Connect to Dropbox using Open Connectors in SAP Analytics Cloud

[mfoeken]

To accelerate the connectivity with third-party cloud applications, SAP is offering more than 150 pre-built and feature-rich connectors via SAP Cloud Platform Open Connectors. Recently (2019 Q3 release) a subset of connectors has been added to the list of available import connections that can be used to acquire data into SAP Analytics Cloud. It’s expected that more connectors will be made available in the second quarterly release of SAP Analytics Cloud in May 2020.

In my previous blog, Getting Started with Open Connectors in SAP Analytics Cloud, I described step-by-step how to create your SAP Cloud Platform Trial account, subscribe to the Open Connectors service and set up the Open Connectors integration in SAP Analytics Cloud.

In this blog, I will show you how to create a connection to Dropbox.

Create a Dropbox connection

To create a connection to Dropbox browse to the 'Connection' menu and click on 'Add connection'. Under 'Aquire Data' you will find 'Dropbox' as a data source.



After entering a 'Connection Name' and an optional 'Description' we need to provide an 'API Key' and 'API' Secret to allow authentication. In order to obtain these, we need to use a developer account to create an application for Dropbox.

Create a Dropbox Application

Follow the next steps to create a Dropbox application:

Log in to your Dropbox developer account at https://www.dropbox.com/developers/apps and click on 'Create app'.



Under '1. Choose an API', select 'Dropbox API'. Define the type of access you need. In this example, I select 'Full Dropbox'. Finally provide a name for your app and click on ' Create app'. Make sure you create a unique name for your app.



Write down the 'App key' and the 'App secret' as we need them to create a connection in SAP Analytics Cloud. Switch back to the connection and fill in the required information. Click on 'Create'.



Oops...we forgot something. We need to configure the allowed 'Redirect URIs' under the 'OAuth 2' section for the app we created. Copy the 'redirect_uri' displayed and add this to your app.

Now click again on 'Create' and you will be prompted with an API Request Authorization panel. Click on 'Allow' and the connection will be created.



 

Create a Model

Now let's see if we can create a model based on our newly create Dropbox connection. Browse to 'Create' - 'Model'. Select 'Get data from a datasource' and select 'Dropbox' under 'Aquire data'.

Select the available connection and click 'Next'.



You are now able to browse through the folder structure of your Dropbox.

Select a file, like an MS Excel sheet and click on 'Next'. You will be prompted whether the first row contains column headers. Click on 'Import'.



The file is uploaded as 'Draft Data'. Click on the file name to create the model.





From here it's as simple as creating your model and create a story to visualize your data!