Import data from Microsoft SQL Azure

If you have your data stored online in the Microsoft SQL Azure database, then you can easily import your data into Zoho Analytics for reporting & analysis. You can easily setup data import from these cloud databases using the simple setup wizard. You can also set up schedules to periodically fetch the latest data from your Microsoft SQL Azure database.

1. Preamble: Why should I white list Zoho Analytics IP addresses and How do I do it?

Click to view the entire list of IP addresses that needs to be whitelisted.

2. How do I import data from the Microsoft SQL Azure database?

3. How can I edit the setup?

4. 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 Microsoft SQL Azure server. 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.

5. Can I import data from my Microsoft SQL Azure database into an existing Zoho Analytics database?

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

Open the Workspace into which you wish to import the data.
Click the Import Data button in the Explorer tab.
Click Cloud Databases option.

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

6. Will foreign keys defined between my tables in Microsoft SQL Azure database be linked in Zoho Analytics as well?

No, the tables will not be directly linked in Zoho Analytics. However, you can link two or more tables in Zoho Analytics using the Look-up feature. Click here to learn about look-up.

We have plans to fetch the foreign key details from Microsoft SQL Azure and automatically link those tables in Zoho Analytics using lookup columns in the future.

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

Yes, you can change the datatype 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 Microsoft SQL Azure database for successful data synchronizations. It is always recommended that you change the data type in both your Microsoft SQL Azure database as well as your Zoho Analytics database.

8. How do I remove the Setup?

To remove the setup,

Login to your Zoho Analytics account.
Open the corresponding Workspace.
In the Explorer tab, click Data Sources button.
In the Data Sources tab that opens click the Settings icon and select Remove Data Source as shown in the snapshot.

Please do note that this only removes the connection. You can still continue accessing the Workspace in Zoho Analytics.

9. Can I still use the upload tool to import data?

Yes, you can also use the upload tool to import your data from the cloud databases into Zoho Analytics (Refer to this help document). However,we strongly recommend you to use this feature to import data from your Microsoft SQL Azure database into Zoho Analytics. It is very simple and does not require any software to be installed. You can completely manage the import process from the Zoho Analytics web interface itself. With this easy setup process, you can import your data into Zoho Analytics and set up periodic schedules within minutes.