How to create an RPA flow for RSS Feeds in UiPath Studio

UiPath is a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platform with rich features and an easy-to-use UI that enables non-developers to create process automation. By using UiPath Studio, you can build an RPA program just like drawing a diagram. With the CData ODBC Driver for RSS, users can embed RSS feeds in the workflow.

This article explains how to use the RSS ODBC Driver in UiPath Studio to create an RPA program that accesses RSS feeds.

👁 Using the CData ODBC Data Sources in UiPath

Configure the Connection to RSS

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

You can connect to RSS and Atom feeds, as well as feeds with custom extensions. To connect to a feed, set the URL property. You can also access secure feeds. A variety of authentication mechanisms are supported. See the help documentation for details.

Connect UiPath Studio to RSS Feeds

Now you are ready to use RSS feeds ODBC DSN in UiPath Studio with the following steps.

1. From the Start page, click Blank to create a New Project.
2. Click Manage Packages then search for and install UiPath.Database.Activities.
3. Navigate to the Activities and drop a Flowchart (Workflow -> Flowchart -> Flowchart) onto the process.
4. Drop a database Connect activity (App Integration -> Datbase -> Connect) after the Start activity.
5. Double-click the Connect activity and configure the Connection. 👁 Configure the Connect Activity
   
   1. Click the Connection Wizard
   2. Select "Microsoft ODBC Data Source"
   3. In Connection Properties, select your DSN (CData RSS Source) and click OK
6. To store Connection info, create a variable and bind to Output in the Properties section. Choose DatabaseConnection in Output.
   👁 Bind the Connection to the Output property.
   

Create an Execute Query Activity

With the connection configured, we are ready to query RSS feeds in our RPA.

1. From the Activities navigation, select Execute Query and drop it on the Flowchart.
2. Double-click the Execute Query activity and set the properties as follows:
   • ExistingDbConnection: Your Connection variable
   • Sql: SELECT statement like SELECT Pubdate, Author FROM RSSFeed
   • DataTable: Create and use a variable with the Type System.Data.DataTable
   👁 Set the Query for the ODBC Driver.
   

Create Write CSV Activity

With the Connection and Execute Query activities configured, we are ready to add a Write CSV activity to the Flowchart to replicate the RSS feeds.

1. From the Activities navigation, select Write CSV and drop it after the Execute Query activity.
2. Double-click the Write CSV activity and set the properties as follows:
   • FilePath: Set to a file (new or existing) on disk (i.e.: C:\UiPath[id]-data.csv
   • DataTable: Set to the DataTable variable you created earlier

Connect the Activities and Run the Flowchart

If they are not already connected, connect each Activity that you created to complete the RPA project for extracting RSS feeds and exporting it to CSV.

👁 Connect each Activity in the Flowchart

Click Run to extract RSS feeds and create a CSV file.

👁 Running the RPA Flowchart

In this article, we used the CData ODBC Driver for RSS to create an automation flow that accesses RSS feeds in UiPath Studio. Download a free, 30-day trial of the ODBC Driver and start working with live RSS feeds in UiPath Studio today!