Import data from SQL Server | Zoho Analytics On-Premise

Import data from SQL Server


If you have your data stored in SQL Server local database, then you can easily import your data into Zoho Analytics for reporting & analysis. Zoho Analytics allows you to either import the data into Zoho Analytics or connect directly with the SQL Server server.
  • Data Import: Data in SQL Server will be imported and stored in Zoho Analytics. You can setup periodic schedules to fetch the latest data automatically from your SQL Server database. Report loading time will be faster as the data is stored in Zoho Analytics.
  • Live Connect: In this mode, data will not be fetched from SQL Server and stored in Zoho Analytics. Instead for the reports that you create Zoho Analytics will generate appropriate queries that will connect the required data live from SQL Server to Zoho Analytics and show you the report. In this case the loading time will directly depend on the performance of SQL Server.

Data Import

1. How do I import data from the SQL Server?

2. How can I edit the setup?

3. How long does it take for the data to be imported into Zoho Analytics? 

After setup, you might have to wait sometime for the initial fetch to happen. This depends upon the amount of data to be imported into Zoho Analytics and also the response time of your local database. You will receive an email notification once the import is complete. Please note that if you access the workspace before the initial fetch, it will not display any data.​

4. How can I schedule import from SQL Server?

Zoho Analytics allows you to schedule the import anytime. You can schedule the import for an existing table by following the steps below. 

  1. Open the workspace.
  2. Click Data Source from the side panel. 
  3. All data sources for this workspace will be listed. Click the required SQL Server data source.
  4. The Data Source page will open. Click the Sync Settings button.  
  5. The Local Database - Synchronization Settings will open.
     

     
  6. Select the schedule interval you need in the Repeat drop-down. Supported intervals are:
    • Not Scheduled
    • Every 'N' Hours
    • Every Day
    • Weekly Once
    • Monthly Once
  7. Select when the data need to be imported in Perform option. 
  8. In the Notify me after every 'N' Import Failure (s) option, set the number of consecutive import failure after which you need to be notified.
  9. Click Save. The data for your SQL Server will be imported into Zoho Analytics in the set interval. 

You can also schedule the import during initial import setup, using the Schedule Setting option in the Step 4 of Import Wizard.

5. Will I be notified on import failures?

Yes, you will be notified after consecutive import failure, in case it occurs. You can set the number of consecutive import failures after which you need to be notified in the Notify me after every 'N' Import Failure (s) option of the schedule import.

6. Will foreign keys defined between my tables in the SQL Server be linked in Zoho Analytics as well? 

When importing multiple tables, the foreign keys defined between the tables in SQL Server will be linked in Zoho Analytics. The foreign keys will be created as Look-up columns in Zoho Analytics. 

If you import data from one table at a time (using the single table option) then the foreign keys will not be defined. However, you can manually link the tables in Zoho Analytics using the Look-up column feature. Click here to learn about the Look-up column feature.

7. Can I change the data type of the columns imported in Zoho Analytics? 

Yes, you can change the data type of the columns imported into Zoho Analytics. However it is necessary that the data type of your column is compatible with the data type of the column in your SQL Server for successful data synchronizations. It is always recommended that you change the data type in both your SQL Server as well as your Zoho Analytics workspace.

8. I have synced data from a database into a table. Can I change the data source of this table? 

Yes, you can change the data source of the table into which the SQL Server has been synced. 

Follow the below steps to import if the source is available in the same SQL Server that is imported into the table. 

  1. Open the workspace. Select the Import Data option from the side panel and click Import into this Table.
  2. The Select Data to Import tab of the Import wizard will open. 
  3. You can choose to import from a different table using the Select Table option or import using the Custom Query option.
​ 

Follow the below steps to import data if the source is available in a different local database.

  1. Open the workspace and select the Data Source option from the side panel.
  2. All data sources for this workspace will be listed. Select the data source you wish to edit, and click Edit connection in the page that appears.
  3. In the Local Database - Edit Connection dialog that opens, modify the data source. ​

9. Can I import data from SQL Server into an existing Zoho Analytics workspace?

Yes. Follow the below steps to import data into an existing workspace:

  1. Open the workspace into which you wish to import the data.
  2. Navigate through Create > New Table / Import Data.
  3. Click the Local Databases option. 

Configuring the import will be similar to the steps followed in this presentation.

10. How do I remove the Setup?

To remove the setup,

  1. Open the required workspace and click Data Source tab from the side panel. The Data Source page will open.
  2. Click the Settings icon.
  3. Select Remove Data Source from the drop-down menu that opens.
​​

Please note that the data source connection will be removed, but the tables and the data will be retained in the workspace. As the data source connected is removed, no further synchronization will happen.

Live Connect

1. How do I connect live with the database?

2. How do I edit the live connection setup?

3. How is live connection different from data import?

Tabulated below are the differences between data import and live connections

Data Import Live Connect
Data will be imported from your database and stored in Zoho Analytics. Data from the database will be fetched live using appropriate reporting queries whenever you create or access a report in Zoho Analytics.
Filtered data set can be imported from the database using customized queries. Custom queries cannot be created while importing data using live connections. 
Multiple data sources can be imported into the same workspace and combined. Cannot import data from any other data source into the same workspace in which live connection is configured.
Changes made to the columns such as addition/deletion will be synchronized automatically. Any changes, such as column addition/deletion/renaming, will not be reflected. You will have to manually map the data using the Sync Design option.
Users can create query tables. Users cannot create query tables.
Report loading time will be fast as the data is stored in Zoho Analytics. Report loading time directly depends on the database server's response time and the amount of data in the database.

4. How long does it take for me to visualize my data in Zoho Analytics?

As there is no data import process involved, the loading time depends upon the amount of data stored in your database and also the response time of your database server.

5. Will foreign keys defined between my tables in database be linked in Zoho Analytics as well?

Yes. In case you have linked two or more tables in your database using foreign keys, they will be linked automatically using a lookup column in Zoho Analytics as well. Click here to learn more about lookup columns.

6. I got an alert message "This view cannot be accessed due to some changes made in the table" while accessing my tables/reports in Zoho Analytics. What should I do?

This alert message will be displayed when Zoho Analytics is not able to access the information from the database. This could be because the tables/columns that you are trying to access in Zoho Analytics is deleted or renamed in the database.

In this case, it is recommended that you remap the table/column. Refer to this presentation to know how to remap a table.

7. What is a Mismatch?

When you have created reports in Zoho Analytics over tables or columns which no longer have a direct mapping in the database, it will be listed as a mismatch. To avoid mismatches, ensure the tables and columns in the Zoho Analytics workspace matches those in the database. 

8. When do Mismatches occur and how do I resolve them?

9. How to reflect the meta data changes of individual tables from the local database instantly?

When you have meta data changes on any one of your tables or all the involved tables, you can instantly reflect those changes in Zoho Analytics. Changes in meta data include updates to the table such as column addition and deletion. Follow the steps below to do this.

  • Open the required workspace, and click the Data Sources tab from the side panel.

  • Navigate to the required data source, and click the Sync option that appears on mouse over the required table name.

  • The meta data changes of the selected table will be reflected instantly from the local database to the Zoho Analytics table.

You can also update the meta data of all tables from the local database together by clicking the Sync Design button.

10. Can I connect new columns added in my database to Zoho Analytics?

Yes, you can connect the new columns that are added in your database to Zoho Analytics from the Connection Settings page. Refer to this presentation to know more.

Note:

In case of mismatches, Zoho Analytics will not be able to fetch new columns from the database. Follow the steps stated in the previous question to resolve mismatches, and proceed with connecting to new columns. 

11. Can I change the data-type of the columns in Zoho Analytics?

No, you cannot change the data type of the columns in Zoho Analytics.

12. Can I import data from other data sources into the same workspace that I have used to connect with the database?

No, you cannot import data from other data sources into the same workspace that you have used to connect with the database.

13. Can I create query tables over the data?

No, you will not be able to create query tables if you have setup the workspace using the Live Connect option. This is because this option does not fetch and store the data locally in Zoho Analytics. If you wish to create query tables, please use the Data Import option.

14. What happens when I delete or rename the database in SQL Server?

When you delete or rename a database in SQL Server, Zoho Analytics loses its connectivity with the database. Thereafter, a warning message, as shown below, would be displayed. This error message will also be displayed if there are any connectivity issues or if your database credentials have expired.

For more information regarding the same, refer to the Edit Connection presentation.

15. How do I remove the setup?

You have to delete the workspace in Zoho Analytics to remove the connection setup. 

To delete the workspace,

  1. Log in to Zoho Analytics
  2. Click the More Actions icon that appears on mouse hover adjacent to the workspace name that you want to delete
  3. Click the Delete Workspace option

16. What are the limitations of using live connections?

Given below are a few short comings that one might face while using the Live Connect option.

  • Data from your database will not be locally stored in Zoho Analytics. Zoho Analytics will generate appropriate queries to fetch the required data live from your database and show you the report. Hence, the loading time will directly depend on the performance of SQL Server.
  • Any changes such as column addition/deletion/renaming will not be mapped automatically. The user must manually map the updates.
  • Users cannot combine data from other data sources into the same workspace in which you have connected the database. 
  • Users cannot create query tables.

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