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Twitter API

Eric Elfline
  • Updated

This will require Data Admin privileges to setup and Builder for implementation.

iDashboards is able to connect to the Twitter API by using a JDBC driver. A JDBC driver is a software component enabling a Java application to interact with a database. To connect with individual databases, JDBC (Java Database Connectivity API) requires specific drivers for each database. The JDBC driver gives out the connection to the database and implements the protocol for transferring the query and result between the client and the database. iDashboards implements native protocols and does not require additional software installed on the driver host. In other words, iDashboards provides driver connectivity with the JDBC Data Source via the specified driver. This document explains a step-by-step procedure to create the Data Source with a Premium Data Connector.

CDATA for Twitter

CData JDBC Driver for Twitter is where we get the documentation on making this connection, however, the Premium Data Connectors are not a straight forward process which is why we make articles like this to help you make the connections more easily. This one requires a few steps, with a few different links to get very specific pieces of information to make this connection within iDashboards. The Twitter API is part of the Premium Data Connectors if you do not have these please contact your Client Success Manager. 

Create your Twitter App

  1. Log in to the Twitter Developer Portal
  2. Sign in with your Twitter account and in the upper right click Apps
  3. It should tell you you have no apps so click Create an App
  4. Select a reason for using Twitter developer tools
  5. Click Next 
  6. Fill in all the required information in the subsequent pages, review, and accept terms
  7. Click Submit
  8. Go to your email, click Confirmation in the email and it will open up the Get Started page
  9. Select Create an App
  10. Fill in all the required App Details
    • The Callback URL is http://localhost:6600/idbdata/console/api/callback
  11. When everything is filled in click Create and you'll be taken to the App Details

Creating the Twitter Database URL

In this section we'll be building the connection string to be used later when setting up the data source connection.

  1. Move the Twitter driver to the following location:
    •  C:\Program Files\iDashboards_SRV\ivizgroup\drivers
  2. Double click the driver and it should open the drivers connection properties
    • If clicking doesn't work for you, you can do this via command line:
      • cd C:\Program Files\iDashboardsSRV\ivizgroup\drivers
      • Run the following command: java -jar cdata.jdbc.twitter.jarTwitter.PNG
  3. Scroll to the OAuth section of the connection properties and begin filling in the appropriate fields 
    • Set Initial OAuth to: GETANDREFRESH
    • Callback/Redirect URL: http://<ServerName>:6700/idbdata/console/api/callback
  4. Client ID and Client Secret
    1. These can be found in the Keys and Tokens of your Twitter app
    2. The OAuth Client ID and Client Secret are the API Key and API Secret Key in the Twitter app
  5. OAuth Access Token and Secret: Click the generate button to reveal your access token and secret
  6. Copy all Keys and Secrets to the appropriate fields in the Twitter driver
  7. Then click Test Connection
  8. When your Test comes back successful, click copy to clipboard and paste the connection string into a text file to be used in the data connection within iDashboards.

Data Connection

Follow the steps below to set up a data source in iDashboards Admin or Data Hub.

  1. Select Data Sources
  2. Then click New
  3. For Data Source Type select Generic JDBC 
  4. In the Create a Data Source window fill in the highlighted fields: mceclip1.png\
    1. Database URL*: Paste the connection string you made in Creating the Twitter Database URL
    2. JDBC Driver Class: cdata.jdbc.twitter.TwitterDriver
  5. When it is completed it will look similar to the one below:twitter1.PNG
  6. Click Save, you now are connected to your data source.

For More Information:

Disclaimer: iDashboards Technical Support Engineers are not proficient in the Management and Integration of every API that exists as new APIs are being created everyday with each company that wants to provide seamless integration with other software. However, we do our best to help you make these connections because we want to assist you in your success. If you do not see an article for a connection you would like to make please contact iDashboards Support and know that it will take a bit of time to figure out what is necessary for this integration.

If the above is unable to resolve the issue, then please contact iDashboards Support for further assistance.

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