SAP Crystal Reports OData Connector
In this article you will learn how to integrate Using OData Connector you will be able to connect, read, and write data from within SAP Crystal Reports. Follow the steps below to see how we would accomplish that. Driver mentioned in this article 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. |
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Create ODBC Data Source (DSN) based on ZappySys API Driver
To get data from OData using SAP Crystal Reports we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from OData. We will later be able to read data using SAP Crystal Reports. 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 API Driver
ZappySys API DriverYou 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. -
When the Configuration window appears give your data source a name if you haven't done that already, then select "OData" from the list of Popular Connectors. If "OData" 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:
ODataDSNOData -
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.
Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:
ODataDSNNo Authentication [Http]https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svcRequired Parameters Optional Parameters Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:
ODataDSNWindows Authentication [Http]https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svcRequired Parameters Optional Parameters Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:
ODataDSNBasic Authentication [Http]https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svcRequired Parameters UserName Fill in the parameter... Password Fill in the parameter... Optional Parameters RetryMode Fill in the parameter... RetryStatusCodeList Fill in the parameter... RetryCountMax Fill in the parameter... RetryMultiplyWaitTime Fill in the parameter... Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:
ODataDSNNTLM Authentication [Http]https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svcRequired Parameters UserName (i.e. Domain\UserName) Fill in the parameter... Password Fill in the parameter... Optional Parameters RetryMode Fill in the parameter... RetryStatusCodeList Fill in the parameter... RetryCountMax Fill in the parameter... RetryMultiplyWaitTime Fill in the parameter... Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:
ODataDSNToken Authentication [Http]https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svcRequired Parameters Token Fill in the parameter... Optional Parameters AuthScheme Fill in the parameter... AuthHeader Fill in the parameter... RetryMode Fill in the parameter... RetryStatusCodeList Fill in the parameter... RetryCountMax Fill in the parameter... RetryMultiplyWaitTime Fill in the parameter... Fill in all required parameters and set optional parameters if needed:
ODataDSNOAuth Connection for OData API [OAuth]https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svcRequired Parameters Optional Parameters GrantType Fill in the parameter... OAuthVersion Fill in the parameter... ClientId Fill in the parameter... ClientSecret Fill in the parameter... UserName Fill in the parameter... Password Fill in the parameter... Scope Fill in the parameter... AuthUrl Fill in the parameter... TokenUrl Fill in the parameter... ReturnUrl Fill in the parameter... ExtraAttributesForTokenRequest Fill in the parameter... ExtraAttributesForAuthRequest Fill in the parameter... RetryMode Fill in the parameter... RetryStatusCodeList Fill in the parameter... RetryCountMax Fill in the parameter... RetryMultiplyWaitTime Fill in the parameter... -
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:
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Click OK to finish creating the data source.
Read data in SAP Crystal Reports from the ODBC data source
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First of all, open SAP Crystal Reports and create the new Crystal Report.
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And it will open the new data source selection window. Under ODBC(RDO) double click on the Make New Connection and Select the desired ODBC DSN, in our case we need to select ODataDSN which we created in upper section. And Click on Next.
ODataDSN -
Expand the Connection and under the data select the desired table(s) or view(s) and click Add > button and click on Next.
ODataDSNODataDSN -
Add the desired Fields to Display in the Reports. Here we are adding all fields and click on Finish.
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That's it and you will be able to load the data in the Report.
Using ZappySys Driver Custom Views and Store Procedure in SAP Crystal Report
You can create parameterized Stored Procedure and Virtual Tables on the same Data Source (ODBC DSN or Data Gateway Data Source). Please refer to this article for the same. You can create procedures to encapsulate custom logic and then only pass handful parameters rather than long SQL to execute your API call.Using Custom Views in the SAP Crystal Report
After establishing the connection with ODataDSN Data Source you can use the custom view in SQL Crystal Report.
Using Custom Store Procedure in the SAP Crystal Report
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First of all, create the custom store procedure in the ZappySys Driver. Please refer to this article to create the custom store procedure.
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After establishing the connection with ODataDSN Data Source you can use the custom Store Procedure in SQL Crystal Report. Same way you can write custom queries also in the query box.
ODataDSN
Create Custom Store 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 Store 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 Store Procedure and write the your desired store procedure and Save it and it will create the custom store 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 Store 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 store 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 store 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.
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 store 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 store procedure and provide you the response.
Conclusion
In this article we discussed how to connect to OData in SAP Crystal Reports and integrate data without any coding. Click here to Download OData Connector for SAP Crystal Reports 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).
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Documentation
Actions supported by OData Connector
OData Connector support following actions for REST API integration. If some actions are not listed below then you can easily edit Connector file and enhance out of the box functionality.Parameter | Description |
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TableName |
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TableName |
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Parameter | Description |
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Url |
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Body |
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IsMultiPart |
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Filter |
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Headers |
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Other App Integration scenarios for OData
Other Connectors for SAP Crystal Reports
Download OData Connector for SAP Crystal Reports
Documentation
How to connect OData in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to get OData data in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to read OData data in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to load OData data in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to import OData data in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to pull OData data in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to push data to OData in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to write data to OData in SAP Crystal Reports?
How to POST data to OData in SAP Crystal Reports?
Call OData API in SAP Crystal Reports
Consume OData API in SAP Crystal Reports
OData SAP Crystal Reports Automate
OData SAP Crystal Reports Integration
Integration OData in SAP Crystal Reports
Consume real-time OData data in SAP Crystal Reports
Consume realtime OData API data in SAP Crystal Reports
OData ODBC Driver | ODBC Driver for OData | ODBC OData Driver | SSIS OData Source | SSIS OData Destination
Connect OData in SAP Crystal Reports
Load OData in SAP Crystal Reports
Load OData data in SAP Crystal Reports
Read OData data in SAP Crystal Reports
OData API Call in SAP Crystal Reports