How to work with Facebook Ads 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 Facebook Ads, Spark can work with live Facebook Ads data. This article describes how to connect to and query Facebook Ads data from a Spark shell.

The CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live Facebook Ads data due to optimized data processing built into the driver. When you issue complex SQL queries to Facebook Ads, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Facebook Ads 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 Facebook Ads data using native data types.

Install the CData JDBC Driver for Facebook Ads

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

Start a Spark Shell and Connect to Facebook Ads Data

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

   Most tables require user authentication as well as application authentication. Facebook uses the OAuth authentication standard. To authenticate to Facebook, you can use the embedded OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL or you can obtain your own by registering an app with Facebook.

   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 Facebook Ads JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.facebookads.jar

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

   Configure the connection to Facebook Ads, using the connection string generated above.

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

4. Register the Facebook Ads data as a temporary table:

   scala> facebookads_df.registerTable("adaccounts")

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

   scala> facebookads_df.sqlContext.sql("SELECT AccountId, Name FROM AdAccounts WHERE Name = Acct Name").collect.foreach(println)

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

Using the CData JDBC Driver for Facebook Ads in Apache Spark, you are able to perform fast and complex analytics on Facebook Ads 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.