Hey folks, I’m stuck and could use some advice. I’ve got a SQL Server 2016 database with a table called GameStats. It’s got info like player names, scores, and game details. Here’s what I’m trying to do:
I want to push this data to AirTable (it’s an online database platform). I’ve managed to do it using curl from the command line, but I’m clueless about how to do this directly from SQL Server.
Here’s a bit more detail:
My SQL table has columns for game stats (player name, score, zombies killed, etc.)
I can successfully POST to AirTable’s API using curl
The data shows up correctly in AirTable after the curl command
But now I’m scratching my head trying to figure out how to do this API POST directly from SQL Server. Any tips or pointers would be super helpful!
Has anyone done something similar? What’s the best way to approach this in SQL Server? Thanks in advance for any help!
Having worked with SQL Server and external APIs before, I can suggest using SQL Server Agent with PowerShell scripts. This approach offers flexibility and doesn’t require enabling potentially risky features like Ole Automation.
Here’s how you could set it up:
Write a PowerShell script that queries your SQL Server table and formats the data for AirTable.
Use Invoke-RestMethod in the script to send POST requests to AirTable’s API.
Create a SQL Server Agent job that runs this PowerShell script on a schedule.
This method is secure, scalable, and easier to maintain than direct SQL Server integrations. It also allows for better error handling and logging.
Remember to store API keys securely, perhaps using SQL Server’s built-in encryption features. Test thoroughly with small batches before scaling up to your full dataset.
hey alexj, i’ve done similar stuff before. you could try using SQL Server’s built-in CLR integration to write C# code that handles the API calls. alternatively, SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) might work for this. it’s got some tools for web service tasks. hope this helps!
I’ve tackled a similar challenge before, and I found that using SQL Server’s sp_OACreate and sp_OAMethod stored procedures can be quite effective for making API calls directly from SQL Server. These procedures allow you to create COM objects and invoke methods on them, which you can use to send HTTP requests.
Here’s a rough outline of how you might approach this:
Set up a stored procedure that constructs your API request.
Use sp_OACreate to create an instance of MSXML2.XMLHTTP.
Use sp_OAMethod to open a connection, set headers, and send the request.
Handle the response and process it as needed.
Keep in mind that this method requires enabling Ole Automation Procedures in SQL Server, which has security implications. Always ensure you’re following best practices for your environment.
If you’re dealing with large volumes of data or need more robust error handling, you might want to consider building a small C# application that runs as a SQL Server Agent job. This gives you more flexibility and better performance for complex operations.