JSON File Connector for UiPath
In this article you will learn how to integrate Using JSON File Connector you will be able to connect, read, and write data from within UiPath. Follow the steps below to see how we would accomplish that. The driver mentioned above is part of ODBC PowerPack which is a collection of high-performance Drivers for various API data source (i.e. REST API, JSON, XML, CSV, Amazon S3 and many more). Using familiar SQL query language you can make live connections and read/write data from API sources or JSON / XML / CSV Files inside SQL Server (T-SQL) or your favorite Reporting (i.e. Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, SSRS, MicroStrategy, Excel, MS Access), ETL Tools (i.e. Informatica, Talend, Pentaho, SSIS). You can also call our drivers from programming languages such as JAVA, C#, Python, PowerShell etc. If you are new to ODBC and ZappySys ODBC PowerPack then check the following links to get started. |
Connect to JSON File in other apps
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Create ODBC Data Source (DSN) based on ZappySys JSON Driver
Step-by-step instructions
To get data from JSON File using UiPath we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from JSON File. We will later be able to read data using UiPath. Perform these steps:
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Install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack.
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Open ODBC Data Sources (x64):
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Create a User Data Source (User DSN) based on ZappySys JSON Driver
ZappySys JSON 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. -
You can use pass single file or multiple file path using wildcard pattern in path and you can use select single file by clicking [...] path button or multiple file using wildcard pattern in path.
Note: If you want to operation with multiple files then use wild card pattern as below (when you use wild card pattern in source path then system will treat target path as folder regardless you end with slash) C:\SSIS\Test\reponse.json (will read only single reponse.json file) C:\SSIS\Test\j*.json (all files starting with file name) C:\SSIS\Test\*.json (all files with .json Extension and located under folder subfolder)
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Now enter JSONPath expression in Array Filter textbox to extract only specific part of JSON file as below ($.value[*] will get content of value attribute from JSON document. Value attribute is array of JSON documents so we have to use [*] to indicate we want all records of that array)
NOTE: Here, We are using our desired filter, but you need to select your desired filter based on your requirement.
Click on Test Connection button to view whether the Test Connection is SUCCESSFUL or Not.$.value[*]
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Once you configured a data source, you can preview data. Hit Preview tab, and use similar settings to preview data:
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Click OK to finish creating the data source
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That's it; we are done. In a few clicks we configured the call to JSON File using ZappySys JSON File Connector
Video instructions
Read JSON File data in UiPath Studio (workstation)
Here we will be reading JSON File data on your workstation. To accomplish that we will create and run UiPath process package locally. Later on, we'll explore how to publish the package to Orchestrator and run it remotely. For now, let's focus on working locally and get started!
- Open UiPath Studio.
- Before we really begin the work, make sure UiPath Studio is set as your profile (blue application icon).
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In case, it is set to UiPath StudioX, you can change it in UiPath StudioX Settings:
Simply select UiPath Studio option:
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Start by creating a new project based on UiPath Process template:
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Add Run Query activity in Main Sequence box:
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Click Configure Connection... button to create an ODBC connection:
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Continue by clicking Connection Wizard:
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When the window opens, select ODBC-based driver, provider, and then choose ODBC data source:
JsonFileDSNJsonFileDSN
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. -
Once you do that, it's time to configure a SQL query:
Make sure, you enclose the query in double quotes! -
Proceed by adding a Write CSV activity after Run Query:
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. -
Once you do that, configure the added Write CSV, this will write JSON File data to a CSV file:
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It's time for fun! Which means it's time for debugging! Just run the package locally to debug:
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Finally, ensure there are no execution errors!
Run UiPath package using Orchestrator (via robot)
UiPath also offers the ability to execute packages remotely using Orchestrator and a robot. This is achieved by publishing the package to UiPath Orchestrator, installing UiPath Assistant on the remote machine, connecting it to Orchestrator, enabling us to run the package remotely. It may sound complicated at first glance, but further steps will clear things out. Let's not waste our precious time and delve into the details!
Publish process package from UiPath Studio
- First of all, open the UiPath process package we created in the previous step
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Set the option that our process package Starts in Background:
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We are ready to Publish it:
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Make sure, you publish it to the Shared folder in UiPath Orchestrator Tenant workspace:
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Finally, success! We are ready for the next step - creating UiPath robot - so we can automate the job:
Create robot in UiPath Orchestrator
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First of all, let's open UiPath Orchestrator from UiPath Automation Cloud console:
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It's time to create a robot, which will run unattended packages:
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But first we have to create a runtime. Choose to host our robot on-premise, not in UiPath infrastructure:
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Let's move along and Create new machine template, this will create a machine in UiPath Orchestrator:
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Configure the machine to run in Production environment:
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We are ready to Create new robot account in the new machine:
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Let's make our robot to work only on background automations:
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Continue by selecting newly created robot:
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Select Shared folder, so that everyone in the team can benefit from it:
This is the folder where we published our UiPath process package "MyProcess" -
We are almost done!
We are given machine Client ID and Client secret which we will use to connect UiPath Assistant to our created machine in Orchestrator.
Let's leave this open for a while and see how we can do it in the next step.
Connect UiPath Assistant to Orchestrator
We are ready to connect UiPath Assistant to the machine we created in Orchestrator. UiPath Assistant will run our package in a remote machine. Let's connect it and give it some work!
- Connect to a remote machine (where your UiPath process package will be running).
- Install UiPath Studio there.
- Then configure ODBC data source:
If you chose Use user or system data source option in connection configuration, when creating UiPath process package, then create an identical ODBC data source on the same remote machine. Use the same configuration as the one created in your workstation in the first step.
Use Copy Settings and Load Settings buttons to make your life easier. They will help you to transfer settings between different ODBC data sources.If you chose Use connection string option, then you don't have to do anything. However, you still have to install ODBC PowerPack on the remote machine.
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Continue by opening UiPath Assistant and going to Preferences:
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Find Orchestrator Settings menu item and click it:
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And here even bigger fun begins! But fear not, all you have to do is open your web browser window with Client ID & Client secret we obtained in the previous step and simply copy and paste those values into UiPath Assistant. Also, don't forget to configure Orchestrator URL:
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Finally, we get rewarded for the hard work with the Connected as Unattended status:
Create and run UiPath process in Orchestrator
We are at the finish line! Let's create and run UiPath process. This will execute the package on your remote machine using the UiPath Assistant configured earlier.
- First of all, open UiPath Orchestrator from UiPath Automation Cloud console.
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Then proceed by going to Process in Shared folder:
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Continue by simply clicking on Add process button:
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Select the process package we created in UiPath Studio:
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Rest a while, and just hit Next, unless your package has requirements:
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Then simply hit Create button:
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But let's not stop here and Start the process by creating a job right away:
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Use the same Production runtime we created before and hit Start:
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We've reached the final step! In the CSV destination file or destination of your choice you should see JSON File data:
Advanced topics
Create Custom Stored Procedure in ZappySys Driver
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
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Go to Custom Objects Tab and Click on Add button and Select Add Procedure:
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Enter the desired Procedure name and click on OK:
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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>';
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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';
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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([MY_API_SERVICE], 'EXEC usp_get_orders @fromdate=''1996-07-30''')
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Now go to SQL served and execute that query and it will make the API call using stored procedure and provide you the response.
Create Custom Virtual Table in ZappySys Driver
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.
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Go to Custom Objects Tab and Click on Add button and Select Add Table:
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Enter the desired Table name and click on OK:
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And it will open the New Query Window Click on Cancel to close that window and go to Custom Objects Tab.
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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'
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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"
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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([MY_API_SERVICE], 'EXEC [usp_get_orders] ''1996-01-01''')
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Now go to SQL served and execute that query and it will make the API call using stored procedure and provide you the response.
Conclusion
In this article we discussed how to connect to JSON File in UiPath and integrate data without any coding. Click here to Download JSON File Connector for UiPath and try yourself see how easy it is. If you still have any question(s) then ask here or simply click on live chat icon below and ask our expert (see bottom-right corner of this page).
Download JSON File Connector for UiPath
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