How to Access Live Parallel Data in Power Automate Desktop via ODBC
The CData ODBC Driver for Parallel enables you to access live Parallel data in workflow automation tools like Power Automate. This article shows how to integrate Parallel data into a simple workflow, moving Parallel data into a CSV file.
Through optimized data processing, CData ODBC Drivers offer unmatched performance for interacting with live Parallel data in Microsoft Power Automate. When you issue complex SQL queries from Power Automate to Parallel, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Parallel and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations client-side (e.g. SQL functions and JOIN operations).
Connect to Parallel as an ODBC Data Source
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.
The Parallel API uses API Key authentication via the x-api-key request header.
Using API Key Authentication
Your Parallel API key is required to create a connection. To obtain your API key:
- Log into your Parallel account at app.parallel.ai.
- Navigate to Settings or API Keys in your account dashboard.
- Generate or copy your API key.
After obtaining your API key, set the following connection properties:
- AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
- APIKey: Set this to your Parallel API key.
Example connection string:
Profile=C:\profiles\Parallel.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_api_key';
When you configure the DSN, you may also want to set the Max Rows connection property. This will limit the number of rows returned, which is especially helpful for improving performance when designing workflows.
Integrate Parallel Data into Power Automate Workflows
After configuring the DSN for Parallel, you are ready to integrate Parallel data into your Power Automate workflows. Open Microsoft Power Automate, add a new flow, and name the flow.
In the flow editor, you can add the actions to connect to Parallel, query Parallel using SQL, and write the query results to a CSV document.
Add an Open SQL Connection Action
Add an "Open SQL connection" action (Actions -> Database) and configure the properties.
- Connection string: DSN=CData Parallel Source
After configuring the action, click Save.
Add an Execute SQL Statement Action
Add an "Execute SQL statement" action (Actions -> Database) and configure the properties.
- Get connection by: SQL connection variable
- SQL connection: %SQLConnection% (the variable from the "Open SQL connection" action above)
- SQL statement: SELECT * FROM MonitorEvents
After configuring the action, click Save.
Add a Write to CSV File Action
Add a "Write to CSV file" action (Actions -> File) and configure the properties.
- Variable to write to: %QueryResult% (the variable from the "Execute SQL statement" action above)
- File path: set to a file on disk
- Configure Advanced settings as needed.
After configuring the action, click Save.
Add a Close SQL Connection Action
Add a "Close SQL connection" action (Actions -> Database) and configure the properties.
- SQL Connection: %SQLConnection% (the variable from the "Open SQL connection" action above)
After configuring the action, click Save.
Save & Run the Flow
Once you have configured all the actions for the flow, click the disk icon to save the flow. Click the play icon to run the flow.
Now you have a workflow to move Parallel data into a CSV file.
With the CData ODBC Driver for Parallel, you get live connectivity to Parallel data within your Microsoft Power Automate workflows.
Related Power Automate Articles
This article explains how to use the CData ODBC Driver for Parallel with Power Automate Desktop. Check out our other articles for more ways to work with Power Automate (Desktop & Online):