Importing flow definitions from Apache NiFi

If you want to use a NiFi flow in Cloudera DataFlow, you must import it as a flow definition. When imported, the flow definition is added to the flow Catalog.

Importing using the webUI

Learn about importing a flow definition developed in Apache NiFi using the Cloudera DataFlow webUI.

Create a data flow in Apache NiFi and download it as a flow definition JSON file. For more information, see Creating a Flow Definition.
Make sure that you have DFCatalogAdmin permission to perform this task. For information on account and resource roles, see Cloudera DataFlow Authorization.

Open Cloudera DataFlow by clicking the DataFlow tile in the Cloudera Public Cloud sidebar.
Click Catalog from the left navigation pane.

The Flow Catalog page is displayed. Previously imported flow definitions are displayed, one definition per row.
Click Import Flow Definition.
Provide a name (Flow Name) and a description (Flow Description) for the flow definition.

note
Flow name and flow description cannot be changed later.
In the NiFi Flow Configuration field, select the JSON file you downloaded from NiFi.

Alternatively, you can drop the JSON file into this field to select it.
Optional: You can add comments to the flow definition version you are importing (Version Comments).

note
When you are importing the first version of a flow definition, the Version Comments field contains Initial Version by default. You can change this comment if needed.

note
Version comments cannot be changed later.
Optional: You can add custom tags to the flow definition version you are importing (Custom Tag).

note
Custom tags can also be added later, in the Catalog. You cannot modify custom tags, but they can be deleted. They are a good option to introduce dynamic information to your flow definition versions (for example, 'preview' or 'obsolete').
Click Import.

You have successfully imported your NiFi flow to Cloudera DataFlow. It is available in the Catalog as the first version of your flow definition.

Deploy the flow definition to an environment. For more information, see Deploying flows.

Importing using the CLI

Learn about importing a flow definition developed in NiFi using the Cloudera CLI.

Create a data flow in Apache NiFi and download it as a flow definition JSON file. For more information, see Creating a Flow Definition.
Make sure that you have DFCatalogAdmin permission to perform this task. For information on account and resource roles, see Cloudera DataFlow Authorization.

You have installed the Cloudera CLI

To import a flow definition, enter:

cdp df import-flow-definition 
--file [***FILE***] 
--name [***NAME***] 
[--description [***DESCRIPTION***]] 
[--comments [***COMMENTS***]]

Where:

--file specifies the path to the flow definition file you want to import.
--name is a distinct name for your flow definition.
--description is a short description you can use to help identify the flow definition within the Cloudera DataFlow Catalog.
--comments optionally includes any additional information for your flow definition.

Successfully importing a new flow definition results in output similar to:

cdpcli % ./cdp.sh --profile priv df import-flow-definition --file /Users/user1/Downloads/test-flow.json --name EmptyRelName
{
    "crn": "crn:cdp:df:us-west-1:9d74eee4-1cad-45d7-b645-7ccf9edbb73d:flow:EmptyRelName",
    "name": "EmptyRelName",
    "versionCount": 1,
    "createdTimestamp": 1632782902156,
    "modifiedTimestamp": 1632782902156,
    "versions": [
        {
            "crn": "crn:cdp:df:us-west-1:9d74eee4-1cad-45d7-b645-7ccf9edbb73d:flow:EmptyRelName/v.1",
            "bucketIdentifier": "https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/dfx-flow-artifacts.mow-priv.mow-dev.cloudera.com/dswift/9d74eee4-1cad-45d7-b645-7ccf9edbb73d/18b3b7aa-da62-49a9-bf23-61da8b7a36dc",
            "author": "David Swift",
            "version": 1,
            "timestamp": 1632782902170,
            "deploymentCount": 0
        }
    ]
}

Deploy the flow definition to an environment. For more information, see Deploying Flows.