SAP HANA & Excel – Bidirectional Data/Sync Data – Using Python & OData

The purpose of this exercise is to access the data to & from Excel to SAP HANA. This will demonstrate the bidirectional transfer of the data without using import/export options in SAP HANA Studio.

Live data can be viewed whenever we open the excel file.

STEP 1: Creating a DB table in SAP HANA:

I have created a simple table with 2 field using SAP RIVER Code. Alternately we can also use the table which is created by .HDBTABLE file

@OData

application Rivermohas98.HelloExcelApp{

  export entity exceldata {

  key element employ: String(10);

         element skill: String(10);

       }

}

       

STEP 2: Creating .XSODATA:

I haven’t used the OData created by SAP RIVER.  The Excel file has difficulty to read the OData created by SAP RIVER. So I have alternately created an OData using .XSODATA with name rivertab.xsodata

service namespace “rivermohas98.services” {

“Rivermohas98″.”Rivermohas98::HelloExcelApp.exceldata”

as “Excel”;

}

Testing of OData:

I have inserted a record in the table using Insert SQL.

 

STEP 3: Retrieve SAP HANA DB from Excel:

Now I have an OData which can be accessed. I have chosen an .XSLM file, considering Macros/VBA script can be saved in .XSLM files.

Calling Odata using Power Query:

1. My next step is to access the OData in this Excel File. I am sure there must be multiple ways to access it, I tried using the Excel Add-in PowerPivot.

          2. A pop-up will be displayed for the OData Feed. I have entered the OData which I have created using .XSODATA

          3. Query Editor will be opened. Check the feed and Click on Apply & Close

          4. You will promted for User ID and Password. Alternately you can set the Credentials here.

          5. The below screenshot will help to set the OData Refresh settings. Also you can see the data has been retrieved from SAP HANA DB.

STEP 4:Sending Data from Excel to SAP HANA DB:

Now lets see how to post the data. Data will be posted to SAP by Python code.

1. Installation of Python and XLRD library:

I have installed Python33. The next important step is to install XLRD. XLRD is a library to read .XSLS, .XSLM files in python. I have downloaded the package “xlrd-0.9.3.tar.gz”.

Once downloaded, Unzip, go to Command line (RUN->CMD), Navigate to the folder and run “python setup.py install” in command line. Follow other sources to install python and xlrd.

    2.  Code in VBA:

A code has been written to trigger the Python File in Excel. Go to ALT+F11 and use the below code to trigger your Python file.

Write your code in Worksheet, this will have multiple options when to run this code. I want to trigger the Python code on Saving of the Excel file.

Private Sub Workbook_AfterSave(ByVal Success As Boolean)

Dim pyPrgm As String, pyScript As String

pyPrgm = “C:\Python33\python.exe “

pyScript = “C:\pyt\LoadExcel.py”

Call Shell(pyPrgm & pyScript, vbMaximizedFocus)

End Sub

Explanation for the Highlighted in RED

pyPrgm = “C:\Python33\python.exe ” -> This is the path where Python is installed.

pyScript = “C:\pyt\LoadExcel.py” -> This is where my python code stored to trigger OData.

     3.  Python Code:

Python code is in LoadExcel.py stored in the above mentioned path.

#! /usr/bin/python

# All import files may not require

import os

import requests

import json

import csv

import sys

import xlrd

# OData URL. I am using the OData Created by SAP RIVER. Give the full address of the server.

appURL = ‘http://v………..8008/Rivermohas98/odata/Rivermohas98.HelloExcelApp‘

# Credentials

auth = ‘userid’,’password’

s = requests.Session()

1. s.headers.update({‘Connection’: ‘keep-alive’})

headers = {‘X-CSRF-TOKEN’: ‘Fetch’}

r = s.get(url=appURL, headers=headers, auth=auth)

CSRFtoken = r.headers[‘x-csrf-token’]

print(“CSRFToken: ” + CSRFtoken)

headers = {‘X-CSRF-TOKEN’: CSRFtoken}

url = appURL + “/exceldata”

# Your file has to be in this location. This is the path which we have given in Excel (VBA code). Full path is required

workbook = xlrd.open_workbook(‘C:\pyt\employ.xlsm’)

# Give the worksheet  name

worksheet = workbook.sheet_by_name(‘Sheet1’)

num_rows = worksheet.nrows – 1

num_cells = worksheet.ncols – 1

curr_row = 0

while curr_row < num_rows:

                curr_row += 1

                row = worksheet.row(curr_row)

                print(  row[0], row[1])

                print(  row[0], row[1])

                data = ‘{“employ”: ” ‘ + str(row[0].value) + ‘ “, “skill”: ” ‘ + str(row[1].value) + ‘ ” }’

                # print(“Check Data: ” + data)

                r = s.post(url, data=data, headers=headers)

     4.  Test your Python Code:

You can test your Python Code from command line. Below screenshot is for reference.

STEP 5: Post the data to SAP HANA DB from Excel:

     1. Now add an entry in Excel:

     2. Check the result in SAP HANA:

Now we have two records.

STEP 6: Post the data to SAP HANA DB from Excel:

Now create one more record in SAP HANA table and check whether it is updating the Excel. As Similar to Step 2 and check the result in Excel.

Currently I have only used OData ‘POST’ operation. I believe further operations can be used like PUT & DELETE or triggering the Python Code for GET operation instead of using Excel OData feeds.

Thanks to Philip MUGGLESTONE for his video on Python @ SAP HANA Academy

Thanks for reading.