Build Semantic Layer Views for Adobe Commerce Data in APOS Live Data Gateway

APOS Live Data Gateway (LDG) is a data connection and data transformation solution that enables live data connectivity and expanded data source options for SAP Analytics Cloud and other SAP solutions. When paired with CData Connectors, users can build semantic layer views for live Adobe Commerce data, enabling real-time analytics on Adobe Commerce just like working with a relational database.

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

Download and Install the Connector Files

In order to access Adobe Commerce data through the APOS Live Data Gateway, you will need to download the connector files from APOS and install them on the machine hosting the Live Data Gateway. An APOS representative can deliver the necessary files.

• Install the CData DLL file (System.Data.CData.Adobe Commerce.dll) to the APOS Live Data Gateway installation directory (C:\Program Files\Live Data Gateway\Admin\ by default).
• Install the CData JAR file (cdata.jdbc.adobe commerce.jar) to the ConnectionTest_lib folder in the installation directory (C:\Program Files\Live Data Gateway\Admin\ConnectionTest_lib\ by default).
• Install the CData JAR file (cdata.jdbc.adobe commerce.jar) to the lib folder in the Web UI installation directory (e.g.: C:\LDG_WebUI\lib\)

Configuring the Adobe Commerce Connection String

Before establishing the connection to Adobe Commerce from the APOS Live Data Gateway, you need to configure the Adobe Commerce JDBC Connection String.

Built-in Connection String Designer

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

java -jar cdata.jdbc.adobe commerce.jar

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

Adobe Commerce uses the OAuth 1 authentication standard. To connect to the Adobe Commerce REST API, obtain values for the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL connection properties by registering an app with your Adobe Commerce system. See the "Getting Started" section in the help documentation for a guide to obtaining the OAuth values and connecting.

You will also need to provide the URL to your Adobe Commerce system. The URL depends on whether you are using the Adobe Commerce REST API as a customer or administrator.

• Customer: To use Adobe Commerce as a customer, make sure you have created a customer account in the Adobe Commerce homepage. To do so, click Account -> Register. You can then set the URL connection property to the endpoint of your Adobe Commerce system.

• Administrator: To access Adobe Commerce as an administrator, set CustomAdminPath instead. This value can be obtained in the Advanced settings in the Admin menu, which can be accessed by selecting System -> Configuration -> Advanced -> Admin -> Admin Base URL.

  If the Use Custom Admin Path setting on this page is set to YES, the value is inside the Custom Admin Path text box; otherwise, set the CustomAdminPath connection property to the default value, which is "admin".

Your connection string will look similar to the following:

jdbc:Adobe Commerce:OAuthClientId=MyConsumerKey;OAuthClientSecret=MyConsumerSecret;CallbackURL=http://127.0.0.1:33333;Url=https://myAdobe Commercehost.com;

Connecting to Adobe Commerce & Creating a Semantic Layer View

After installing the connector files and configuring the connection string, you are ready to connect to Adobe Commerce in the Live Data Gateway Admin tool and build a semantic layer view in the Live Data Gateway Web UI.

Configuring the Connection to Adobe Commerce

1. Log into your APOS Live Data Gateway Manager 👁 Logging into the APOS LDG Manager
   
2. If you haven't already, update your APOS LDG license file
   1. Click File -> Configurations
   2. Click on the "..." Menu for the License
   3. Select the license file from the APOS team that includes your CData Connector license
3. In the APOS Live Data Gateway Manager, click "Add"
4. In the APOS Live Data Gateway On the Connection tab, configure the connection:
   • Set Data Source to "Database"
   • Set Database to "CData Drivers"
   • Set Database CData Drivers to "Adobe Commerce"
   • Set Connection String to the connection string configured earlier (e.g.:

     jdbc:Adobe Commerce:OAuthClientId=MyConsumerKey;OAuthClientSecret=MyConsumerSecret;CallbackURL=http://127.0.0.1:33333;Url=https://myAdobe Commercehost.com;

   • Set Driver Class to "cdata.jdbc.adobe commerce.Adobe CommerceDriver" (this should be set by default)
   👁 Configuring the Connection (Salesforce is shown).
   
5. Click Test Connection
6. Click Save
7. Give your connection a unique prefix (e.g. "adobe commerce")
8. Highlight the newly created connection and click File -> "Approve Users For Web UI" 👁 Approving Users For Web UI.
   
9. Approve the appropriate DB users to create views and click "Save" 👁 Configuring which DB users can create views.
   

At this point, we are ready to build our semantic layer view in the Live Data Gateway Web UI.

Creating a Semantic Layer View

1. In your browser, navigate to the APOS Live Data Gateway Portal
2. Select a Connection (e.g. "adobe commerce")
3. Since Adobe Commerce does not require a User or Password to authenticate, you may use whatever values you wish for User Name and Password
4. Click "Login" 👁 Connecting from the Web UI (Salesforce is shown).
   
5. Once connected, click "Semantic Layer" to create a new semantic layer view
6. Click "New Semantic Layer View" 👁 Adding a new semantic layer view.
   
7. Set the Semantic Layer View Prefix and Semantic Layer View Name 👁 Setting the semantic layer view prefix and name.
   
8. Click "Step 2"
9. Select the table(s) and column(s) you wish to include in your view 👁 Selecting table(s) and column(s).
   
10. Click "Step 3"
11. Select the Measures from the available table columns 👁 Selecting the measure(s).
    
12. Click "Step 5" (we skipped the "Extra Dimensions" step)
13. Add any Variable Prompts
14. Click "Step 6"
15. Define any Table Joins
16. Click "Review"
17. Review you semantic layer view and click "Save" 👁 Saving the semantic layer view.
    

With the Semantic Layer View created, you are ready to access your Adobe Commerce data through the APOS Live Data Gateway, enabling real-time data connectivity to Adobe Commerce data from SAP Analytics Cloud and other SAP solutions.

More Information & Free Evaluation

Please visit APOS Systems - APOS Solutions - Request Evaluation Software to request evaluation software or email [email protected] for more information on working with your live Adobe Commerce data in APOS Live Data Gateway.