Azure Blob ODBC Driver (for JSON Files) Azure Blob ODBC Driver for JSON files can be used to read JSON Files stored in Azure Container. Using this driver you can easily integrate Azure Blob data inside SQL Server (T-SQL) or your BI / ETL / Reporting Tools / Programming Languages. Write familiar SQL queries to read data without any coding effort. This driver supports latest security standards, and optimized for large data files. It also supports reading compressed files (e.g. GZip /Zip). This driver is using same high performance data processing engine which was originally developed for JSON Connector in SSIS PowerPack. ODBC PowerPack and SSIS PowerPack, both products share many UI elements and concepts. We wrote many articles to explain various features in one product but concepts are mostly same in both products so hope you can reuse steps explained in different articles even though screenshots /steps may be slightly different. Feature Summary Read JSON files from Azure Blob Container using familiar SQL Query language Integrate insight any ODBC Compliant Reporting / ETL tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, SSRS, Informatica, Excel, SSIS) Support for programming languages such as JAVA, C#, Python, PowerShell and more… Tight integration with Microsoft SQL Server (With support for Gateway Option – No need to install Driver on Server) Familiar SQL Query language support including WHERE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY constructs Support for custom math/ string / datetime / JSON functions in SQL query Language Support for Array Flattening and Complex Transformations for 2D arrays (See this article ) Read single or multiple files (wildcard pattern supported e.g. *.json) Support for reading Zip and Gzip compressed files (stream mode) Support missing columns at the end (Auto fill with null values) Option to pivot data (transform columns into rows)	See also Azure Blob Driver for CSV Files Azure Blob Driver for XML Files Azure Blob Driver for JSON Files FTP / SFTP Driver for JSON Filess JSON File / REST API Driver XML File / SOAP API Driver CSV File / REST API Driver Data Gateway
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Azure Blob JSON ODBC Driver UI

Configure Azure Blob Connection – Azure Blob ODBC Driver for JSON Files

Browse File(s) – Azure Blob File Selection

SQL Query Examples – Azure Blob ODBC Driver for JSON Files

/*--------- Basic Read (API, File, Embedded) Query Single File ---------*/ 
SELECT * FROM $
WITH (SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/cust-1.json')

/*--------- Basic Read (API, File, Embedded) Query Multiple Files ---------*/
SELECT * FROM $ 
WITH (
    SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/cust*-?.json'
    --,RECURSIVE='True' --Include files from sub folder
)

/*--------- Basic Read (API, File, Embedded) Query direct JSON string (embedded inside query) ---------*/ 
SELECT * FROM rows 
WITH 
(DATA='
{          
  rows : [
        {id:1, name: "AAA"}, 
        {id:2, name: "BBB"}, 
        {id:3, name: "CCC"}
  ]
}'
)

/*--------- Functions String Manipulation ---------*/ 
SELECT
substr('ZappySys', 1, 5)
,printf('%s %s %.2f', 'v1',  CompanyName, CompanyId)
,('Str1' ||CompanyName || 'Str2' as  ConcatExample
, upper('ZappySys')
, lower('ZappySys')
, replace('ZappySys', 'Sys', 'XYZ')
, instr( 'ZappySys', 'Sys')
, trim ( '   Zappy Sys  ')  trim1
, trim ( '@@@ZappySys@@@', '@') trim2
, rtrim( '    ZappySys   ')
, ltrim( '    ZappySys   ')
, length (  CompanyName )
FROM $ WITH (
FILTER='$.Info.Rows[*]',
DATA='{ Info: { Rows: [ { CompanyId: 1000 , CompanyName: "ZappySys" }, { CompanyId: 1001 , CompanyName: "Microsoft" } ] } }'
)

/*--------- Functions Control flow ---------*/
SELECT
	COALESCE (10,20) coalesce1  --returns first non-null arg 
    ,COALESCE(null, 20) coalesce2 --returns first non-null arg 
    ,COALESCE(null, 20, 30, 40)  coalesce3 --returns first non-null arg
    ,IFNULL(null,20) --returns first non-null arg. Same function as COALESCE but simple (just two arguments allowed)
    ,NULLIF (20,20) nullif1  --returns null if both argument same
    ,NULLIF (10,20) nullif2 --returns null if both argument same
FROM $ WITH (
FILTER='$.Info.Rows[*]',
DATA='{ Info: { Rows: [ { CompanyId: 1000 , CompanyName: "ZappySys" }, { CompanyId: 1001 , CompanyName: "Microsoft" } ] } }'
)

/*--------- Functions Date/Time ---------*/
SELECT 
 DATE('now') date_now
,STRFTIME('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%f','now') formatted_Date_time
,DATETIME('now') datetime_now
,DATE('now','localtime') datetime_now_local
,TIME('now') time_now
,JULIANDAY('now')
,DATE('now', 'start of month', '+1 month' , '-1 day' ) dt_modify1
,DATE('now', '+5 day') dt_modify2
FROM $ WITH (DATA='{ Info: { Rows: [ { CompanyId: 1000 , CompanyName: "ZappySys" }, { CompanyId: 1001 , CompanyName: "Microsoft" } ] } }'
)

/*--------- Functions Math ---------*/
SELECT
	abs(-500)
    ,random()(1000.236, 2)
    ,round(1000.236, 2) 
FROM $ WITH (DATA='{ Info: { Rows: [ { CompanyId: 1000 , CompanyName: "ZappySys" }, { CompanyId: 1001 , CompanyName: "Microsoft" } ] } }'
)

/*--------- Language Features Group By / Limit / Order By ---------*/
SELECT 
  Country AS Invoice_Country 
,SUM(UnitPrice * Quantity) AS Invoice_Total
FROM $ 
WHERE Discount > 0
 --AND OrderDate<=DATETIME('1997-12-31 00:00:00') -- OR use DATE('1997-12-31') DateTime column can be queried this way. You must wrap DATETIME function around it. Also must use 'yyyy-MM-dd' or 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss'  or 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.fff' format (where fff is milliseconds)
GROUP BY Country
HAVING SUM(UnitPrice * Quantity) > 1000
ORDER BY Invoice_Total DESC --,DATETIME(OrderDate) 
LIMIT 3
WITH (SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/invoices.json')

/*--------- Language Features Case Statement ---------*/
SELECT    
  name 
, CASE id  
 WHEN 1 THEN 1+1 
 WHEN 2 THEN 2+2 
 ELSE 0
 END ThisIsCaseColumn 
FROM rows  $ 
WITH 
(DATA='
{          
  rows : [
        {id:1, name: "AAA"}, 
        {id:2, name: "BBB"}, 
        {id:3, name: "CCC"}
  ]
}'
)

/*--------- Language Features UNION ALL / UNION Statement ---------*/
SELECT * into #tbl1 FROM $ 
WITH (
--enter path in SRC or use static value in DATA
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/api/data.csv'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/some*.csv'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/somefile.csv'

DATA='{ rows : [{id:1, name: "AAA"}, {id:2, name: "BBB"}]}'
);

SELECT * into #tbl2 FROM rows $ 
WITH (DATA='{ rows : [{id:3, name: "CCC"}, {id:4, name: "DDD"}]}');

select * from #tbl1
UNION ALL
select * from #tbl2;

/*--------- Language Features Pivot Value (Columns to Rows) ---------*/
SELECT
  Pivot_Name as ProjectName, 
  Pivot_Value_id as Id, 
  Pivot_Value_code as Code,
  Pivot_Value_budget as Budget
FROM $
WITH(
Filter='$.projects',
--enter path in SRC or use static value in DATA'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/api/data.json'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/some*.json'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/somefile.json'
DATA='
{          
  projects : {
    P101 : {id:1, code: "AAA", budget:1500.10}, 
    P102 : {id:2, code: "BBB", budget:7000.20}, 
    P103 : {id:3, code: "CCC", budget:1100.10}
  }
}
',
EnablePivot='True'
)

/*--------- Functions JSON ---------*/
select 
json_value(j1,"$.V1"),
json_array_first(j2),
json_array_last(j2),
json_array_nth(j2,1)
from array WITH (DATA=
'{"array" : [{"c1": "abc", "c2": "ABC", "j1": "{''V1'':''value1''}", "j2": "[13,22,''31'']"}] }')

/*--------- Array Transformation Query Simple 2D Array ---------*/
SELECT * FROM rows
WITH(
--enter path in SRC or use static value in DATA'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/api/data.json'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/some*.json'
--SRC='zappysys-public-bucket/somefile.json'
DATA='
{
  "columns": ["RecordID","CustomerID","CustomerName"],
  "rows": [ [1,"AAA","Customer A"], [2,"BBB","Customer B"], [3,"CCC","Customer C"] ]
}'
,ArrayTransformType='TransformSimpleTwoDimensionalArray'
,ArrayTransColumnNameFilter='$.columns[*]'
)

ZappySys Data Gateway (ODBC Bridge for SQL Server / JAVA / Linux / Mac)

ZappySys has developed a unique bridge called ZappySys Data Gateway Service (ZSDG) which can help to access our Drivers in SQL Server or JAVA based Apps or Non-Windows OS (e.g. Mac, Linux). ZappySys Data Gateway service can run in the cloud (VM Exposed to internet) or you can install locally on-premises.

Client application can connect to Data Gateway Service using any Microsoft SQL Server compatible driver (i.e. SQL Server ODBC, OLEDB, ADO.net or JDBC Driver or Linked Server in SQL Server). Data Gateway can be installed on the central server where you can have many users who can connect to Data Gateway to use ZappySys Drivers without installing anything on their machine. Data Gateway Service understands TDS Protocol and Client App can be running on any machine or operating system (MacOS, Linux, Windows).

ZappySys Data Gateway – Connect to JSON, XML, OData, REST API, SOAP data sources using TDS protocol compatible drivers (or any SQL Server ODBC, JDBC, OLEDB, ADO.net driver )

Microsoft SQL Server Integration using Data Gateway Service (T-SQL)

Here is one possible use case of using Data Gateway Service. Any DBA or Non-Programmer can start writing T-SQL queries to use ZappySys Drivers (e.g. REST API, JSON, XML, CSV data source) right inside your usual T-SQL code  (You can access data from Salesforce, REST API, JSON, XML, CSV inside Views, Functions or SQL Stored Procedures).

This approach can eliminate any possible ETL work needed to extract data outside of SQL Server, you can start using your existing SQL Skill to achieve previously hard to achieve scenarios without coding.

For many other possible use case of Data Gateway click here.

SQL Server Integration Example – Query REST API / JSON Files / XML Files inside SQL Server using ZappySys Data Gateway Service (Use of Linked Server / OPENQUERY Feature in T-SQL Code / SSMS)

Video Tutorial – Calling ZappySys Drivers inside SQL Server (JSON / REST Driver use case)

Here is a short video to demonstrate a use case of Data Gateway. With this approach you can import data from REST API or any other data source for which ZappySys offers Drivers (e.g. Amazon S3, Azure, SFTP, Salesforce, XML , CSV)

Programming Language Examples

Most programming languages come with out of the box support for ODBC. Which means you can use ZappySys ODBC drivers inside your favorite language. Here are few languages which already support ODBC. We have used JSON Driver / SQL query as an example but concept is same for other drivers too. Refer to help file to learn more about Driver specific Connection String and SQL Query.

• C#
• C++
• JAVA
• Python
• PHP
• PowerShell
• T-SQL (Using Linked Server)

using (OdbcConnection conn = 
            new OdbcConnection("DRIVER ={ZappySys Azure Blob JSON Driver};"))
{
    conn.Open();
    cmd = new OdbcCommand(
@"SELECT 
Country as Invoice_Country, SUM(UnitPrice * Quantity) Total 
FROM value
GROUP BY Country
ORDERBY Total DESC", conn);
 
    var rdr = cmd.ExecuteReader();
    while (rdr.Read())
    {
        Console.WriteLine("---- Fetching Row -------");
        for (i = 0; i < rdr.FieldCount; i++)
        {
            Console.Write("Field {0}={1} ", i, rdr[i]);
        }
        Console.WriteLine("");
    }
}

//Assuming the Microsoft SQL Server JDBC Driver is in below folder
//C:\Program Files\Microsoft JDBC Driver 6.0 for SQL Server\sqljdbc_6.0\enu\auth\x64
private static final String jdbcDriver = "com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerDriver";
 
//The JDBC connection URL to connect to ZappySys Data Gateway Service using SQL Server driver
private static final String jdbcURL = "jdbc:sqlserver://localhost:5000;databasename=master;user=tdsuser;password=tds123;";
 
//Connect to the database
Connection databaseConnection = DriverManager.getConnection(jdbcURL);
System.out.println("Connected to ZappySys Data Gateway Service using Microsoft SQL Server JDBC driver");
 
//declare the statement object
Statement sqlStatement = databaseConnection.createStatement();
 
ResultSet rs = sqlStatement.executeQuery("SELECT Country , SUM(UnitPrice * Quantity) Total " 
	+ "FROM value " 
	+ "GROUP BY Country " 
	+ "WITH (SRC='https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svc/Invoices?$format=json')");
 
while (rs.next()) {
  System.out.println("-----Fetching new row----\n");	
  System.out.println(rs.getString("Country") + "\n");
  //System.out.println(rs.getString("Total") + "\n");
}

#Example of using ODBC driver inside Python using pyodbc library (Read more info about pyodbc from below)
#https://github.com/mkleehammer/pyodbc/wiki

import pyodbc 
 
#connect to api service using ZappySys ODBC driver for JSON

#Use DSN 
#conn = pyodbc.connect(r'DSN=MyZappyDsnName;')

# OR Use direct connection string 
conn = pyodbc.connect(
    r'DRIVER={ZappySys Azure Blob JSON Driver};'
    )
cursor = cnxn.cursor()	
 
#execute query to fetch data from API service
cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM value ORDER BY Country WITH (SRC='https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svc/Invoices?$format=json')") 
row = cursor.fetchone() 
while row: 
    print row[0] 
    row = cursor.fetchone()

echo "Example of using ZappySys ODBC Driver in PHP\n";
 
$conn = odbc_connect("DRIVER={ZappySys Azure Blob JSON Driver};", "", "");
$sql = "SELECT * FROM value ORDER BY Country WITH (SRC='https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svc/Invoices?$format=json')";
$rs = odbc_exec($conn,$sql);
 
echo "Fetching first row....\n";
odbc_fetch_row($rs);
echo "Country=" . odbc_result($rs,"Country") . "\n";
 
echo "Closing connection ....\n";
odbc_close($conn);

$conn = New-Object System.Data.Odbc.OdbcConnection
$conn.ConnectionString = "DRIVER={ZappySys Azure Blob JSON Driver}"
 
#--OR-- Use DSN name
#$conn.connectionstring = "DSN=MyDSNName"
 
$conn.Open()
 
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# In powershell $ is special char so we used `$ in below string to escape it. 
# Also We used multi string start with "@<new line> and ends with <new line>"@
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$sql = 
@"
SELECT * FROM value 
WITH (SRC='https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svc/Customers?`$format=json')
"@
 
$cmd = $conn.CreateCommand()
$cmd.CommandText = $sql
 
$dataset = New-Object System.Data.DataSet
#Load data in DataSet
(New-Object System.Data.Odbc.OdbcDataAdapter($cmd)).Fill($dataSet)
 
#Export datatable to file in CSV format
$dataset.Tables[0] | ConvertTo-csv -NoTypeInformation -Delimiter "`t" | Out-File "c:\temp\dump.csv" -fo
 
Write-Host "Total rows $($dataSet.Tables[0].Rows.Count)"
$conn.Close()