Salesforce Connector for Power BI
In this article you will learn how to integrate Using Salesforce Connector you will be able to connect, read, and write data from within Power BI. Follow the steps below to see how we would accomplish that. The driver mentioned above is part of ODBC PowerPack which is a collection of high-performance Drivers for various API data source (i.e. REST API, JSON, XML, CSV, Amazon S3 and many more). Using familiar SQL query language you can make live connections and read/write data from API sources or JSON / XML / CSV Files inside SQL Server (T-SQL) or your favorite Reporting (i.e. Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, SSRS, MicroStrategy, Excel, MS Access), ETL Tools (i.e. Informatica, Talend, Pentaho, SSIS). You can also call our drivers from programming languages such as JAVA, C#, Python, PowerShell etc. If you are new to ODBC and ZappySys ODBC PowerPack then check the following links to get started. |
Connect to Salesforce in other apps
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Video Tutorial - Integrate Salesforce data in Power BI
This video covers following and more so watch carefully. After watching this video follow the steps described in this article.
- How to download / install required driver for
Salesforce integration in Power BI - How to configure connection for
Salesforce - Features about
Salesforce Driver (Authentication / Query Language / Examples / Driver UI) - Using
Salesforce Connection in Power BI
Create ODBC Data Source (DSN) based on ZappySys Salesforce Driver
Step-by-step instructions
To get data from Salesforce using Power BI we first need to create a DSN (Data Source) which will access data from Salesforce. We will later be able to read data using Power BI. Perform these steps:
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Install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack.
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Open ODBC Data Sources (x64):
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Create a User Data Source (User DSN) based on ZappySys Salesforce Driver
ZappySys Salesforce Driver
You should create a System DSN (instead of a User DSN) if the client application is launched under a Windows System Account, e.g. as a Windows Service. If the client application is 32-bit (x86) running with a System DSN, use ODBC Data Sources (32-bit) instead of the 64-bit version. -
Now, we need SalesForce Connection. Lets create it.
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Now, When you see DSN Config Editor with zappysys logo first thing you need to do is change default DSN Name at the top and Click on Preview Tab, Select Table from Tables Dropdown or you can enter or modify a SOQL query and click on Preview Data.
This example shows how to write simple SOQL query (Salesforce Object Query Language). It uses WHERE clause. For more SOQL Queries click here.
SOQL is similar to database SQL query language but much simpler and many features you use in database query may not be supported in SOQL (Such as JOIN clause not supported). But you can use following Queries for Insert, Update, Delete and Upsert(Update or Insert record if not found).SELECT * FROM Account WHERE Name like '%Oil%'
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Click OK to finish creating the data source
Video instructions
Read Salesforce data in Power BI using ODBC
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Once you open Power BI Desktop click Get Data to get data from ODBC:
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A window opens, and then search for "odbc" to get data from ODBC data source:
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Another window opens and asks to select a Data Source we already created. Choose SalesforceDSN and continue:
SalesforceDSN
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Most likely, you will be asked to authenticate to a newly created DSN. Just select Windows authentication option together with Use my current credentials option:
SalesforceDSN
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Finally, you will be asked to select a table or view to get data from. Select one and load the data!
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Finally, finally, use extracted data from Salesforce in a Power BI report:
Import Salesforce data into Power BI from SQL Query
If you wish to import Salesforce data from SQL query rather than selecting table name then you can use advanced options during import steps (as below). After selecting DSN you can click on advanced options to see SQL Query editor.
Import Salesforce data into Power BI using SQL Query (ODBC Data source)
If you type invalid SQL, Power BI may revert to table mode rather than import from Query. Make sure you do not use "$" it as a table name in SELECT...FROM $. You can use "_root_" instead (e.g., SELECT .. FROM _root_). Consider using Custom Object to wrap custom SQL in a Virtual Table. This way, you can see a virtual table in Table mode where you can import multiple objects using the same connection rather than creating a new connection for each custom SQL.
Edit Query / Using Parameters in Power BI (Dynamic Query)
let
vKey=paraAPIKey,
Source = Odbc.Query(
"dsn=ZS-OData Customers",
"SELECT * FROM value WITH (SRC='http://httpbin.org/post',"
& "METHOD='POST',"
& "HEADER='Content-Type:application/json',"
& "BODY=@'{""CallerId"":1111, ""ApiKey"":""" & vKey & """}')")
in
Source
Edit Query Settings after Import
There will be a time you need to change initial Query after dataset import in Power BI. Not to worry, just follow these steps to edit your SQL.
Edit Power BI Data Source SQL after REST / SOAP Web Service Import
Using DirectQuery Option rather than Import
So far we have seen how to Import Salesforce data into Power BI but what if you have too much data and you dont want to import but link it. Power BI Offers very useful feature for this scenario. Its called DirectQuery Option. In this section we will explore how to use DirectQuery along with ZappySys Drivers. Out of the box ZappySys Drivers wont work in ODBC Connection Mode so you have to use SQL Server Connection rather than ODBC if you wish to use Live data using DirectQuery option. See below step by step instructions to enable DirectQuery mode in Power BI for Salesforce data. Basically we will use ZappySys Data Gateway its part of ODBC PowerPack. We will then use Linked Server in SQL Server to Link API Service and then we will issue OPENROWSET queries from Power BI to SQL Server and it will then call Salesforce via ZappySys Data Gateway.Step-By-Step - How to query Salesforce API in SQL Server
- First read this article carefully, How to query Salesforce API in SQL Server.
- Once linked server is configured we are ready to issue API query in Power BI.
- Click Get Data in Power BI, select SQL Server Database
- Enter your server name and any database name
- Select Mode as DirectQuery
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Click on Advanced and enter query like below (we are assuming you have created Salesforce Data Source in Data Gateway and defined linked server (Change name below).
Select * from OPENQUERY([SALESFORCE_LINKED_SERVER],'SELECT * FROM Customers')Select * from OPENQUERY(
[SALESFORCE_LINKED_SERVER],
'SELECT * FROM Customers'
)
DirectQuery option for Power BI (Read Salesforce Data Example using SQL Server Linked Server and ZappySys Data Gateway) - Click OK and Load data ... That's it. Now your Salesforce API data is linked rather than imported.
Working with Gateways in Power BI (Schedule Import)
If the data needs to be updated, it is necessary to create a gateway on-premises. In this new section, we will install a Power BI Gateway and in the next section schedule it to update the Salesforce information.-
In the last section, we Published the report. Power BI may ask you to SIGN IN.
Sign in Power BI
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Select the Workspace and select Datasets
Go to workspace and dataset
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Right-click the report and select Settings.
Specify settings for the report
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The system will ask for a Gateway. Stay here.
Add Power BI Gateway
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Use the following link to install a Data Gateway:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/service-gateway-onprem -
Run the installer and press Next
Gateway installer
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Select the option On-premises data gateway (recommended). This option allows access to multiple users and can be used by more applications than Power BI.
Choose Power BI option
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The installer will show a warning message.
Warning message during installation
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Select the path to install and check the I accept the terms.
Accept terms
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Specify the email address to use the gateway.
Register email address
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After entering the email, write the gateway name and a recovery key. Make sure to confirm the recovery key.
Enter recovery key
Manage gateways and configure the schedule
Once that the gateway is installed we will configure it and add the connection strings.-
The next step is to go to manage gateway
Power BI - Manage Gateway Setting
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In order to get the connection string, we will need the connection string of the ZappySys Salesforce Driver. In the first section of this post, we explained how to configure it. Press Copy Connection String
Connection properties
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Once that the data is copied, add a New data Source. In Data Source Name, enter the Data Source Name of the ZappySys Salesforce Driver in step 13 and in Data Source Type, select ODBC. In connection string copy and paste from the clipboard of the step 13 and press Add.
ZappySys connection properties in Power BI
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Once added the gateway. You can see the schedule refresh to On and Add another time to add the time where you want to refresh the data.
Schedule gateway
Conclusion
In this article we discussed how to connect to Salesforce in Power BI and integrate data without any coding. Click here to Download Salesforce Connector for Power BI and try yourself see how easy it is. If you still have any question(s) then ask here or simply click on live chat icon below and ask our expert (see bottom-right corner of this page).
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