Convert DBF to CSV using Azure Data Factory - azure

I'm trying to daily load a bunch of tables on Azure SQL DW using Azure Data Factory but I need some help converting DBF tables (to CSV would be nice) prior to loading them up. Can anyone indicate a good way to do this?

You can leverage the custom activity in ADF to covert the DBF files to CSV first. Here's the pointer on how to leverage the custom activity: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/data-factory-use-custom-activities/ . After the CSV files are created use the copy activity in ADF to copy them to Azure SQL DW.
Thanks, Harish

Related

How can I import Excel file (.xlsx) into Azure SQL Database

I have data in an Excel file (.xlsx). I have to get this data into Azure SQL Database. Table already exists. I am using Azure Database Studio.
I have tried online query generator but it is mixing up the data.
There are multiple approaches to import Excel file into Azure SQL DB. Below I am showing one approach of using Copy activity in Azure Data Factory.
Sample Excel file with 3 columns.
SQL DB with table having same 3 fields.
Use Excel file as Source.
Use Azure SQL database as Sink.
For mapping click on Import Schema and do the mapping.
Finally run pipeline.
Expected Output:-

How to convert excel file to CSV using SSIS Script or Azure Logic apps task from One Azure blob container to another

Receiving an excel file every day with one sheet(Sheet name will be the different every time) and that will be stored in Azure Blob container and is there any possibility to convert the excel to CSV either by using SSIS script Task or Azure Logic Apps.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
There are many ways we can do that.
With Logic app, you could ref the answer here:
Converting should be pretty easy. On high level, you can do following:
Use Excel connector to read into the content of the excel file
Use Data Operations - Create CSV Table to create a CSV format populated with dynamic data from step #1
Use Azure Blob Connector to create and save the new csv file on the blob storage
Since the excel is stored in Blob Storage, I would suggest you use Data factory, it supports Excel file directly:
Create the Source dataset:
Create Sink dataset: set the new csv file name:
Copy active overview:
It works well and very easy and directly:

Azure Data Lake Excel Export To CSV as Same Folder / Path

have you ever made an azure data convert Azure Data Lake excel conversion to CSV file.
first, I have tried using SSIS with Azure Data Lake Source, but when Mapping is not possible, the choice is to add text.
second, says try using azure apps logic with create CSV table but the csv that comes out is only the structure in that folder
Thank you in advance
There is not a built-in way to extract from excel file in Azure data lake. I would suggest you to try one of the below approaches:
Write Custom .NET library for converting Excel to CSV and deploy that to Azure Data Lake Analytics. Azure Data Lake Analytics Programming Guide
Write a custom .NET activity in Azure Data Factory to do this. Custom Activities in Azure Data Factory
Use Azure Functions and Open XML do this activity as detailed in the stack overflow post
Use SSIS Package to do the conversion. You can have SSIS Runtimes in Azure Data Factory. SSIS packages running in Azure Data Factory
As I know about Azure, These isn't any way can help convert the excel file to csv directly.
You could follow these steps:
Download the excel file to you computer.
Import the excel file to the you SQL database.
Then export the table data as CSV file to you Blob Storage.
You could reference this document:
Import data from Excel to SQL Server or Azure SQL Database
Connect to Azure Blob Storage (SQL Server Import and Export
Wizard)
Hope this helps.

How to decide between Azure Data Lake vs Azure SQL vs Azure Data Lake Analytics vs Azure SQL VM?

I am new to Azure and hence trying to understand what services to use when and how.
At the moment, I have one excel file that has couple of tabs that require some transformation to create one excel file tab (inside the source file itself - say Tab "x"). The final tab "x" created is then being useful for creating one final excel file that is shared to various team.
At present, everything is done manually.
This needs to change and the excel file shared to team has to be automated. The source of the file is the excel file that has various tabs (excluding tab "x") and the reporting tool will be SSRS with excel data being stored in cloud.
Keeping this scenario in mind, what is the best way to store excel data into cloud? The excel data will be stored in cloud on a monthly basis. I am confused as to whether to store data in Azure-SQL, Azure Data Lake Gen 2 or Azure Data Lake Analytics or Azure SQL VM?
Every month data can be fetched from Excel file and populate into Azure using azure data factory. But I am not sure what is the best way to store data in the cloud considering the fact that some ETL process is needed to generate data in format similar to tab "X".
I think you can think about to using Azure SQL database.
Azure SQL database or SQL server support you import data from the excel( or csv) files. For more details and limits, please see: Import data from Excel to SQL Server or Azure SQL Database.
If your data have stored in Azure SQL database, you also can using EXCEL to get the data from Azure SQL database:
Connect Excel to a single database in Azure SQL Database and import data and create tables and charts based on values in the database. In this tutorial you will set up the connection between Excel and a database table, save the file that stores data and the connection information for Excel, and then create a pivot chart from the database values.
Reference: Import data from Excel to SQL Server or Azure SQL Database.
I think you don't need to store these excel files in Azure Data Lake.Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is a set of capabilities dedicated to big data analytics, built on Azure Blob storage. It's still a storage.
The more Azure resource you use, the more cost you need to pay.
If your excel file stored in you local computer, you can using Azure Data Factory to access these local files or with self host integration runtime.
Please referenceļ¼š Copy data to or from a file system by using Azure Data Factory.
Hope this helps.
Your storage requirements are very minimal, so I would select Data Lake to store your documents. The alternative is Blob Storage, but I always prefer Data Lake because it works with Azure Active Directory.
In your scenario, drop it in the ADL, and use the ADL as the source in Azure Data Factory.
Edit:
Honestly, your original post is a little confusing. You have a RAW Excel document, you do some transformations on the RAW document, to generate an Excel Source document. This source document holds the final dataset that the dev team will use to build out SSRS reports. You need to make this dataset available to the teams so that they can connect to it to build the reports? My suggestion is to keep it simple and drop the final source dataset in Excel format, into blob or data lake storage and then ask the dev guys to pick it up from the location. If you are going the route of designing and maintaining a data pipeline (Blob > Data Factory > SQL, or CSV, TSV - then you are introducing unnecessary complications.

Bulk upload Excel to SQL Azure daily

I have a requirement to bulk upload data from a excel file to an Azure SQL table on a daily basis. I did some research and found that we could create a VM install full SQL and use SSIS package to do this.
Is there any other reliable way to go about this? The excel may contain up to 10,000 rows.
I have also read we could upload file to a blob storage and read from there but found it's not very robust approach.
Can anyone suggest if this is feasible approach-
Place excel file in Azure Website accessed via FTP
Azure Timer job using SQL Bulk copy code to update the SQL table
Any help would be highly appreciated!
You could use Azure Data Factory - check out the documentation here. Place your files in Azure Data Lake and the ADF will process them.

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