How to work with TSheets Data in Apache Spark using SQL

Apache Spark is a fast and general engine for large-scale data processing. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for TSheets, Spark can work with live TSheets data. This article describes how to connect to and query TSheets data from a Spark shell.

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

Install the CData JDBC Driver for TSheets

Download the CData JDBC Driver for TSheets installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.

Start a Spark Shell and Connect to TSheets Data

1. Open a terminal and start the Spark shell with the CData JDBC Driver for TSheets JAR file as the jars parameter: $ spark-shell --jars /CData/CData JDBC Driver for TSheets/lib/cdata.jdbc.tsheets.jar
2. With the shell running, you can connect to TSheets with a JDBC URL and use the SQL Context load() function to read a table.

   TSheets uses the OAuth2 standard for authentication and authorization. To construct your own OAuth app and connect to data, refer to OAuth section in the Help.

   Built-in Connection String Designer

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

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.tsheets.jar

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

   Configure the connection to TSheets, using the connection string generated above.

   scala> val tsheets_df = spark.sqlContext.read.format("jdbc").option("url", "jdbc:tsheets:OAuthClientId=myclientid;OAuthClientSecret=myclientsecret;CallbackUrl=http://localhost:33333;").option("dbtable","Timesheets").option("driver","cdata.jdbc.tsheets.TSheetsDriver").load()
3. Once you connect and the data is loaded you will see the table schema displayed.

4. Register the TSheets data as a temporary table:

   scala> tsheets_df.registerTable("timesheets")

5. Perform custom SQL queries against the Data using commands like the one below:

   scala> tsheets_df.sqlContext.sql("SELECT Id, JobcodeId FROM Timesheets WHERE JobCodeType = regular").collect.foreach(println)

   You will see the results displayed in the console, similar to the following:

Using the CData JDBC Driver for TSheets in Apache Spark, you are able to perform fast and complex analytics on TSheets data, combining the power and utility of Spark with your data. Download a free, 30 day trial of any of the 200+ CData JDBC Drivers and get started today.