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Extend Google Sheets with SAP BusinessObjects BI Data
Make calls to the API Server from Google Apps Script.
Interact with SAP BusinessObjects BI data from Google Sheets through macros, custom functions, and add-ons. The CData API Server, when paired with the ADO.NET Provider for SAP BusinessObjects BI (or any of 200+ other ADO.NET Providers), enables connectivity to SAP BusinessObjects BI data from cloud-based and mobile applications like Google Sheets. The API Server is a lightweight Web application that produces OData services for SAP BusinessObjects BI and any source supported by the CData ADO.NET Providers.
Google Apps Script can consume these OData services in the JSON format. This article shows how to create a simple add-on that populates a Google Spreadsheet with MyCustomReport data.
Set Up the API Server
Follow the steps below to begin producing secure SAP BusinessObjects BI OData services:
Deploy
The API Server runs on your own server. On Windows, you can deploy using the stand-alone server or IIS. On a Java servlet container, drop in the API Server WAR file. See the help documentation for more information and how-tos.
The API Server is also easy to deploy on Microsoft Azure, Amazon EC2, and Heroku.
Connect to SAP BusinessObjects BI
After you deploy the API Server and the ADO.NET Provider for SAP BusinessObjects BI, provide authentication values and other connection properties needed to connect to SAP BusinessObjects BI by clicking Settings -> Connections and adding a new connection in the API Server administration console.
To connect to your SAP Business Objects BI instance, you must set the following connection properties:
- Url: set this to the rest API URL. After logging into the Central Management Console, choose 'Applications' from the combo box. Double-click on 'RESTful Web Service' and you'll see the access URL. By default it is, http://{Server-Name}:6405/biprws.
- User: set this to the username of your instance.
- Password: set this to the password of your instance.
You can then choose the SAP BusinessObjects BI entities you want to allow the API Server to access by clicking Settings -> Resources.
Authorize API Server Users
After determining the OData services you want to produce, authorize users by clicking Settings -> Users. The API Server uses authtoken-based authentication and supports the major authentication schemes. Access can also be restricted based on IP address: Connections from all addresses except localhost are blocked by default, so you will need to allow connections from Google's servers for this article. You can authenticate as well as encrypt connections with SSL.
Retrieve SAP BusinessObjects BI Data
Open the Script Editor from your spreadsheet by clicking Tools -> Script Editor. In the Script Editor, add the following function to populate a spreadsheet with the results of an OData query:
function retrieve(){
var url = "https://MyUrl/api.rsc/MyCustomReport?select=Id,StoreName,TotalRevenue,State";
var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url,{
headers: {"Authorization": "Basic " + Utilities.base64Encode("MyUser:MyAuthtoken")}
});
var json = response.getContentText();
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
var a1 = sheet.getRange('a1');
var index=1;
var mycustomreport = JSON.parse(json).value;
var cols = [["Id","StoreName","TotalRevenue","State"]];
sheet.getRange(1,1,1,4).setValues(cols);
row=2;
for(var i in mycustomreport){
for (var j in mycustomreport[i]) {
switch (j) {
case "Id":
a1.offset(row,0).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
case "StoreName":
a1.offset(row,1).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
case "TotalRevenue":
a1.offset(row,2).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
case "State":
a1.offset(row,3).setValue(account[i][j]);
break;
}
}
row++;
}
}
Follow the steps below to add an installable trigger to populate the spreadsheet when opened:
- Click Resources -> Current Project's Triggers -> Add a New Trigger.
- Select retrieve in the Run menu.
- Select From Spreadsheet.
- Select On open.
After closing the dialog, you are prompted to allow access to the application.
You can test the script by clicking Publish -> Test as Add-On. Select the version, installation type, and spreadsheet to create a test configuration. You can then select and run the test configuration.
