Use JayDeBeApi to access TimeCamp Data in Python

Access TimeCamp data with Python scripts and standard SQL on any machine where Python and Java can be installed. You can use the CData API Driver for JDBC and the JayDeBeApi module to work with remote TimeCamp data in Python. By using the CData Driver, you are leveraging a driver written for industry-proven standards to access your data in the popular Python language. This article shows how to use the driver to execute SQL queries to TimeCamp and visualize TimeCamp data with standard Python.

Use the JayDeBeApi module

JayDeBeApi is a Python library that serves as a JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) bridge, allowing Python programs to interact with Java databases, including CData JDBC Drivers. Use the pip install command to install the module:

pip install JayDeBeApi

Create the JDBC URL

Once you have JayDeBeApi installed, you are ready to work with TimeCamp data in Python using SQL.

Start by setting the Profile connection property to the location of the TimeCamp Profile on disk (e.g. C:\profiles\TimeCamp.apip). Next, set the ProfileSettings connection property to the connection string for TimeCamp (see below).

TimeCamp API Profile Settings

TimeCamp uses token-based authentication. To obtain an API Token:

1. Log in to your TimeCamp account at https://app.timecamp.com
2. Click your profile avatar in the top-right corner
3. Select Profile Settings
4. Copy the API token shown at the bottom of the page

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

• AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.

Set the following in the ProfileSettings connection property:

• APIKey: Set this to your TimeCamp API token.

Built-in Connection String Designer

For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the TimeCamp 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.

Below is a sample variable assignment, including a typical JDBC connection string:

jdbc_url = "jdbc:api:Profile=C:\profiles\TimeCamp.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_api_token';"

Access TimeCamp data in Python

With the JDBC URL configured, you only need the absolute path to the JDBC driver JAR file, which is in the "lib" folder in the installation directory ("C:\Program Files\CData\CData API Driver for JDBC 20XX\lib\cdata.jdbc.api.jar" on Windows).

NOTE: If you haven't already, set the JAVA_HOME environment variable to the Java installation directory.

Use code similar to the follow to read and print data from TimeCamp:

import jaydebeapi

#The JDBC connection string
jdbc_url = "jdbc:api:Profile=C:\profiles\TimeCamp.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_api_token';"

username = "****"
password = "****"

#The absolute Path to the JDBC driver JAR file, typically:
jdbc_driver_jar = "C:\Program Files\CData\CData API Driver for JDBC 20XX\lib\cdata.jdbc.api.jar"

conn = jaydebeapi.connect(
   "cdata.jdbc.api.APIDriver",
   jdbc_url,
   [username, password],
   jdbc_driver_jar,
)

cursor = conn.cursor()
cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM GroupUsers;")


results = cursor.fetchall()
for row in results:
    print(row)

cursor.close()
conn.close()

Free trial & more information

Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData API Driver for JDBC and start working with your live TimeCamp data in Python. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.