How to work with Workday Data in Apache Spark using SQL

Apache Spark is a fast and general engine for large-scale data processing. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Workday, Spark can work with live Workday data. This article describes how to connect to and query Workday data from a Spark shell.

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

Getting Started

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Install the CData JDBC Driver for Workday

Download the CData JDBC Driver for Workday installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.

Start a Spark Shell and Connect to Workday Data

1. Open a terminal and start the Spark shell with the CData JDBC Driver for Workday JAR file as the jars parameter:

   $ spark-shell --jars /CData/CData JDBC Driver for Workday/lib/cdata.jdbc.workday.jar
   

2. With the shell running, you can connect to Workday with a JDBC URL and use the SQL Context load() function to read a table.

   To connect to Workday, users need to find the Tenant and BaseURL and then select their API type.

   Obtaining the BaseURL and Tenant

   To obtain the BaseURL and Tenant properties, log into Workday and search for "View API Clients." On this screen, you'll find the Workday REST API Endpoint, a URL that includes both the BaseURL and Tenant.

   The format of the REST API Endpoint is: https://domain.com/subdirectories/mycompany, where:

   • https://domain.com/subdirectories/ is the BaseURL.
   • mycompany (the portion of the url after the very last slash) is the Tenant.
   For example, in the REST API endpoint https://wd3-impl-services1.workday.com/ccx/api/v1/mycompany, the BaseURL is https://wd3-impl-services1.workday.com and the Tenant is mycompany.

   Using ConnectionType to Select the API

   The value you use for the ConnectionType property determines which Workday API you use. See our Community Article for more information on Workday connectivity options and best practices.

   API	ConnectionType Value
   WQL	WQL
   Reports as a Service	Reports
   REST	REST
   SOAP	SOAP

   
   

   Authentication

   Your method of authentication depends on which API you are using.

   • WQL, Reports as a Service, REST: Use OAuth authentication.
   • SOAP: Use Basic or OAuth authentication.

   See the Help documentation for more information on configuring OAuth with Workday.

   Built-in Connection String Designer

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

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.workday.jar
   

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

   👁 Using the built-in connection string designer to generate a JDBC URL (Salesforce is shown.)
   

   Configure the connection to Workday, using the connection string generated above.

   scala> val workday_df = spark.sqlContext.read.format("jdbc").option("url", "jdbc:workday:User=myuser;Password=mypassword;Tenant=mycompany_gm1;BaseURL=https://wd3-impl-services1.workday.com;ConnectionType=WQL;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;").option("dbtable","Workers").option("driver","cdata.jdbc.workday.WorkdayDriver").load()
   

3. Once you connect and the data is loaded you will see the table schema displayed.

4. Register the Workday data as a temporary table:

   scala> workday_df.registerTable("workers")

5. Perform custom SQL queries against the Data using commands like the one below:

   scala> workday_df.sqlContext.sql("SELECT Worker_Reference_WID, Legal_Name_Last_Name FROM Workers WHERE Legal_Name_Last_Name = Morgan").collect.foreach(println)

   You will see the results displayed in the console, similar to the following:

   👁 Data in Apache Spark (Salesforce is shown)
   

Using the CData JDBC Driver for Workday in Apache Spark, you are able to perform fast and complex analytics on Workday data, combining the power and utility of Spark with your data. Download a free, 30 day trial of any of the hundreds of CData JDBC Drivers and get started today.