Salesforce Connector for Power BI Salesforce Connector can be used to extract/load large amount of data from/in Salesforce.com without any programming. You can use simple Table mode or Query mode with full SOQL query language support (SOQL=Salesforce.com Object Query Language). In this article you will learn how to quickly and efficiently integrate Salesforce data in Power BI without coding. We will use high-performance Salesforce Connector to easily connect to Salesforce and then access the data inside Power BI. Let's follow the steps below to see how we can accomplish that! Download Documentation Salesforce Connector for Power BI is based on ZappySys Salesforce Driver which is part of ODBC PowerPack. It is a collection of high-performance ODBC drivers that enable you to integrate data in SQL Server, SSIS, a programming language, or any other ODBC-compatible application. ODBC PowerPack supports various file formats, sources and destinations, including REST/SOAP API, SFTP/FTP, storage services, and plain files, to mention a few.

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Video Tutorial - Integrate Salesforce data in Power BI

This video covers the following topics and more, so please watch carefully. After watching the video, follow the steps outlined in this article:

• How to download and install the required PowerPack for Salesforce integration in Power BI
• How to configure the connection for Salesforce
• Features of the ZappySys Salesforce Driver (Authentication / Query Language / Examples / Driver UI)
• How to use the Salesforce 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:

1. Download and install ODBC PowerPack.

2. Open ODBC Data Sources (x64):

   

3. Create a User data source (User DSN) based on ZappySys Salesforce Driver

   ZappySys Salesforce Driver

   
   • Create and use User DSN if the client application is run under a User Account. This is an ideal option in design-time, when developing a solution, e.g. in Visual Studio 2019. Use it for both type of applications - 64-bit and 32-bit.
   • Create and use System DSN if the client application is launched under a System Account, e.g. as a Windows Service. Usually, this is an ideal option to use in a production environment. Use ODBC Data Source Administrator (32-bit), instead of 64-bit version, if Windows Service is a 32-bit application.
   Power BI uses a Service Account, when a solution is deployed to production environment, therefore for production environment you have to create and use a System DSN.

4. Now, we need SalesForce Connection. Lets create it.

5. 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%'
   

6. Click OK to finish creating the data source

Video Tutorial

Read Salesforce data in Power BI using ODBC

Importing Salesforce data into Power BI from table or view

1. Once you open Power BI Desktop click Get Data to get data from ODBC:
   

2. A window opens, and then search for "odbc" to get data from ODBC data source:
   

3. Another window opens and asks to select a Data Source we already created. Choose SalesforceDSN and continue:

   SalesforceDSN

   

4. 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

   

5. Finally, you will be asked to select a table or view to get data from. Select one and load the data!
   

6. Finally, finally, use extracted data from Salesforce in a Power BI report:
   

Importing Salesforce data into Power BI using SQL query

If you wish to import Salesforce data from SQL query rather than a table 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.

SalesforceDSN

SELECT * FROM Tickets

Using a full ODBC connection string

In the previous steps we used a very short format of ODBC connection string - a DSN. Yet sometimes you don't want a dependency on an ODBC data source (and an extra step). In those times, you can define a full connection string and skip creating an ODBC data source entirely. Let's see below how to accomplish that in the below steps:

1. Open ODBC data source configuration and click Copy settings:
   

   ZappySys Salesforce Driver - Salesforce

   Salesforce Connector can be used to extract/load large amount of data from/in Salesforce.com without any programming. You can use simple Table mode or Query mode with full SOQL query language support (SOQL=Salesforce.com Object Query Language).

   SalesforceDSN

   
2. The window opens, telling us the connection string was successfully copied to the clipboard:
3. Then just paste the connection string into your script:
   SalesforceDSN

   DRIVER={ZappySys Salesforce Driver};Url='https://login.salesforce.com/services/Soap/u/{version}';Scopes='full offline_access';UserName='john.smith@my-company.com';Password='my-password';SecurityToken='my-security-token'

   
4. You are good to go! The script will execute the same way as using a DSN.

Editing query for table in Power BI

There will be a time you need to change the initial query after importing data into Power BI. Don't worry, just right-click on your table and click Edit query menu item:

Using parameters in Power BI (dynamic query)

In the real world, many values of your REST / SOAP API call may be coming from parameters. If that's the case for you can try to edit script manually as below. In below example its calling SQL Query with POST method and passing some parameters. Notice below where paraAPIKey is Power BI Parameter (string type). You can use parameters anywhere in your script just like the normal variable.

To use a parameter in Power BI report, follow these simple steps:

1. Firstly, you need to Edit query of your table (see previous section)

2. Then just create a new parameter by clicking Manage Parameters dropdown, click New Parameter option, and use it in the query:

   						
                               = Odbc.Query("dsn=SalesforceDSN",
                                            "SELECT ProductID, ProductName, UnitPrice, UnitsInStock
                                             FROM Products
                                             WHERE UnitPrice > " & Text.From(MyParameter) & "
                                             ORDER BY UnitPrice")
                           
                   

   
   Refer to Power Query M reference for more information on how to use its advanced features in your queries.

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 don't want to import but link it. Power BI Offers very useful feature for this scenario. It's called DirectQuery Option. In this section we will explore how to use DirectQuery along with ZappySys Drivers.

Out of the box ZappySys Drivers won't 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, then issue OPENROWSET queries from Power BI to SQL Server, and it will then call Salesforce via ZappySys Data Gateway.

1. First, create a data source in ZappySys Data Gateway and create a Linked Server based on it.
2. Once SQL Server Linked Server is configured we are ready to issue a SQL query in Power BI.
3. Click Get Data in Power BI, select SQL Server Database
4. Enter your server name and any database name
5. Select Mode as DirectQuery
6. 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 the name below).

   SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([LS_TO_SALESFORCE_IN_GATEWAY], 'SELECT * FROM Tickets')

   SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([LS_TO_SALESFORCE_IN_GATEWAY], 'SELECT * FROM Tickets')

   

   
   DirectQuery option for Power BI (Read Salesforce Data Example using SQL Server Linked Server and ZappySys Data Gateway)

7. Click OK and Load data... That's it. Now your Salesforce API data is linked rather than imported.

Publishing Power BI report to Power BI service

Here are the instructions on how to publish a Power BI report to Power BI service from Power BI Desktop application:

1. First of all, go to Power BI Desktop, open a Power BI report, and click Publish button:

   

2. Then select the Workspace you want to publish report to and hit Select button:

   

3. Finally, if everything went right, you will see a window indicating success:

   

   If you need to periodically refresh Power BI semantic model (dataset) to ensure data accuracy and up-to-dateness, you can accomplish that by using Microsoft On-premises data gateway. Proceed to the next section - Refreshing Power BI semantic model (dataset) using On-premises data gateway - and learn how to do that.

Refreshing Power BI semantic model (dataset) using On-premises data gateway

Power BI allows to refresh semantic models which are based on data sources that reside on-premises. This can be achieved using Microsoft On-premises data gateway. There are two types of On-premises gateways:

• Standard Mode
• Personal Mode

Standard Mode supports Power BI and other Microsoft Data Fabric services. It fits perfectly for Enterprise solutions as it installs as a Windows Service and also supports Direct Query feature.

Personal Mode, on the other hand, can be configured faster, but is designed more for home users (you cannot install it as a Windows Service and it does not support DirectQuery). You will find a detailed comparison in the link above.

We recommend to go with Personal Mode for a quick POC solution, but use Standard Mode in production environment.

Below you will find instructions on how to refresh semantic model using both types of gateways.

Refresh using On-premises data gateway (standard mode)

Here are the instructions on how to refresh a Power BI semantic model using On-premises data gateway (standard mode):

1. Go to Power BI My workspace, hover your mouse cursor on your semantic model and click Settings:

   

2. If you see this view, it means you have to install On-premises data gateway (standard mode):

   

3. Install On-premises data gateway (standard mode) and sign-in:

   
   Use the same email address you use when logging in into Power BI account.

4. Register a new gateway (or migrate an existing one):

   

5. If you are creating a new gateway, name your gateway, enter a Recovery key, and click Configure button:

   

6. Now, let's get back to your semantic model settings in Power BI portal. Refresh the page and you should see your newly created gateway. Click arrow icon and then click on Add to gateway link:

   ODBC{"connectionstring":"dsn=SalesforceDSN"}

   

7. Once you do that, you will create a new gateway connection. Give it a name, set Authentication method, Privacy level, and click Create button:

   dsn=SalesforceDSN

   
   In this example, we used the least restrictive Privacy level.

   If your connection uses a full connection string you may hit a length limitation when entering it into the field. To create the connection, you will need to shorten it manually. Check the section about the limitation of a full connection string on how to accomplish it.

   On-premises data gateway (personal mode) does not have this limitation.

8. Proceed by choosing the newly created connection:

   ODBC{"connectionstring":"dsn=SalesforceDSN"}

   

9. Finally, you are at the final step where you can refresh the semantic model:

   

Refresh using On-premises data gateway (personal mode)

Here are the instructions on how to refresh a Power BI semantic model using On-premises data gateway (personal mode):

1. Go to Power BI My workspace, hover your mouse cursor on your semantic model and click Settings:

   

2. If you see this view, it means you have to install On-premises data gateway (personal mode):

   

3. Install On-premises data gateway (personal mode) and sign-in:

   
   Use the same email address you use when logging in into Power BI account.

4. Again, go to your semantic model Settings, expand Data source credentials, click Edit credentials, select Authentication method together with Privacy level, and then click Sign in button:

   dsn=SalesforceDSN

   

5. Finally, you are ready to refresh your semantic model:

   

Conclusion

In this article we showed you how to connect to Salesforce in Power BI and integrate data without any coding, saving you time and effort. It's worth noting that ZappySys Salesforce Driver allows you to connect not only to Salesforce, but to any Java application that supports JDBC (just use a different JDBC driver and configure it appropriately).

We encourage you to download Salesforce Connector for Power BI and see how easy it is to use it for yourself or your team.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact ZappySys support team. You can also open a live chat immediately by clicking on the chat icon below.

Download Salesforce Connector for Power BI Documentation

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