Create SAP BusinessObjects BI-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 SAP BusinessObjects BI data for business applications. This article shows how to create a virtual database for SAP BusinessObjects BI in Connect Server and build a simple workflow from SAP BusinessObjects BI data in Nintex.

CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for SAP BusinessObjects BI, allowing you to build workflows from live SAP BusinessObjects BI 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 SAP BusinessObjects BI, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested SAP BusinessObjects BI data.

Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for SAP BusinessObjects BI 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 "SAP BusinessObjects BI" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to SAP BusinessObjects BI.

   To connect to your SAP Business Objects BI instance, you must set the following connection properties:

   • Url: set this to the rest API URL. After logging into the Central Management Console, choose 'Applications' from the combo box. Double-click on 'RESTful Web Service' and you'll see the access URL. By default it is, http://{Server-Name}:6405/biprws.
   • User: set this to the username of your instance.
   • Password: set this to the password of your instance.
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 SAP BusinessObjects BI data from Nintex.

Connect to SAP BusinessObjects BI in Nintex

The steps below outline creating a new connection for access to SAP BusinessObjects BI CData Connect Server from Nintex to create a new SAP BusinessObjects BI 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 SAP BusinessObjects BI 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 SAP BusinessObjects BI database (e.g., SAPBusinessObjectsBI1)
5. Click "Connect"
6. Configure the connection permissions and click "Save permissions"

Create a Simple SAP BusinessObjects BI Workflow

With the connection to CData Connect Server configured, we are ready to build a simple workflow to access SAP BusinessObjects BI 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 SAP BusinessObjects BI 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.