Build Zendesk-Connected ETL Processes in Google Data Fusion

Google Data Fusion allows users to perform self-service data integration to consolidate disparate data. Uploading the CData JDBC Driver for Zendesk enables users to access live Zendesk data from within their Google Data Fusion pipelines. While the CData JDBC Driver enables piping Zendesk data to any data source natively supported in Google Data Fusion, this article walks through piping data from Zendesk to Google BigQuery,

Upload the CData JDBC Driver for Zendesk to Google Data Fusion

Upload the CData JDBC Driver for Zendesk to your Google Data Fusion instance to work with live Zendesk data. Due to the naming restrictions for JDBC drivers in Google Data Fusion, create a copy or rename the JAR file to match the following format driver-version.jar. For example: cdatazendesk-2020.jar

1. Open your Google Data Fusion instance
2. Click the to add an entity and upload a driver
3. On the "Upload driver" tab, drag or browse to the renamed JAR file.
4. On the "Driver configuration" tab:
   • Name: Create a name for the driver (cdata.jdbc.zendesk) and make note of the name
   • Class name: Set the JDBC class name: (cdata.jdbc.zendesk.ZendeskDriver)
5. Click "Finish"

Connect to Zendesk Data in Google Data Fusion

With the JDBC Driver uploaded, you are ready to work with live Zendesk data in Google Data Fusion Pipelines.

1. Navigate to the Pipeline Studio to create a new Pipeline
2. From the "Source" options, click "Database" to add a source for the JDBC Driver
3. Click "Properties" on the Database source to edit the properties

   NOTE: To use the JDBC Driver in Google Data Fusion, you will need a license (full or trial) and a Runtime Key (RTK). For more information on obtaining this license (or a trial), contact our sales team.

   • Set the Label
   • Set Reference Name to a value for any future references (i.e.: cdata-zendesk)
   • Set Plugin Type to "jdbc"
   • Set Connection String to the JDBC URL for Zendesk. For example:
     
     jdbc:zendesk:RTK=5246...;URL=https://subdomain.zendesk.com;User=my@email.com;Password=test123;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;

     Connecting to Zendesk

     To connect, set the URL and provide authentication. The URL is your Zendesk Support URL: https://{subdomain}.zendesk.com.

     Authenticating to Zendesk

     You can authenticate using the Basic or OAuth methods.

     Using Basic Authentication

     To use Basic authentication, specify your email address and password or your email address and an API token. Set User to your email address and follow the steps below to provide the Password or ApiToken.

     • Enable password access in the Zendesk Support admin interface at Admin > Channels > API.
     • Manage API tokens in the Zendesk Support Admin interface at Admin > Channels > API. More than one token can be active at the same time. Deleting a token deactivates it permanently.

     Using OAuth Authentication

     See the Getting Started guide in the CData driver documentation for an authentication guide.

     Built-in Connection String Designer

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

     java -jar cdata.jdbc.zendesk.jar

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

   • Set Import Query to a SQL query that will extract the data you want from Zendesk, i.e.:
     SELECT * FROM Tickets
4. From the "Sink" tab, click to add a destination sink (we use Google BigQuery in this example)
5. Click "Properties" on the BigQuery sink to edit the properties
   • Set the Label
   • Set Reference Name to a value like zendesk-bigquery
   • Set Project ID to a specific Google BigQuery Project ID (or leave as the default, "auto-detect")
   • Set Dataset to a specific Google BigQuery dataset
   • Set Table to the name of the table you wish to insert Zendesk data into

With the Source and Sink configured, you are ready to pipe Zendesk data into Google BigQuery. Save and deploy the pipeline. When you run the pipeline, Google Data Fusion will request live data from Zendesk and import it into Google BigQuery.

While this is a simple pipeline, you can create more complex Zendesk pipelines with transforms, analytics, conditions, and more. Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for Zendesk and start working with your live Zendesk data in Google Data Fusion today.