Build Semantic Layer Views for Amazon Marketplace Data in APOS Live Data Gateway

APOS Live Data Gateway (LDG) is a data connection and data transformation solution that enables live data connectivity and expanded data source options for SAP Analytics Cloud and other SAP solutions. When paired with CData Connectors, users can build semantic layer views for live Amazon Marketplace data, enabling real-time analytics on Amazon Marketplace just like working with a relational database.

With built-in optimized data processing, the CData Connector offers unmatched performance for interacting with live Amazon Marketplace data. When you issue complex SQL queries to Amazon Marketplace, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Amazon Marketplace and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations client-side (often SQL functions and JOIN operations). Its built-in dynamic metadata querying allows you to work with and analyze Amazon Marketplace data using native data types.

Download and Install the Connector Files

In order to access Amazon Marketplace data through the APOS Live Data Gateway, you will need to download the connector files from APOS and install them on the machine hosting the Live Data Gateway. An APOS representative can deliver the necessary files.

• Install the CData DLL file (System.Data.CData.AmazonMarketplace.dll) to the APOS Live Data Gateway installation directory (C:\Program Files\Live Data Gateway\Admin\ by default).
• Install the CData JAR file (cdata.jdbc.amazonmarketplace.jar) to the ConnectionTest_lib folder in the installation directory (C:\Program Files\Live Data Gateway\Admin\ConnectionTest_lib\ by default).
• Install the CData JAR file (cdata.jdbc.amazonmarketplace.jar) to the lib folder in the Web UI installation directory (e.g.: C:\LDG_WebUI\lib\)

Configuring the Amazon Marketplace Connection String

Before establishing the connection to Amazon Marketplace from the APOS Live Data Gateway, you need to configure the Amazon Marketplace JDBC Connection String.

Built-in Connection String Designer

For assistance in constructing the JDBC Connection String, use the connection string designer built into the Amazon Marketplace JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

To connect to the Amazon Marketplace Webservice (MWS), AWSAccessKeyId, MWSAuthToken, AWSSecretKey and SellerId are required. You can optionally set the Marketplace property. For more information on obtaining values for these properties, refer to the Help documentation.

Your connection string will look similar to the following:

Connecting to Amazon Marketplace & Creating a Semantic Layer View

After installing the connector files and configuring the connection string, you are ready to connect to Amazon Marketplace in the Live Data Gateway Admin tool and build a semantic layer view in the Live Data Gateway Web UI.

Configuring the Connection to Amazon Marketplace

1. Log into your APOS Live Data Gateway Manager
2. If you haven't already, update your APOS LDG license file
   1. Click File -> Configurations
   2. Click on the "..." Menu for the License
   3. Select the license file from the APOS team that includes your CData Connector license
3. In the APOS Live Data Gateway Manager, click "Add"
4. In the APOS Live Data Gateway On the Connection tab, configure the connection:
   • Set Data Source to "Database"
   • Set Database to "CData Drivers"
   • Set Database CData Drivers to "Amazon Marketplace"
   • Set Connection String to the connection string configured earlier (e.g.: jdbc:AmazonMarketplace:AWS Access Key Id=myAWSAccessKeyId;AWS Secret Key=myAWSSecretKey;MWS Auth Token=myMWSAuthToken;Seller Id=mySellerId;Marketplace=United States;
   • Set Driver Class to "cdata.jdbc.amazonmarketplace.AmazonMarketplaceDriver" (this should be set by default)
5. Click Test Connection
6. Click Save
7. Give your connection a unique prefix (e.g. "amazonmarketplace")
8. Highlight the newly created connection and click File -> "Approve Users For Web UI"
9. Approve the appropriate DB users to create views and click "Save"

At this point, we are ready to build our semantic layer view in the Live Data Gateway Web UI.

Creating a Semantic Layer View

1. In your browser, navigate to the APOS Live Data Gateway Portal
2. Select a Connection (e.g. "amazonmarketplace")
3. Since Amazon Marketplace does not require a User or Password to authenticate, you may use whatever values you wish for User Name and Password
4. Click "Login"
5. Once connected, click "Semantic Layer" to create a new semantic layer view
6. Click "New Semantic Layer View"
7. Set the Semantic Layer View Prefix and Semantic Layer View Name
8. Click "Step 2"
9. Select the table(s) and column(s) you wish to include in your view
10. Click "Step 3"
11. Select the Measures from the available table columns
12. Click "Step 5" (we skipped the "Extra Dimensions" step)
13. Add any Variable Prompts
14. Click "Step 6"
15. Define any Table Joins
16. Click "Review"
17. Review you semantic layer view and click "Save"

With the Semantic Layer View created, you are ready to access your Amazon Marketplace data through the APOS Live Data Gateway, enabling real-time data connectivity to Amazon Marketplace data from SAP Analytics Cloud and other SAP solutions.

More Information & Free Evaluation

Please visit APOS Systems - APOS Solutions - Request Evaluation Software to request evaluation software or email info@apos.com for more information on working with your live Amazon Marketplace data in APOS Live Data Gateway.