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Connect to Xero Data in JRuby
Create a simple JRuby app with access to live Xero data.
JRuby is a high-performance, stable, fully threaded Java implementation of the Ruby programming language. The CData JDBC Driver for Xero makes it easy to integrate connectivity to live Xero data in JRuby. This article shows how to create a simple JRuby app that connects to Xero data, executes a query, and displays the results.
About Xero Data Integration
Accessing and integrating live data from Xero has never been easier with CData. Customers rely on CData connectivity to:
- Connect to Xero Accounts and both US and Australian Payroll APIs.
- Read, write, update, and delete ServiceNow objects like Customers, Transactions, Invoices, Sales Receipts and more.
- Use SQL stored procedures for actions like adding items to a cart, submitting orders, and downloading attachments.
- Work with accounting, payroll, file, fixed asset, and project data.
Customers regularly integrate their Xero data with preferred tools, like Tableau, Qlik Sense, or Excel, and integrate Xero data into their database or data warehouse.
Getting Started
Configure a JDBC Connection to Xero Data
Before creating the app, note the installation location for the JAR file for the JDBC Driver (typically C:\Program Files\CData\CData JDBC Driver for Xero\lib).
JRuby natively supports JDBC, so you can easily connect to Xero and execute SQL queries. Initialize the JDBC connection with the getConnection function of the java.sql.DriverManager class.
To connect, set the Schema connection property in addition to any authentication values. Xero offers authentication for private applications, public applications, and partner applications. You will need to set the XeroAppAuthentication property to PUBLIC, PRIVATE, or PARTNER, depending on the type of application configured. To connect from a private application, you will additionally need to set the OAuthAccessToken, OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, CertificateStoreType, CertificateStore, and CertificateStorePassword.
To connect from a public or partner application, you can use the embedded OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL, or you can register an app to obtain your own OAuth values.
See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide to authenticating to Xero.
Built-in Connection String Designer
For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Xero JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.
java -jar cdata.jdbc.xero.jar
Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.
Below is a typical JDBC connection string for Xero:
jdbc:xero:InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH
Create a JRuby App with Connectivity to Xero Data
Create a new Ruby file (for example: XeroSelect.rb) and open it in a text editor. Copy the following code into your file:
require 'java'
require 'rubygems'
require 'C:/Program Files/CData/CData JDBC Driver for Xero 2018/lib/cdata.jdbc.xero.jar'
url = "jdbc:xero:InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH"
conn = java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(url)
stmt = conn.createStatement
rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT Name, QuantityOnHand FROM Items")
while (rs.next) do
puts rs.getString(1) + ' ' + rs.getString(2)
end
With the file completed, you are ready to display your Xero data with JRuby. To do so, simply run your file from the command line:
jruby -S XeroSelect.rb
Writing SQL-92 queries to Xero allows you to quickly and easily incorporate Xero data into your own JRuby applications. Download a free trial today!
Ready to get started?
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Xero JDBC Driver
Complete read-write access to Xero accounting enables developers to search (Customers, Transactions, Invoices, Sales Receipts, etc.), update items, edit customers, and more, from any Java/J2EE application.
