Create Reports from SAS xpt Data in Looker Studio

Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio) allows you to create branded reports with data visualizations to share with your clients. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant access to SAS xpt data for visualizations, dashboards, and more. This article shows how to create a virtual database for SAS xpt and build reports from SAS xpt data in Looker Studio.

CData Connect Server provides a pure MySQL interface for SAS xpt, allowing you to easily build reports from live SAS xpt data in Looker Studio — without replicating the data. As you build visualizations, Looker Studio generates queries to gather data. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported query operations (filters, JOINs, etc) directly to SAS xpt, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return SAS xpt data.

Connect to SAS xpt from Connect Server

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 "SAS xpt" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to SAS xpt.

   Connecting to Local SASXpt Files

   You can connect to local SASXpt file by setting the URI to a folder containing SASXpt files.

   Connecting to S3 data source

   You can connect to Amazon S3 source to read SASXpt files. Set the following properties to connect:

   • URI: Set this to the folder within your bucket that you would like to connect to.
   • AWSAccessKey: Set this to your AWS account access key.
   • AWSSecretKey: Set this to your AWS account secret key.
   • TemporaryLocalFolder: Set this to the path, or URI, to the folder that is used to temporarily download SASXpt file(s).

   Connecting to Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2

   You can connect to ADLS Gen2 to read SASXpt files. Set the following properties to connect:

   • URI: Set this to the name of the file system and the name of the folder which contacts your SASXpt files.
   • AzureAccount: Set this to the name of the Azure Data Lake storage account.
   • AzureAccessKey: Set this to our Azure DataLakeStore Gen 2 storage account access key.
   • TemporaryLocalFolder: Set this to the path, or URI, to the folder that is used to temporarily download SASXpt file(s).

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 SAS xpt data from Looker Studio.

Visualize Live SAS xpt Data in Looker Studio

The steps below outline connecting to CData Connect Server from Looker Studio to create a new SAS xpt data source and build a simple visualization from the data.

1. Log into Looker Studio, click data sources, create a new data source, and choose CData Connect Server Connector.
2. Authorize the Connector to connect to an external service (your Connect Server instance).
3. Use your instance name (myinstance in CONNECT_SERVER_URL), username, and password to connect to your Connect Server instance.
   • Username: myinstance/username
   • Password: your Connect Server password
4. Select a Database (e.g. SASXpt1) and click Next.
5. Select a Table (e.g. SampleTable_1) and click Next.
6. Click Connect.
7. If needed, modify columns, click Create Report, and add the data source to the report.
8. Select a visualization style and add it to the report.
9. Select Dimensions and Measures to customize your visualization.

Optional: Connect with the MySQL Connector

If you need to work with data from a custom SQL query, you can use the MySQL Connector. Connect using the server information for your Connect Server instance (server address, port, username, and password).

SQL Access to SAS xpt Data from Applications

Now you have a direct connection to live SAS xpt data from your Looker Studio workbook. You can create more data sources and new visualizations, build reports, and more — all without replicating SAS xpt data.

Try CData Connect Server and get SQL data access to 200+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from your applications.