How to connect Python with DropBox in ODBC

[daniel]

Introduction

This guide will walk you through connecting Python with the DropBox API driver using the DropBox API. Integrating DropBox with Python allows you to automate file storage tasks like uploading, downloading, sharing, and organizing files directly from your Python code. This connection provides seamless interaction with DropBox, enabling you to manage cloud files efficiently and streamline workflows.

Prerequisites

• ODBC PowerPack: Download and install the ZappySys ODBC PowerPack from the Customer Download Area or the trial version.

• DropBox account

• pyodbc: An open-source Python module that makes accessing ODBC databases simple.

Steps

Install pyodbc in Python

You must install pyodbc in Python to establish connections to databases that support ODBC (Open Database Connectivity). This module facilitates communication between Python applications and various database management systems, enabling you to perform operations such as querying, retrieving data, and managing databases.

1. Ensure you have Python installed on your system. If not, download it from the official Python website and follow the installation instructions.

2. Open your terminal or command prompt.

3. Use the following command to install pyodbc using pip, the Python package installer:

python -m pip install pyodbc

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and the necessary permissions to install Python packages.

Reasons to Install:

• If pyodbc is not installed, your Python script will generate the following error:

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pyodbc'

• Database Connectivity: pyodbc allows Python to connect to various databases that support ODBC, such as Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and more.

• Data Operations: It facilitates the execution of SQL queries, data retrieval, and other database operations within Python scripts.

• Cross-Platform Support: pyodbc works with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux distributions.

• Simplicity and Efficiency: The module provides an intuitive interface for managing database transactions and connections, simplifying the process of working with databases in Python.

By installing pyodbc, you can seamlessly integrate your Python applications with a wide range of ODBC-supported databases, enabling efficient and effective data management and analysis.

Create/Select an App from the Dropbox Developers Page

1. Log into your Dropbox account.

2. Go to Dropbox Developers and click the Create app button to create a new app.
   

   

3. Select the Scoped access option when prompted.

4. Choose Full Dropbox to access all files and folders, or App folder to access files in specific folders.

5. Provide a name for your App and click Create App.

6. Under the Permission type section, click Scoped App to select application scopes.

7. Choose all Individual Scopes and Team Scopes if you need to manage team data, then click Submit.

8. Navigate to the Settings tab and copy the App key and App secret to Notepad.

Create a New Driver

1. Open the ODBC Data Source by typing “ODBC” in the search box and launching the ODBC Data Source.
   

2. Go to the User DSN or System DSN tab to access the data source for yourself or other users. Add a new System DSN for SQL Server Integration by clicking the “Add” button.
   

3. Select ZappySys API Driverfrom the driver list, then choose Dropbox in the connector list and press Continue.
   

   

Dropbox Connector Configuration

4. Fill in the connector fields, including Client ID, Client Secret, and Scopes (separated by spaces). Example scopes:

   account_info.read account_info.write files.metadata.write files.metadata.read files.content.write files.content.read
   

5. Generate the token and test the connection.
   
   
6. Go to the Preview Tab, select any table, and preview the result. Press OK to save the configuration.
   
   

Read Data in Python Using ODBC DSN

1. Create a Python file with this code, for example DropBoExample.py:

import pyodbc
conn = pyodbc.connect('DSN=API Driver - DropBox')

cursor = conn.cursor()

#execute a query to fetch data from the API service
cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM list_folder")

row = cursor.fetchone()
print("------------Drop Box & Python----------------")
while row:
    print(row)
    row = cursor.fetchone()

    ##For loop example
    #for row in cursor:
    #    print(row)

2. When you run the code, it will make the API call and read the data:
   
   

Using an Entire ODBC Connection String

You can use a fully qualified connection string to avoid creating multiple DSNs for each platform (x86, x64). Go to your DSN and copy the connection string:

1. Open ODBC data source configuration and click Copy Settings:
   

   

2. The window opens, confirming the connection string was successfully copied to the clipboard:
   

3. Then, in your Python code, use the connection string when initializing the OdbcConnection object, for example:

conn = pyodbc.connect('DRIVER={ZappySys API Driver};ServiceUrl=https://yourservices.provider.com/api/xxxx....;AuthName=Http;')

Conclusion

Following this guide, you’ve learned to connect Python with DropBox using the DropBox API. This integration allows you to automate tasks such as uploading, downloading, and organizing files directly from your Python scripts. With Python’s flexibility and DropBox’s cloud storage capabilities, you can create efficient workflows and handle file management operations seamlessly. If you need assistance, contact the ZappySys support team.

References

• DropBox Connector for Python