Invoke a data factory pipeline from c#

3 min read 15-09-2024
Invoke a data factory pipeline from c#


In modern cloud architectures, Azure Data Factory (ADF) is a powerful service that allows organizations to create, schedule, and orchestrate data-driven workflows. A common requirement for developers is to invoke ADF pipelines programmatically. In this article, we will explore how to trigger a Data Factory pipeline using C#.

Problem Scenario

To better understand the task, let’s look at the original problem statement and related code:

// Original Code
public void RunPipeline(string pipelineName)
{
    var client = new DataFactoryManagementClient();
    client.Pipelines.RunAsync("resourceGroup", "dataFactoryName", pipelineName);
}

Corrected and Improved Version

The original snippet has some shortcomings, including the lack of proper async handling and error management. Here’s a revised version:

using Microsoft.Azure.Management.DataFactory;
using Microsoft.Azure.Management.DataFactory.Models;
using Microsoft.Rest.Azure.Authentication;
using System;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

public class DataFactoryHelper
{
    private readonly string _clientId;
    private readonly string _clientSecret;
    private readonly string _tenantId;
    private readonly string _subscriptionId;
    private readonly string _resourceGroupName;
    private readonly string _dataFactoryName;

    public DataFactoryHelper(string clientId, string clientSecret, string tenantId, string subscriptionId, string resourceGroupName, string dataFactoryName)
    {
        _clientId = clientId;
        _clientSecret = clientSecret;
        _tenantId = tenantId;
        _subscriptionId = subscriptionId;
        _resourceGroupName = resourceGroupName;
        _dataFactoryName = dataFactoryName;
    }

    public async Task InvokePipelineAsync(string pipelineName)
    {
        try
        {
            var serviceClientCredentials = await ApplicationTokenProvider.LoginSilentAsync(_tenantId, _clientId, _clientSecret);
            var client = new DataFactoryManagementClient(serviceClientCredentials) { SubscriptionId = _subscriptionId };

            var response = await client.Pipelines.CreateRunAsync(_resourceGroupName, _dataFactoryName, pipelineName);
            Console.WriteLine({{content}}quot;Pipeline {pipelineName} invoked with run ID: {response.RunId}");
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine({{content}}quot;An error occurred while invoking the pipeline: {ex.Message}");
        }
    }
}

Analysis

This revised code snippet encapsulates several best practices:

  1. Async/Await: Leveraging async operations to prevent blocking the main thread during the invocation.
  2. Error Handling: Implementing a try-catch block to handle potential errors gracefully.
  3. Configuration Management: Taking configuration values (like client IDs, secrets, etc.) through constructor parameters to make it flexible and secure.

Additional Explanations

To utilize this code effectively:

  1. Azure Service Principal: Ensure that you have set up a Service Principal in Azure Active Directory. This allows your application to authenticate and gain the necessary permissions to invoke pipelines.

  2. Pipeline Parameters: If your pipeline requires parameters, you can add them to the CreateRunAsync method. Here's how you might include parameters:

    var parameters = new Dictionary<string, object> { { "param1", value1 }, { "param2", value2 } };
    var response = await client.Pipelines.CreateRunAsync(_resourceGroupName, _dataFactoryName, pipelineName, parameters);
    

Practical Examples

Assuming you have a pipeline named CopyDataPipeline, you would use the InvokePipelineAsync method like this:

var factoryHelper = new DataFactoryHelper("clientId", "clientSecret", "tenantId", "subscriptionId", "resourceGroupName", "dataFactoryName");
await factoryHelper.InvokePipelineAsync("CopyDataPipeline");

Useful Resources

Conclusion

Invoking an Azure Data Factory pipeline through C# is a straightforward process when you follow the correct coding practices. The use of Azure SDK allows seamless interaction with Data Factory, making data orchestration efficient and manageable. By implementing error handling and configuration management, you can create robust applications that effectively leverage Azure Data Factory's capabilities.

Feel free to explore and modify the examples provided to suit your specific use case!