Query SAP SuccessFactors Data in MySQL Workbench

MySQL Workbench allows users to administer MySQL environments and gain better visibility into databases. When paired with CData Connect (on-premise or Connect Server), you get live access to SAP SuccessFactors data as if it were a MySQL database. This article shows how to create a virtual database for SAP SuccessFactors in Connect and work with live SAP SuccessFactors data in MySQL Workbench.

Create a Virtual MySQL Database for SAP SuccessFactors Data

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

1. Login to Connect and click Connections.
2. Select "SAP SuccessFactors" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to SAP SuccessFactors.

   You can authenticate to SAP Success Factors using Basic authentication or OAuth with SAML assertion.

   Basic Authentication

   You must provide values for the following properties to successfully authenticate to SAP Success Factors. Note that the provider will reuse the session opened by SAP Success Factors using cookies. Which means that your credentials will be used only on the first request to open the session. After that, cookies returned from SAP Success Factors will be used for authentication.

   • Url: set this to the URL of the server hosting Success Factors. Some of the servers are listed in the SAP support documentation (external link).
   • User: set this to the username of your account.
   • Password: set this to the password of your account.
   • CompanyId: set this to the unique identifier of your company.

   OAuth Authentication

   You must provide values for the following properties, which will be used to get the access token.

   • Url: set this to the URL of the server hosting Success Factors. Some of the servers are listed in the SAP support documentation (external link).
   • User: set this to the username of your account.
   • CompanyId: set this to the unique identifier of your company.
   • OAuthClientId: set this to the API Key that was generated in API Center.
   • OAuthClientSecret: the X.509 private key used to sign SAML assertion. The private key can be found in the certificate you downloaded in Registering your OAuth Client Application.
   • InitiateOAuth: set this to GETANDREFRESH.
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 SuccessFactors from MySQL Workbench.

Query SAP SuccessFactors from MySQL Workbench

The steps below outline connecting to the virtual SAP SuccessFactors database in Connect from MySQL Workbench and issuing basic queries to work with live SAP SuccessFactors data.

Connect to SAP SuccessFactors through Connect

1. In MySQL Workbench, click to add a new MySQL connection.
2. Name the connection (CData Connect).
3. Set the Hostname, Port, and Username parameters to connect to the SQL Gateway.
4. Click Store in Vault to set and store the password.
5. Click Test Connection to ensure the connection is configured properly and click OK.

Query SAP SuccessFactors Data

1. Open the connection you just created (CData Connect).
2. Click File -> New Query Tab.
3. Write a SQL query to retrieve SAP SuccessFactors data, like SELECT * FROM sapsuccessfactorsdb.ExtAddressInfo;

With access to live SAP SuccessFactors data from MySQL Workbench, you can easily query and update SAP SuccessFactors, just like you would a MySQL database. Request a demo of the CData Connect and start working with SAP SuccessFactors just like a MySQL database today.