Create Kafka-Connected Nintex Workflows

Nintex Workflow Cloud is a cloud-based platform where you can design workflows to automate simple or complex processes using drag-and-drop interactions — without writing any code. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant, cloud-to-cloud access to Kafka data for business applications. This article shows how to create a virtual database for Kafka in Connect Server and build a simple workflow from Kafka data in Nintex.

CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for Kafka, allowing you to build workflows from live Kafka data in Nintex Workflow Cloud — without replicating the data to a natively supported database. Nintex allows you to access data directly using SQL queries. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc.) directly to Kafka, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested Kafka data.

Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for Kafka Data

CData Connect Server uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources and generate APIs.

1. Log into Connect Server and click Connections.
2. Select "Kafka" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Kafka.

   Set BootstrapServers and the Topic properties to specify the address of your Apache Kafka server, as well as the topic you would like to interact with.

   Authorization Mechanisms

   • SASL Plain: The User and Password properties should be specified. AuthScheme should be set to 'Plain'.
   • SASL SSL: The User and Password properties should be specified. AuthScheme should be set to 'Scram'. UseSSL should be set to true.
   • SSL: The SSLCert and SSLCertPassword properties should be specified. UseSSL should be set to true.
   • Kerberos: The User and Password properties should be specified. AuthScheme should be set to 'Kerberos'.

   You may be required to trust the server certificate. In such cases, specify the TrustStorePath and the TrustStorePassword if necessary.

4. Click Save Changes
5. Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions.

With the virtual database created, you are ready to connect to Kafka data from Nintex.

Connect to Kafka in Nintex

The steps below outline creating a new connection for access to Kafka CData Connect Server from Nintex to create a new Kafka data source.

1. Log into Nintex Workflow Cloud
2. In the Connections tab, click "Add new"
3. Select SQL Server as the connector and click "Connect"
4. In the SQL Server connection wizard, set the following properties:
   • Connection Name: name the connection (e.g., CData Connect Server Kafka Connection)
   • Username: your Connect Server username
   • Password: your Connect Server password
   • Database Host: your Connect Server SQL Server endpoint (e.g., connect_server_url)
   • Database Name: the virtual Kafka database (e.g., ApacheKafka1)
5. Click "Connect"
6. Configure the connection permissions and click "Save permissions"

Create a Simple Kafka Workflow

With the connection to CData Connect Server configured, we are ready to build a simple workflow to access Kafka data. Start by clicking the "Create workflow" button.

Configure the Start Event Action

1. Click the start event task and select the "Form" event
2. Click "Design form"
3. Drag a "Text - Long" element onto the Form and click the element to configure it
   • Set "Title" to "Enter SQL query"
   • Set "Required" to true
4. Drag a "Text - Short" element onto the Form and click the element to configure it
   • Set "Title" to "Enter desired result column"
   • Set "Required" to true

Configure an "Execute a Query" Action

1. Add an "Execute a query" action after the "Start event: Form" action and click to configure the action
2. Set "SQL Script" to the "Enter SQL Query" variable from the "Start event" action
3. Set "Column to retrieve" to the "Enter desired result column" variable from the "Start event" action
4. Set "Retrieved column" to a new variable (e.g., "values")

Configure a "Send an Email" Action

1. Add a "Send an email" action after the "Execute a query" action and click to configure the action
2. Set the "Recipient email address"
3. Set the "Subject"
4. Set the "Message body" to the variable created for the retrieved column

Once you configure the actions, click "Save," name the Workflow, and click "Save" again. You now have a simple workflow that will query Kafka using SQL and send an email with the results.

To learn more about SQL data access to 200+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from your cloud applications, check out the CData Connect Server. Sign up for a free trial and reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.