Neo4j and SSIS are awkward bedfellows – SSIS is Microsoft and has connectors to a plethora of database and technologies using ODBC, Web etc, and Neo4j is written in Java which provides a JDBC connection. SSIS however, does not work with JDBC.

badtimes

Some of the clients I’ve worked with like using SSIS – (some don’t), and value their 20+ years of using a piece of technology, and want to leverage it with new technologies. Nothing says expensive like having to learn a new database and a new ETL tool.

So today I’d like to introduce you to the beta (maybe alpha) version of the Neo4j Connector for SSIS. It uses bolt to securely connect to your Neo4j instance and call Cypher against it.

Version 1 beta features:

• Neo4j Connection Manager – manages the connection to the database, and securely encrypts your password (and that is actual encryption) making it safe for you to store.

• Execute Cypher Task – Allows you to execute a piece of Cypher on a Neo4j instance as part of a Control Flow

• Execute Cypher Destination – Allows you to execute Cypher against a Neo4j instance as part of a Data Flow

• Both the above pictures show the basic syntax highlighting as well
• Works with SSIS 2016, 2017 and 2019 (CTP 3)

Do you want to try it? You need the appropriate installer, there are 6 flavours (6!!), if you’re installing on a Server – you’ll probably want the x64 version of the Server version. What? I know – not that clear. If you’re installing on a SQL Server 2016 instance, use the SQL 2016 x64 installer.

To use on a local designer (VS 2017 or 2019) you’ll want the x86 SQL 2017 version – As the integration services addin for VS 2019 still uses the 2017 install locations.

Please go to here: http://anabranch.co.uk/Projects/Neo4jSsis to get a link via email!

Give me feedback and I’ll put more posts up on how to use some of the features shortly!