. Real-Time Data Access:
    Access can interact directly with live data in online databases, ensuring that users always work with the most up-to-date information.
  2. Centralized Data Management:
    Online databases serve as a centralized repository, enabling efficient management of data from various locations.
  3. Ease of Maintenance:
    Updates or modifications to the online database structure are automatically reflected in Access, streamlining maintenance tasks.
  4. Adaptability to Changing Requirements:
    Linked tables provide flexibility, allowing easy adaptation to changing data storage needs or migration to different online database systems.

Let's create the linked table.

  1. Launch Microsoft Access and open the database where you want to create the linked table.

  2. Go to the "External Data" tab on the Ribbon. >> "New Data Source" >> "From Other Sources" >> "ODBC Database" Load ODBC data source

  3. Select the option "Link to Data Source by creating a linked table: Load ODBC data source

  4. Continue by clicking 'Next' until the Data Source Selection window appears. Navigate to the Machine Data Source tab and select the desired data source established in one of the earlier steps. Click 'OK' to confirm your selection.

    GoogleBigqueryDSN
    DSN selection

  5. Proceed to the selection of Tables and Views. You have the option to extract multiple tables or views:
    DSN Table Selection

  6. When prompted to select Unique Key column DO NOT select any column(s) and just click OK: MS Access Linked Table - Key selection

  7. Finally, Simply double-click the newly created Linked Table to load the data: MS Access Linked Table

Guide to Effectively Addressing Known Issues

Discover effective strategies to address known issues efficiently in this guide. Get solutions and practical tips to streamline troubleshooting and enhance system performance, ensuring a smoother user experience.

Fewer Rows Imported

The reason for this is that MS Access has a default query timeout of 60 seconds, which means it stops fetching data if the query takes longer than that. As a result, only a limited number of rows are fetched within this time frame.

To address this, we can adjust the Query Timeout by following the steps below.
WOW6432NodeODBCQueryTimeout

The path may vary depending on the MS Access bitness, such as 32-bit versus 64-bit.

\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\ODBC
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\ODBC
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\REGISTRY\MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Access Connectivity Engine\Engines\ODBC

We can identify this issue by examining the Fiddler Log, as MS Access doesn't display any error regarding partial import, which is quite unusual

Please refer to this link : How to use Fiddler to analyze HTTP web requests
fiddlerlogs

#Deleted word appears for column value in MS Access for Linked Table mode

If you used Linked Table mode to get external data and it shows #deleted word rather than actual value for column after you open then most likely its following issue.

Make sure to re-create Linked Table and DO NOT select any key column when prompted (Just click OK) MS Access Linked Table Mode - #Deleted Error
How to Fix
MS Access Linked Table Mode - Do not select Key column

Table Selection UI Opening Delays

The Table selection UI takes a significant amount of time to open after clicking the 'New Data Source' -> 'Other Data Sources' -> 'ODBC'

The reason for this issue is that MS Access sends a dummy query, leading to several unnecessary pagination cycles before an error is thrown. To mitigate this, we can prevent wasted cycles by configuring the 'Throw error if no match' setting on the Filter Options Tab.
Throw error if no match

Enhancing Performance through Metadata Addition (Reduces Query Time)

We can optimize query performance by creating Virtual Tables (i.e. views with custom SQL) on Datasource and incorporating META=static columns. Learn how to capture static metadata in this guide.
Performance Options - Generate Metadata Manually

Execute the query initially, save the metadata by selecting 'Save to Meta' (choose Compact Format), and then click 'Save to Clipboard.' Utilize the resulting list by pasting it into the META attribute as follows: 'META=paste here.'
Generate Metadata in ZappySys ODBC Drivers

SELECT * FROM products
    WITH(
        META='id:String(20); title:String(100);  description:String(500);'
    )

Optimize Workflow with Automated Import

Employ Automated Import when Linked Tables are not feasible, and we need to depend on Imported Tables with static data.

While using Linked Tables sometime it encounter errors, and we are left with no alternative but to utilize Imported Tables, Automatic Refresh becomes crucial in such scenarios.

Here's a guide on automating refreshes. We can set up automatic refresh on different events, such as when the database opens, a form is opened, or a button is clicked.

To initiate the import process, follow these steps:

  • Perform the data import using the standard manual steps.
  • In the final step, we'll encounter a checkbox labeled 'Save Import Steps.' Ensure to check this option.
  • After saving the steps, we can locate their name in the Save Imports UI. Identify the name associated with the saved steps.
  • "Now, we can execute the code as shown below:"
Private Sub cmdYes_Click()
    Label0.Visible = True
    DoCmd.RunSavedImportExport "Import-DATA.products"
    Label0.Visible = False
End Sub

Actions supported by Google BigQuery Connector

Learn how to perform common Google BigQuery actions directly in MS Access with these how-to guides:

Conclusion

In this article we showed you how to connect to Google BigQuery in MS Access and integrate data without any coding, saving you time and effort. It's worth noting that ZappySys API Driver allows you to connect not only to Google BigQuery, but to any Java application that supports JDBC (just use a different JDBC driver and configure it appropriately).

We encourage you to download Google BigQuery Connector for MS Access and see how easy it is to use it for yourself or your team.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact ZappySys support team. You can also open a live chat immediately by clicking on the chat icon below.

Download Google BigQuery Connector for MS Access Documentation

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