Connect to SAP BusinessObjects BI Data from PowerBuilder via ODBC

The CData ODBC Driver for SAP BusinessObjects BI can be used from any platform or development technology that supports ODBC, including PowerBuilder. This article shows how to connect to SAP BusinessObjects BI data and execute queries from the Database Painter and controls such as the DataWindow.

Connect to SAP BusinessObjects BI as an ODBC Data Source

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.

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.

Create a Profile for the ODBC Driver for SAP BusinessObjects BI

Follow the steps below to use the Database Painter tool to create a database profile based on an ODBC DSN (data source name) for SAP BusinessObjects BI. In the Database Painter, you can use wizards and the UI to work with SAP BusinessObjects BI data.

1. In PowerBuilder, click Tools -> Database Painter.
2. In the Objects window in the Database Painter, right-click the ODBC node and click New Profile.
3. On the Connection tab, enter a name for the profile and select the SAP BusinessObjects BI DSN in the Data Source menu. 👁 The ODBC DSN, required to create the Database Profile. (Salesforce is shown.)
   
4. To view and modify a table, right-click a table and then click Edit Data -> Grid.

Using SAP BusinessObjects BI Data with PowerBuilder Controls

You can use standard PowerBuilder objects to connect to ODBC data sources and execute queries. The following example shows how to retrieve SAP BusinessObjects BI data into a DataWindow. You can add the following code to the open method:

SQLCA.DBMS = "ODBC"
SQLCA.DBParm = "ConnectString='DSN=CData SAPBusinessObjectsBI Source'"
CONNECT USING SQLCA;
dw_mycustomreport.SetTransObject(SQLCA);
dw_mycustomreport.Retrieve();