How to create an RPA flow for OpenWeatherMap Data in UiPath Studio

UiPath is a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platform with rich features and an easy-to-use UI that enables non-developers to create process automation. By using UiPath Studio, you can build an RPA program just like drawing a diagram. With the CData API Driver for ODBC, users can embed OpenWeatherMap data in the workflow.

This article explains how to use the OpenWeatherMap ODBC Driver in UiPath Studio to create an RPA program that accesses OpenWeatherMap data.

Configure the Connection to OpenWeatherMap

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

Using API Key Authentication

To obtain an API key, sign up for a free account at https://openweathermap.org/api and navigate to the API keys section of your dashboard. Copy your API key for use in the connection configuration.

After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:

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

Connect UiPath Studio to OpenWeatherMap Data

Now you are ready to use OpenWeatherMap data ODBC DSN in UiPath Studio with the following steps.

1. From the Start page, click Blank to create a New Project.
2. Click Manage Packages then search for and install UiPath.Database.Activities.
3. Navigate to the Activities and drop a Flowchart (Workflow -> Flowchart -> Flowchart) onto the process.
4. Drop a database Connect activity (App Integration -> Datbase -> Connect) after the Start activity.
5. Double-click the Connect activity and configure the Connection.
   1. Click the Connection Wizard
   2. Select "Microsoft ODBC Data Source"
   3. In Connection Properties, select your DSN (CData API Source) and click OK
6. To store Connection info, create a variable and bind to Output in the Properties section. Choose DatabaseConnection in Output.
   

Create an Execute Query Activity

With the connection configured, we are ready to query OpenWeatherMap data in our RPA.

1. From the Activities navigation, select Execute Query and drop it on the Flowchart.
2. Double-click the Execute Query activity and set the properties as follows:
   • ExistingDbConnection: Your Connection variable
   • Sql: SELECT statement like SELECT , FROM AccumulatedPrecipitation WHERE Latitude = '40.7128'
   • DataTable: Create and use a variable with the Type System.Data.DataTable
   

Create Write CSV Activity

With the Connection and Execute Query activities configured, we are ready to add a Write CSV activity to the Flowchart to replicate the OpenWeatherMap data.

1. From the Activities navigation, select Write CSV and drop it after the Execute Query activity.
2. Double-click the Write CSV activity and set the properties as follows:
   • FilePath: Set to a file (new or existing) on disk (i.e.: C:\UiPath[id]-data.csv
   • DataTable: Set to the DataTable variable you created earlier

Connect the Activities and Run the Flowchart

If they are not already connected, connect each Activity that you created to complete the RPA project for extracting OpenWeatherMap data and exporting it to CSV.

Click Run to extract OpenWeatherMap data and create a CSV file.

In this article, we used the CData API Driver for ODBC to create an automation flow that accesses OpenWeatherMap data in UiPath Studio. Download a free, 30-day trial of the ODBC Driver and start working with live OpenWeatherMap data in UiPath Studio today!