Build Google Translate-Connected Web Apps in Servoy
Servoy is a rapid application development and deployment platform. When paired with the CData API Driver for JDBC, users can build Google Translate-connected apps that work with live Google Translate data. This article describes how to connect to Google Translate from Servoy and build a simple web app to display and search Google Translate data.
With built-in optimized data processing, the CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live Google Translate data. When you issue complex SQL queries to Google Translate, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Google Translate and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations client-side (often SQL functions and JOIN operations). Its built-in dynamic metadata querying lets you work with Google Translate data using native data types.
Connect to Google Translate in Servoy Developer
To build Google Translate-connected apps, you need to first create a data provider in Servoy Developer using the CData API Driver for JDBC.
- Install the JDBC Driver.
- Copy the JDBC Driver JAR file. (cdata.jdbc.api.jar) to the /application_server/drivers/ directory in the installation directory for Servoy.
- Open Servoy Developer.
- In the Solution Explorer, right-click Database Server (under Resources) and choose "Connect to existing database" -> "empty."
- Name the server.
- Click to show the advanced server settings.
Set the URL, for example: jdbc:api:Profile=C:\profiles\GoogleTranslate.apip;AuthScheme=OAuth;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;OAuthClientId=your_client_id;OAuthClientSecret=your_client_secret;CallbackUrl=your_callback_url;
Built-In Connection String Designer
For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Google Translate 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.
Authentication
Google Cloud Translation API requires OAuth 2.0 authentication to ensure secure access to translation services, datasets, glossaries, and adaptive MT resources. This authentication method allows you to securely connect to your Google Cloud project and manage translation resources with proper authorization.
OAuth 2.0 Setup and Configuration
Step 1: Create Google Cloud Project and Enable API
To set up OAuth authentication:
- Visit the Google Cloud Console
- Create a new project or select an existing project
- Note down your Project ID (required for all API calls)
- Navigate to "APIs & Services" > "Library"
- Search for and enable the "Cloud Translation API"
- Go to "APIs & Services" > "Credentials"
- Click "Create Credentials" and select "OAuth Client ID"
- Configure the OAuth consent screen if prompted
- Select "Desktop application" or "Web application" as appropriate
- Set the authorized redirect URI (CallbackURL)
- Copy the Client ID and Client Secret for use in your connection
Required Connection Properties
- AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth (required)
- OAuthClientId: Client ID from Google Cloud Console (required)
- OAuthClientSecret: Client secret from Google Cloud Console (required)
- CallbackURL: Redirect URI specified in your OAuth application (required)
- InitiateOAuth: Set to GETANDREFRESH for automatic token management (recommended)
- ProjectId: Your Google Cloud project ID or project number (required for queries)
Required OAuth Scopes
The Google Cloud Translation API Profile requires the following OAuth scope:
- https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-translation - Full access to Cloud Translation API resources including translation, datasets, glossaries, and adaptive MT
- Select the Driver class you just copied, for example, cdata.jdbc.api.APIDriver
Build a Google Translate-Connected Web App
Once you have configured the connection to Google Translate in the Servoy Developer resources, you are ready to build apps with access to live Google Translate data.
Create a New Solution
- In the Server Explorer, right-click "All solutions" and select "Create new solution."
- Name the solution.
- Select the checkbox to include the "search" module.
- Click "Finish."
Create a New Form
Right-click "Forms" and select "Create new form."
- Name the form.
- Select a Datasource.
- Set the type (e.g., Simple) and click "Finish."
Add a Data Grid to the Form
- Drag a Data Grid component (from Servoy NG-Grids) onto the form.
Drag a column component onto the Data Grid and set the "dataprovider" property for each column component to a column from the Google Translate "table" (e.g., LanguageCode from the SupportedLanguages table).
Continue adding columns as desired.
Add Searching to the App
Note that the "svySearch" extension is required to add search functionality (included by default when you create a new solution). If you did not add the extension when you created the solution or you are modifying an existing solution, you can add the search module by right-clicking Modules (in the solution) and selecting "Add Module." Select "svySearch" and click "OK."
- Drag a Text Field component onto the Form.
- Right-click the Form and select "Open in Script Editor."
- Create a new variable (JavaScript) to hold the search value:
var searchText = '';
- Back on the Form, in the Text Field properties:
- Set the "dataprovider" property to the Form variable you just created.
- Double-click to add a method for the onAction event.
- Click to create the method in "Form," name the method (e.g., onEnter), and click "Create private."
- Click "OK & Show."
- Add the following JavaScript to the JavaScript file to use the Servoy framework to implement searching bound data based on the text in the Text Field:
var search = scopes.svySearch.createSimpleSearch(foundset).setSearchText(searchText); search.setSearchAllColumns(); search.loadRecords(foundset);
Save and Launch the App
Save the form and JavaScript file, then click Run -> Launch NGClient to start the web app.
Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData API Driver for JDBC and start building Google Translate-connected apps with Servoy. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.