ServiceNow Connector for Informatica
In this article you will learn how to integrate Using ServiceNow 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. 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 ServiceNow in other apps
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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
JSON / 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 ServiceNow 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 ServiceNow / 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 ServiceNow / 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 ServiceNow 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.
- Download Install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack (API Driver for ServiceNow included)
- Install Informatica PowerCenter Client Tools (e.g. Workflow and Mapping Designers)
- 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 ServiceNow data using Informatica (Read ServiceNow API data)
Before we dive deep to learn how to load ServiceNow data in Informatica (i.e. ServiceNow to SQL Table), Here the summary of high-level steps you need to perform to import ServiceNow in Informatica (same steps for Import JSON / XML / REST API).
- Download and Install ZappySys API Driver (for connecting to ServiceNow)
- Create ODBC DSN using ZappySys API driver and choose ServiceNow Connector during Wizard
- Create Relational > ODBC Connection in Informatica Workflow designer (Point to DSN we created in the previous step)
- Import ServiceNow Source Definition in the Informatica Mapping Designer > Sources Tab
- Import Target Table Definition in the Informatica Mapping Designer > Targets Tab
- Create source to target mapping in Mappings tab
- Save mapping (name m_API_to_SQL_Load )
- Create Session using the mapping we created in the previous step
- Save Workflow and execute to load ServiceNow data into SQL Table. Verify your data and log.
Video Tutorial – Read any API / JSON data in Informatica (Load ServiceNow to SQL Table)
Below video is not about ServiceNow 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 ServiceNow to SQL Server in Informatica
Now let’s get started. For example purpose, we will read data from ServiceNow 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 ServiceNow using Informatica we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from ServiceNow. We will later be able to read data using Informatica. 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 "ServiceNow" from the list of Popular Connectors. If "ServiceNow" 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:
ServiceNowDSNServiceNow -
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.
Authenticate using ServiceNow instance username and password
Steps to get ServiceNow Credentials
To get your Instance name, Username and Password:
- Log in into your ServiceNow and go to https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do.
- Click on your profile icon.
- Select your instance.
- Click on "Manage instance password" or similar link.
- In the opened page you should see Instance name, Username and Password.