Create Dropbox-Connected Nintex Workflows

Nintex Workflow Cloud is a cloud-based platform where you can design workflows to automate simple or complex processes using drag-and-drop interactions — without writing any code. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant, cloud-to-cloud access to Dropbox data for business applications. This article shows how to create a virtual database for Dropbox in Connect Server and build a simple workflow from Dropbox data in Nintex.

CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for Dropbox, allowing you to build workflows from live Dropbox data in Nintex Workflow Cloud — without replicating the data to a natively supported database. Nintex allows you to access data directly using SQL queries. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc.) directly to Dropbox, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested Dropbox data.

Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for Dropbox Data

CData Connect Server uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources and generate APIs.

1. Log into Connect Server and click Connections.
2. Select "Dropbox" from Available Data Sources.
3. Dropbox uses OAuth to authenticate. Click Connect to authenticate with Dropbox.
4. Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions.

With the virtual database created, you are ready to connect to Dropbox data from Nintex.

Connect to Dropbox in Nintex

The steps below outline creating a new connection for access to Dropbox CData Connect Server from Nintex to create a new Dropbox data source.

1. Log into Nintex Workflow Cloud
2. In the Connections tab, click "Add new"
3. Select SQL Server as the connector and click "Connect"
4. In the SQL Server connection wizard, set the following properties:
   • Connection Name: name the connection (e.g., CData Connect Server Dropbox Connection)
   • Username: your Connect Server username
   • Password: your Connect Server password
   • Database Host: your Connect Server SQL Server endpoint (e.g., connect_server_url)
   • Database Name: the virtual Dropbox database (e.g., Dropbox1)
5. Click "Connect"
6. Configure the connection permissions and click "Save permissions"

Create a Simple Dropbox Workflow

With the connection to CData Connect Server configured, we are ready to build a simple workflow to access Dropbox data. Start by clicking the "Create workflow" button.

Configure the Start Event Action

1. Click the start event task and select the "Form" event
2. Click "Design form"
3. Drag a "Text - Long" element onto the Form and click the element to configure it
   • Set "Title" to "Enter SQL query"
   • Set "Required" to true
4. Drag a "Text - Short" element onto the Form and click the element to configure it
   • Set "Title" to "Enter desired result column"
   • Set "Required" to true

Configure an "Execute a Query" Action

1. Add an "Execute a query" action after the "Start event: Form" action and click to configure the action
2. Set "SQL Script" to the "Enter SQL Query" variable from the "Start event" action
3. Set "Column to retrieve" to the "Enter desired result column" variable from the "Start event" action
4. Set "Retrieved column" to a new variable (e.g., "values")

Configure a "Send an Email" Action

1. Add a "Send an email" action after the "Execute a query" action and click to configure the action
2. Set the "Recipient email address"
3. Set the "Subject"
4. Set the "Message body" to the variable created for the retrieved column

Once you configure the actions, click "Save," name the Workflow, and click "Save" again. You now have a simple workflow that will query Dropbox using SQL and send an email with the results.

To learn more about SQL data access to 200+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from your cloud applications, check out the CData Connect Server. Sign up for a free trial and reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.