Integrate with ScrapingBee Data using Apache Camel2

Apache Camel is an open source integration framework that allows you to integrate various systems consuming or producing data. When paired with the CData API Driver for JDBC, you can write Java apps that use Camel routes that integrate with live ScrapingBee data. This article explains how to create an app in NetBeans that connects, queries, and routes ScrapingBee data to a JSON file.

With built-in optimized data processing, the CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live ScrapingBee data. When you issue complex SQL queries to ScrapingBee, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to ScrapingBee and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations client-side (often SQL functions and JOIN operations). Its built-in dynamic metadata querying allows you to work with and analyze ScrapingBee data using native data types.

Creating A New Maven/Java Project

Follow the steps below to create a new Java project and add the appropriate dependencies:

1. Open NetBeans and create a new project.
2. Select Maven from the categories list and Java Application from the projects list, then click Next.
3. Name the project (and adjust any other properties) and click Finish.
4. In the source package, create a new Java class (we used App.java for this article) and add the main method to the class.

Adding Project Dependencies

With the project created, we can start adding the dependencies needed to work with live ScrapingBee data from our App. If you have not already done so, install Maven in your environment, as it is required to add the JAR file for the CData JDBC Driver to your project.

Installing the CData API Driver for JDBC with Maven

1. Download the CData API Driver for JDBC installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.
2. Use Maven to install the JDBC Driver as a connector.

   mvn install:install-file 
   	-Dfile="C:\Program Files\CData[product_name] 2019\lib\cdata.jdbc.api.jar" 
   	-DgroupId="org.cdata.connectors" 
   	-DartifactId="cdata-api-connector" 
   	-Dversion="19" 
   	-Dpackaging=jar
   

Once the JDBC Driver is installed, we can add dependencies to our project. To add a dependency, you can either edit the pom.xml file or right-click the dependencies folder and click Add Dependency. The properties for each dependency follow, but you can search through the available libraries by typing the name of the dependency in the Query box in the Add Dependency wizard.

Required Dependencies

Accessing ScrapingBee Data in Java Apps with Camel

After adding the required dependencies, we can use the Java DSL (Domain Specific Language) to create routes with access to live ScrapingBee data. Code snippets follow. Download the sample project (zip file) to follow along (make note of the TODO comments).

Start by importing the necessary classes into our main class.

import org.apache.camel.CamelContext;
import org.apache.camel.builder.RouteBuilder;
import org.apache.camel.impl.DefaultCamelContext;
import org.apache.camel.support.SimpleRegistry;
import org.apache.commons.dbcp2.BasicDataSource;
import org.apache.log4j.BasicConfigurator;

Then in the main method, we configure logging, create a new BasicDataSource and add it to the registry, create a new CamelContext, and finally add a route to the context. In this sample, we route ScrapingBee data to a JSON file.

Configure Logging

BasicConfigurator.configure();

Create a BasicDataSource

Create a BasicDataSource and set the driver class name (cdata.jdbc.salesforce.SalesforceDriver) and URL (using the required connection properties).

Using API Key Authentication

ScrapingBee uses API key authentication. To obtain an API key:

1. Sign in to your ScrapingBee account at https://app.scrapingbee.com
2. Navigate to the Dashboard and locate your API key in the top section.
3. Copy the API key for use in the connection string.

After obtaining your API key, set the following connection properties:

• AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.

Set the following in the ProfileSettings connection property:

• APIKey: Set this to your ScrapingBee API key.

Example Connection String

Profile=C:\profiles\ScrapingBee.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="APIKey=your_api_key";

Connecting to ScrapingBee

Once the authentication is configured, you can connect to ScrapingBee and query data from any of the available tables. All tables require at least one input parameter (such as a search query or product ID) to retrieve data.

BasicDataSource basic = new BasicDataSource();
basic.setDriverClassName("cdata.jdbc.api.APIDriver");
basic.setUrl("jdbc:api:Profile=C:\profiles\ScrapingBee.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="APIKey=your_api_key";");

The CData JDBC Driver includes a built-in connection string designer to help you configure the connection URL.

Built-in Connection String Designer

For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the ScrapingBee JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command line.

java -jar cdata.jdbc.api.jar

Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

Add the BasicDataSource to the Registry and Create a CamelContext

SimpleRegistry reg = new SimpleRegistry();
reg.bind("myDataSource", basic);

CamelContext context = new DefaultCamelContext(reg);

Add Routing to the CamelContext

The routing below uses a timer component to run one time and passes a SQL query to the JDBC Driver. The results are marshaled as JSON (and formatted for pretty print) and passed to a file component to write to disk as a JSON file.

context.addRoutes(new RouteBuilder() {
	@Override
	public void configure() {
		from("timer://foo?repeatCount=1")
			.setBody(constant("SELECT * FROM Account LIMIT 10"))
			.to("jdbc:myDataSource")
			.marshal().json(true)
			.to("file:C:\\Users\\USER\\Documents?fileName=account.json");
	}
});

Managing the CamelContext Lifecycle

With the route defined, start the CamelContext to begin the lifecycle. In this example, we wait 10 seconds and then shut down the context.

context.start();
Thread.sleep(10000);
context.stop();

Free Trial, Sample Project & Technical Support

Now, you have a working Java application that uses Camel to route data from ScrapingBee to a JSON file. Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData API Driver for JDBC and the sample project (make note of the TODO comments) and start working with your live ScrapingBee data in Apache Camel. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.