How to Connect DBeaver to BigQuery via a JDBC Driver



Manage BigQuery data with visual tools in DBeaver like the query browser.

The CData JDBC Driver for Google BigQuery implements JDBC standards that enable third-party tools to interoperate, from wizards in IDEs to business intelligence tools. This article shows how to connect to BigQuery data with wizards in DBeaver and browse data in the DBeaver GUI.

About BigQuery Data Integration

CData simplifies access and integration of live Google BigQuery data. Our customers leverage CData connectivity to:

  • Simplify access to BigQuery with broad out-of-the-box support for authentication schemes, including OAuth, OAuth JWT, and GCP Instance.
  • Enhance data workflows with Bi-directional data access between BigQuery and other applications.
  • Perform key BigQuery actions like starting, retrieving, and canceling jobs; deleting tables; or insert job loads through SQL stored procedures.

Most CData customers are using Google BigQuery as their data warehouse and so use CData solutions to migrate business data from separate sources into BigQuery for comprehensive analytics. Other customers use our connectivity to analyze and report on their Google BigQuery data, with many customers using both solutions.

For more details on how CData enhances your Google BigQuery experience, check out our blog post: https://www.cdata.com/blog/what-is-bigquery


Getting Started


Create a JDBC Data Source for BigQuery Data

Follow the steps below to load the driver JAR in DBeaver.

  1. Open the DBeaver application and, in the "Database" menu, select the "Driver Manager" option. Click "New" to open the "Create new driver" form.
  2. In the Settings tab:
    • Set Driver Name to a user-friendly name for the driver (e.g. CData JDBC Driver for Google BigQuery).
    • Set Class Name to the class name for the JDBC driver: cdata.jdbc.googlebigquery.GoogleBigQueryDriver.
    • Set URL Template to jdbc:googlebigquery:.
  3. In the Libraries tab, click "Add File," navigate to the "lib" folder in the installation directory (C:\Program Files\CData[product_name] XXXX\) and select the JAR file (cdata.jdbc.GoogleBigQuery.jar).

Create a Connection to BigQuery Data

Follow the steps below to add credentials and other required connection properties.

  1. In the "Database" menu, click "New Database Connection."
  2. In the "Connect to a database" wizard that results, select the driver you just created (e.g. CData JDBC Driver for Google BigQuery) and click "Next >."
  3. On the Main tab of the configuration wizard, set the JDBC URL, using the required connection properties:

    Google uses the OAuth authentication standard. To access Google APIs on behalf of individual users, you can use the embedded credentials or you can register your own OAuth app.

    OAuth also enables you to use a service account to connect on behalf of users in a Google Apps domain. To authenticate with a service account, you will need to register an application to obtain the OAuth JWT values.

    In addition to the OAuth values, you will need to specify the DatasetId and ProjectId. See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide to using OAuth.

    Built-in Connection String Designer

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

    java -jar cdata.jdbc.googlebigquery.jar

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

    Below is a typical connection string:

    jdbc:googlebigquery:DataSetId=MyDataSetId;ProjectId=MyProjectId;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH
  4. Click "Test Connection ..." to ensure you have configured the connection properly.
  5. Click "Finish."

Query BigQuery Data

You can now query information from the tables exposed by the connection: Right-click a Table and then click View Table. The data is available on the Data tab.

More Information & Free Trial

Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for Google BigQuery and start working with your live BigQuery data in DBeaver. Join the CData Community or reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.

Ready to get started?

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