Connect Using the SAP HANA Python Interface

The first step is to check if Python is installed.

Enter the commands below.

python --version
python3 --version

If Python is installed, the command will return a value such as Python 3.13.3. If you are using Python 3, replace pip with pip3 in all commands throughout this tutorial to ensure packages are installed for the correct Python version.

Details on supported versions of Python for the SAP HANA client for Python can be found at SAP Note 3165810 - SAP HANA Client Supported Platforms.

If Python is not installed, it can be downloaded from Python downloads.

On Microsoft Windows, check the box that says Add Python 3.x to PATH as shown below to ensure that the interpreter will be placed in your path.

You should now be able to open a new shell and verify that Python is installed.

The standard package installer for Python is pip. The following commands will check the version of pip and attempt to upgrade it to the latest available version.

pip --version
pip install --upgrade pip
or
pip3 --version
pip3 install --upgrade pip

On Linux or Mac, if you encounter permission issues, one way to solve the issue is to use sudo before the command.

On Linux, if Python is installed but pip is not, it can be installed on openSUSE using Zypper as shown below.

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zypper install python3-pip

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The repository that contains Python packages is PyPI and includes a package for the SAP HANA client for Python.

Run the following command to download and install the SAP HANA client for Python from PyPI:

pip install hdbcli

If an error is displayed that mentions “No matching distribution found for hdbcli, an alternate method is to install it from the SAP HANA client install folder as shown below.

Ensure that the filename is correct in the install command below because it might change depending on the version of hdbcli that you have.

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cd C:\SAP\hdbclient
pip install hdbcli-2.20.15.zip

If the install still fails, check 3165810 - SAP HANA Client Supported Platforms to ensure that a supported version of Python installed.

To upgrade to the latest available version, enter the following command:

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pip install --no-cache-dir --upgrade hdbcli

To uninstall hdbcli, run the following command:

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pip uninstall hdbcli

A specific version can be installed using the following command.

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pip install hdbcli==2.18.22

The list of installed packages can be shown with the following command.

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pip list

Details of an installed package such as hdbcli can be shown with the following command.

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pip show hdbcli

1. In a shell, create a folder named python, enter the newly created directory, and open a file name pythonQuery.py in an editor.

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   mkdir %HOMEPATH%\HANAClientsTutorial\python
   cd %HOMEPATH%\HANAClientsTutorial\python
   notepad pythonQuery.py

   Substitute pico below for your preferred text editor.

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   mkdir -p $HOME/HANAClientsTutorial/python
   cd $HOME/HANAClientsTutorial/python
   pico pythonQuery.py

2. Add the code below to pythonQuery.py.

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   #Import your dependencies
   import platform
   from hdbcli import dbapi
   
   #verify the architecture of Python
   print ("Platform architecture: " + platform.architecture()[0])
   
   try :
       #Initialize your connection
       conn = dbapi.connect(
           #Option 1, retrieve the connection parameters from the hdbuserstore
           key='USER1UserKey', # address, port, user and password are retrieved from the hdbuserstore
   
           #Option2, specify the connection parameters
           #address='6b7ae0da-ee5a-4782-bc7e-297099099b59.hana.prod-ca10.hanacloud.ondemand.com',
           #port='443',
           #user='User1',
           #password='Password1',
   
           #Additional parameters
           #encrypt=True, # must be set to True when connecting to HANA as a Service
           #As of SAP HANA Client 2.6, connections on port 443 enable encryption by default (HANA Cloud)
           #sslValidateCertificate=False #Must be set to false when connecting
           #to an SAP HANA, express edition instance that uses a self-signed certificate.
       )
   except dbapi.Error as er:
       print('Connect failed, exiting')
       print(er)
       exit()
   
   #If no errors, print connected
   print('connected')
   
   cursor = conn.cursor()
   sql_command = "SELECT TITLE, FIRSTNAME, NAME FROM HOTELS.CUSTOMER;"
   cursor.execute(sql_command)
   
   rows = cursor.fetchall()
   for row in rows:
       for col in row:
           print ("%s" % col, end=" ")
       print ("  ")
   cursor.close()
   print("\n")
   
   #Prepared statement example
   sql_command2 = "CALL HOTELS.SHOW_RESERVATIONS(?,?);"
   parameters = [11, "2020-12-24"]
   cursor.execute(sql_command2, parameters)
   rows = cursor.fetchall()
   for row in rows:
       for col in row:
           print ("%s" % col, end=" ")
       print (" ")
   cursor.close()
   conn.close()

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   Note that the address, port, UID and PWD will be retrieved from the hdbuserstore.

3. Run the app.

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   python pythonQuery.py

   On some Linux distributions, python refers to a 2.x version of Python. If so, replace python with python3.

   

The code in pythonQuery.py uses PEP 249 – Python Database API Specification, which defines a set of methods that provide a consistent database interface, independent of the actual database being used.

• For further examples of accessing a database from Python, see Python and SQL and Python MySQL.

• For information on the SAP HANA Python client, see Python Application Programming.

• For further details on secure connections from Python to SAP HANA see Secure connection from Python to SAP HANA.

Visual Studio Code provides plugins for Python and can be used to debug an application.

1. If you have not already done so, download Visual Studio Code.

2. If you have not already done so, add the tutorial folder to the workspace by choosing File | Add Folder to Workspace, and then add the HANAClientsTutorial folder.

   

3. Open the file pythonQuery.py.

   

   If necessary, Visual Studio Code will recognize the py file extension and will suggest installing the Python extension. Click Install.

4. Place a breakpoint on line the line for row in rows:.

5. Select Run | Start Debugging | Python File Debug the currently active Python file.

   Notice that the program stops running at the breakpoint that was set.

   Observe the variable values in the leftmost pane. Step through code.

   

Congratulations! You have now created and debugged a Python application that connects to and queries an SAP HANA database.