Working With Redis Data in Microsoft Excel and Tableau

As an in-memory data structure store, Redis offers lightning-fast database, cache, and message broker functionality. Redis Enterprise builds a highly available, scalable, and secure instance of Redis. Redis data is stored in key-value pairs, where the values can range from strings, lists, sets, and bitfields to complex hashes. Traditionally, importing such a diverse dataset into common BI, reporting, and ETL tools is at best problematic and can be nearly impossible. With the CData Drivers for Redis, you gain a SQL-like interface to your Redis and Redis Enterprise data from ubiquitous standards like JDBC, ODBC, and ADO.NET, giving you high-performance, familiar access to your Redis data in the tools you already use.

This article walks you through connecting to Redis data using the CData Software ODBC Driver for Redis and performing basic reporting on and visualization of that data in Microsoft Excel and in Tableau. For more information on how the CData Drivers work with Redis data, including some sample data and queries, please refer to our Knowledge Base article.

Creating a Redis Database

If you do not have a Redis instance to work with, you can refer to the Redis Labs documentation for installing Redis Enterprise with Docker. The important pieces are the first three steps. Remember that your Redis database endpoint port will be at 12000 when you are done.

• Getting Started With Redis^e Pack Using Docker on Windows
• Getting Started With Redis^e Pack Using Docker on macOS
• Getting Started With Redis^e Pack Using Docker on Linux

Once you have a Redis instance installed and running, you can continue through the walk-through, learning to work with your Redis data store as if it were a standard database.

Installing the ODBC Driver for Redis

The video below provides a walk-through of installing the CData ODBC Driver for Redis on Windows and some instructions on configuring a Data Source Name (DSN) that will be used later to connect to the Redis data. Start by downloading the ODBC Driver for Redis and running the installer. If you are unable to watch the video, or you are installing the ODBC Driver on macOS or Linux/UNIX, please refer to our help documentation.

Video: ODBC Driver Installation and Configuration

Loading Sample Data Into Redis

Once you have the ODBC driver installed and the DSN configured, you are ready to begin working with the data in your Redis instance. We have provided a sample application that will insert Northwind data (from the OData service) into your Redis instance. Download and extract the compressed folder containing the executable JAR file and the sample data (ZIP file, 7z file). Run the JAR file, passing the location of the CSV files and the necessary connection information for your Redis instance as parameters (see below).

Usage

java -jar CSVtoRedis.jar path_to_csv_files redis_server_address redis_server_port [redis_password]

• path_to_csv_files: The full path to the CSV files.
• redis_server_address: The IP address or server name of the server hosting Redis.
• redis_server_port: The configured port of the Redis instance.
• redis_password: The password to the Redis instance (optional)>

Once you have data in your Redis instance, you are ready to begin working with your data in MS Excel and Tableau.

Connecting to Redis Data in Microsoft Excel

The video below walks through connecting to Redis data in Microsoft Excel using the ODBC Driver and creating a 3D mapping of Northwind Order Detail data.

Video: Connecting to Redis Data in Microsoft Excel and Creating a 3D Chart

If you are unable to view the video, refer to our related Knowledge Base articles:

• Using Microsoft Query in Excel to Connect to Redis (Windows)
• Work With Redis Data in MS Excel on Mac OS X

Connecting to Redis Data in Tableau

The video below walks through connecting to Redis data in Tableau using the ODBC Driver and creating a visualization of Northwind Order Detail data.

Video: Connecting to Redis Data in Tableau and Creating a Visualization

If you are unable to view the video, refer to our related knowledge base article:

• Visualize Redis Data in Tableau