Build Pipelines with Live Dropbox Data in Google Cloud Data Fusion (via CData Connect AI)

Google Cloud Data Fusion simplifies building and managing data pipelines by offering a visual interface to connect, transform, and move data across various sources and destinations, streamlining data integration processes. When combined with CData Connect AI, it provides access to Dropbox data for building and managing ELT/ETL data pipelines. This article explains how to use CData Connect AI to create a live connection to Dropbox and how to connect and access live Dropbox data from the Cloud Data Fusion platform.

Configure Dropbox Connectivity for Cloud Data Fusion

Connectivity to Dropbox from Cloud Data Fusion is made possible through CData Connect AI. To work with Dropbox data from Cloud Data Fusion, we start by creating and configuring a Dropbox connection.

1. Log into Connect AI, click Sources, and then click Add Connection

2. Select "Dropbox" from the Add Connection panel

3. Dropbox uses OAuth to authenticate. Click "Sign in" to authenticate with Dropbox.
4. Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add Dropbox Connection page and update the User-based permissions.

Add a Personal Access Token

When connecting to Connect AI through the REST API, the OData API, or the Virtual SQL Server, a Personal Access Token (PAT) is used to authenticate the connection to Connect AI. It is best practice to create a separate PAT for each service to maintain granularity of access.

1. Click on the Gear icon () at the top right of the Connect AI app to open the settings page.
2. On the Settings page, go to the Access Tokens section and click Create PAT.
3. Give the PAT a name and click Create.
4. The personal access token is only visible at creation, so be sure to copy it and store it securely for future use.

With the connection configured and a PAT generated, you are ready to connect to Dropbox data from Cloud Data Fusion.

Connecting to Dropbox from Cloud Data Fusion

Follow these steps to establish a connection from Cloud Data Fusion to Dropbox through the CData Connect AI JDBC driver:

1. Download and install the CData Connect AI JDBC driver:
   1. Open the Integrations page of CData Connect AI.
   2. Search for and select JDBC.
   3. Download and run the setup file.
   4. When the installation is complete, copy the JAR file(cdata.jdbc.connect.jar) from the installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\CData\JDBC Driver for CData Connect\lib).
2. Log into Cloud Data Fusion.
3. Click the green "+" button at the top right to add an entity.
4. Under Driver, click Upload.
5. Now, upload the CData Connect AI JDBC driver (JAR file).
6. Enter the driver settings:
   • Name: Enter the name of the driver
   • Class name: Enter "cdata.jdbc.connect.ConnectDriver"
   • Version: Enter the driver version
   • Description (optional): Enter a description for the driver
7. Click on Finish.
8. Enter source configuration settings:
   • Label: Helps to identify the connection
   • JDBC driver name: Enter the JDBC driver name to identify the driver configured in Step 6.
   • Connection string: Enter the JDBC connection string, for example:

     jdbc:connect:AuthScheme=Basic;user=username;password=PAT;

   • User: Enter your CData Connect AI username, displayed in the top-right corner of the CData Connect AI interface. For example, "[email protected]"
   • Password: Enter the PAT you generated on the Settings page.
9. Click Validate in the top right corner.
10. If the connection is successful, you can manage the pipeline by editing it through the UI.
11. Run the pipepline created.

Troubleshooting

Please be aware that there is a known issue in Cloud Data Fusion where "int" types from source data are automatically cast as "long".

Live Access to Dropbox Data from Cloud Applications

Now you have a direct connection to live Dropbox data from from Google Cloud Data Fusion. You can create more connections to ensure a smooth movement of data across various sources and destinations, thereby streamlining data integration processes - all without replicating Dropbox data.

To get real-time data access to hundreds of SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources (including Dropbox) directly from your cloud applications, explore the CData Connect AI.