Connect to Excel Data in HULFT Integrate

HULFT Integrate is a modern data integration platform that provides a drag-and-drop user interface to create cooperation flows, data conversion, and processing so that complex data connections are easier than ever to execute. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Microsoft Excel, HULFT Integrate can work with live Excel data. This article walks through connecting to Excel and moving the data into a CSV file.

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

Enable Access to Excel

To enable access to Excel data from HULFT Integrate projects:

1. Copy the CData JDBC Driver JAR file (and license file if it exists), cdata.jdbc.excel.jar (and cdata.jdbc.excel.lic), to the jdbc_adapter subfolder for the Integrate Server
2. Restart the HULFT Integrate Server and launch HULFT Integrate Studio

Build a Project with Access to Excel Data

Once you copy the JAR files, you can create a project with access to Excel data. Start by opening Integrate Studio and creating a new project.

1. Name the project
2. Ensure the "Create script" checkbox is checked
3. Click Next
4. Name the script (e.g.: ExceltoCSV)

Once you create the project, add components to the script to copy Excel data to a CSV file.

Configure an Execute Select SQL Component

Drag an "Execute Select SQL" component from the Tool Palette (Database -> JDBC) into the Script workspace.

1. In the "Required settings" tab for the Destination, click "Add" to create a new connection for Excel. Set the following properties:
   • Name: Excel Connection Settings
   • Driver class name: cdata.jdbc.excel.ExcelDriver
   • URL: jdbc:excel:Excel File='C:/MyExcelWorkbooks/SampleWorkbook.xlsx';
     
     

     Built-in Connection String Designer

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

     java -jar cdata.jdbc.excel.jar

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

     The ExcelFile, under the Authentication section, must be set to a valid Excel File.

2. Write your SQL statement. For example:

   SELECT Name, Revenue FROM Sheet

3. Click "Extraction test" to ensure the connection and query are configured properly
4. Click "Execute SQL statement and set output schema"
5. Click "Finish"

Configure a Write CSV File Component

Drag a "Write CSV File" component from the Tool Palette (File -> CSV) onto the workspace.

1. Set a file to write the query results to (e.g. Sheet.csv)
2. Set "Input data" to the "Select SQL" component
3. Add columns for each field selected in the SQL query
4. In the "Write settings" tab, check the checkbox to "Insert column names into first row"
5. Click "Finish"

Map Excel Fields to the CSV Columns

Map each column from the "Select" component to the corresponding column for the "CSV" component.

Finish the Script

Drag the "Start" component onto the "Select" component and the "CSV" component onto the "End" component. Build the script and run the script to move Excel data into a CSV file.

Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for Microsoft Excel and start working with your live Excel data in HULFT Integrate. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.