Connect to Quickbase Data in the Denodo Platform

Denodo Platform is a data virtualization product providing a single point of contact for enterprise database data. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Quickbase, Denodo users can work with live Quickbase data alongside other enterprise data sources. This article walks through creating a virtual data source for Quickbase in the Denodo Virtual DataPort Administrator.

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

Create the Quickbase Virtual Port

To connect to live Quickbase data from Denodo, you need to copy the JDBC Driver JAR file to the external library directory for Denodo and create a new JDBC Data Source from the Virtual DataPort Administrator tool.

1. Download the CData JDBC Driver for Quickbase installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.
2. Copy the JAR File (and license file if it exists) from the installation location (typically C:\Program Files\CData\CData JDBC Driver for Quickbase\lib\) to the Denodo external library directory (C:\Denodo\Denodo Platform\lib-external\jdbc-drivers\cdata-quickbase-19).
3. Open the Denodo Virtual DataPort Administrator tool and navigate to the Server Explorer tab.
4. Right-click "admin" and select New -> Data source -> JDBC.
5. Configure the JDBC Connection:
   • Name: your choice, e.g.: quickbase
   • Database adapter: Generic
   • Driver class path: C:\Denodo\Denodo Platform\lib-external\jdbc-drivers\cdata-quickbase-19
   • Driver class: cdata.jdbc.quickbase.QuickBaseDriver

   • Database URI: Set this to a JDBC URL using the necessary connection properties. For example,

     jdbc:quickbase:User=user@domain.com;Password=password;Domain=myinstance.quickbase.com;ApplicationToken=bwkxrb5da2wn57bzfh9xn24

     Information on creating the Database URI follows:

     Built-In Connection String Designer

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

     java -jar cdata.jdbc.quickbase.jar

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

     User Authentication Method

     To authenticate with user credentials, specify the following connection properties:

     1. Set the User and Password.
     2. If your application requires an ApplicationToken;, you must provide it otherwise an error will be thrown. You can find the ApplicationToken under SpecificApp > Settings > App management > App properties > Advanced settings > Security options > Manage Application Token.

     User Token Authentication

     To authenticate with a user token, specify the following connection properties:

     1. Set UserToken and you are ready to connect. You can find the UserToken under Quick Base > My Preferences > My User Information > Manage User Tokens.
6. Click the "Test connection" button to confirm the configuration and click Save.