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Get the Report →Use JayDeBeApi to access Act CRM Data in Python
Use standard Python scripting and the development environment of your choice to access live Act CRM data.
Access Act CRM data with Python scripts and standard SQL on any machine where Python and Java can be installed. You can use the CData JDBC Driver for Act CRM and the JayDeBeApi module to work with remote Act CRM data in Python. By using the CData Driver, you are leveraging a driver written for industry-proven standards to access your data in the popular Python language. This article shows how to use the driver to execute SQL queries to Act CRM and visualize Act CRM data with standard Python.
Use the JayDeBeApi module
JayDeBeApi is a Python library that serves as a JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) bridge, allowing Python programs to interact with Java databases, including CData JDBC Drivers. Use the pip install command to install the module:
pip install JayDeBeApi
Create the JDBC URL
Once you have JayDeBeApi installed, you are ready to work with Act CRM data in Python using SQL.
The User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid Act! user credentials. In addition to the authentication values, see the following:
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Connecting to Act! Premium
In addition to the authentication values, the URL to Act! is also required; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/.
Additionally, you must specify the ActDatabase you will connect to. This is found by going to the About Act! Premium menu of your account, at the top right of the page, in the ? menu. Use the Database Name in the window that appears.
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Connecting to Act! Premium Cloud
To connect to your Act! Premium Cloud account, you also need to specify the ActCloudName property. This property is found in the URL address of the Cloud account; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/ActCloudName/.
Note that retrieving ActCRM metadata can be expensive. It is advised that you set the CacheMetadata property to store the metadata locally.
Built-in Connection String Designer
For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Act CRM JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.
java -jar cdata.jdbc.actcrm.jar
Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.
Below is a sample variable assignment, including a typical JDBC connection string:
jdbc_url = "jdbc:actcrm:URL=https://myActCRMserver.com;User=myUser;Password=myPassword;ActDatabase=MyDB;"
Access Act CRM data in Python
With the JDBC URL configured, you only need the absolute path to the JDBC driver JAR file, which is in the "lib" folder in the installation directory ("C:\Program Files\CData[product_name] 20XX\lib\cdata.jdbc.actcrm.jar" on Windows).
NOTE: If you haven't already, set the JAVA_HOME environment variable to the Java installation directory.
Use code similar to the follow to read and print data from Act CRM:
import jaydebeapi
#The JDBC connection string
jdbc_url = "jdbc:actcrm:URL=https://myActCRMserver.com;User=myUser;Password=myPassword;ActDatabase=MyDB;"
username = "****"
password = "****"
#The absolute Path to the JDBC driver JAR file, typically:
jdbc_driver_jar = "C:\Program Files\CData[product_name] 20XX\lib\cdata.jdbc.actcrm.jar"
conn = jaydebeapi.connect(
"cdata.jdbc.actcrm.ActCRMDriver",
jdbc_url,
[username, password],
jdbc_driver_jar,
)
cursor = conn.cursor()
cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM Activities;")
results = cursor.fetchall()
for row in results:
print(row)
cursor.close()
conn.close()
Free trial & more information
Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for Act CRM and start working with your live Act CRM data in Python. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.