How to work with Excel Online Data in Apache Spark using SQL

Apache Spark is a fast and general engine for large-scale data processing. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Excel Online, Spark can work with live Excel Online data. This article describes how to connect to and query Excel Online data from a Spark shell.

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

Install the CData JDBC Driver for Excel Online

Download the CData JDBC Driver for Excel Online installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.

Start a Spark Shell and Connect to Excel Online Data

1. Open a terminal and start the Spark shell with the CData JDBC Driver for Excel Online JAR file as the jars parameter: $ spark-shell --jars /CData/CData JDBC Driver for Excel Online/lib/cdata.jdbc.excelonline.jar
2. With the shell running, you can connect to Excel Online with a JDBC URL and use the SQL Context load() function to read a table.

   You can connect to a workbook by providing authentication to Excel Online and then setting the following properties:

   • Workbook: Set this to the name or Id of the workbook.

     If you want to view a list of information about the available workbooks, execute a query to the Workbooks view after you authenticate.

   • UseSandbox: Set this to true if you are connecting to a workbook in a sandbox account. Otherwise, leave this blank to connect to a production account.

   You use the OAuth authentication standard to authenticate to Excel Online. See the Getting Started section in the help documentation for a guide. Getting Started also guides you through executing SQL to worksheets and ranges.

   Built-in Connection String Designer

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

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.excelonline.jar

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

   Configure the connection to Excel Online, using the connection string generated above.

   scala> val excelonline_df = spark.sqlContext.read.format("jdbc").option("url", "jdbc:excelonline:").option("dbtable","Test_xlsx_Sheet1").option("driver","cdata.jdbc.excelonline.ExcelOnlineDriver").load()
3. Once you connect and the data is loaded you will see the table schema displayed.

4. Register the Excel Online data as a temporary table:

   scala> excelonline_df.registerTable("test_xlsx_sheet1")

5. Perform custom SQL queries against the Data using commands like the one below:

   scala> excelonline_df.sqlContext.sql("SELECT Id, Column1 FROM Test_xlsx_Sheet1 WHERE Column2 = Bob").collect.foreach(println)

   You will see the results displayed in the console, similar to the following:

Using the CData JDBC Driver for Excel Online in Apache Spark, you are able to perform fast and complex analytics on Excel Online data, combining the power and utility of Spark with your data. Download a free, 30 day trial of any of the 200+ CData JDBC Drivers and get started today.