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

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

Install the CData JDBC Driver for Printful

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

Start a Spark Shell and Connect to Printful Data

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

   Start by setting the Profile connection property to the location of the Printful Profile on disk (e.g. C:\profiles\Printful.apip). Next, set the ProfileSettings connection property to the connection string for Printful (see below).

   Printful API Profile Settings

   In order to authenticate to Printful, you'll need to provide your API Key. To get your API Key, first go to 'Settings' then 'Stores'. Select the Store you would like to connect to, then click the 'Add API Access' button to generate an API Key. Set the API Key in the ProfileSettings property to connect.

   Built-in Connection String Designer

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

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.api.jar

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

   Configure the connection to Printful, using the connection string generated above.

   scala> val api_df = spark.sqlContext.read.format("jdbc").option("url", "jdbc:api:Profile=C:\profiles\Printful.apip;ProfileSettings='APIKey=my_api_key';").option("dbtable","Orders").option("driver","cdata.jdbc.api.APIDriver").load()
3. Once you connect and the data is loaded you will see the table schema displayed.

4. Register the Printful data as a temporary table:

   scala> api_df.registerTable("orders")

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

   scala> api_df.sqlContext.sql("SELECT Id, Store FROM Orders WHERE Status = inprocess").collect.foreach(println)

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

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