Back Up ActiveTrail data to SQL Server through SSIS

This article illustrates using the ActiveTrail ADO.NET Data Provider within a SQL Server SSIS workflow for the direct transfer of ActiveTrail data to a Microsoft SQL Server database. It's worth noting that the identical process detailed below is applicable to any CData ADO.NET Data Providers, enabling the direct connection of SQL Server with remote data through SSIS.

1. Open Visual Studio and create a new Integration Services project.
2. Add a new Data Flow task from the toolbox onto the Control Flow screen.

3. In the Data Flow screen, add an ADO.NET Source and an OLE DB Destination from the toolbox.

   
4. Add a new connection and select .NET Providers\CData ADO.NET Provider for ActiveTrail.

5. In the connection manager, enter the connection details for ActiveTrail data.

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

   ActiveTrail API Profile Settings

   ActiveTrail uses API key authentication. To obtain an API key:

   1. Log in to your ActiveTrail account at https://app.activetrail.com
   2. Navigate to your account settings and locate the API integration section
   3. Generate or copy your existing API key

   After obtaining your API key, set the following connection properties:

   • AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
   • APIKey: Set this to your ActiveTrail API key.
   

6. Open the DataReader editor and set the following information:

   • ADO.NET connection manager: In the Connection Managers menu, select the Data Connection you just created.
   • Data access mode: Select 'SQL command'.
   • SQL command text: In the DataReader Source editor, open the Component Properties tab and enter a SELECT command, such as the one below:

     SELECT Id, Email FROM GroupMembers WHERE GroupId = '356069'

   
7. Close the DataReader editor and drag the arrow below the DataReader Source to connect it to the OLE DB Destination.

8. Open the OLE DB Destination and enter the following information in the Destination Component Editor.

   • Connection manager: Add a new connection. Enter your server and database information here. In this example, SQLExpress is running on a separate machine.
   • Data access mode: Set your data access mode to "table or view" and select the table or view to populate in your database.

9. Configure any properties you wish on the Mappings screen.

   
10. Close the OLE DB Destination Editor and run the project. After the SSIS task has finished executing, your database will be populated with data obtained from ActiveTrail data.