How to integrate Shopify with SSAS

Learn how to quickly and efficiently connect Shopify with SSAS for smooth data access.

Read and write Shopify data effortlessly. Integrate, manage, and automate customers, orders, products, and inventory — almost no coding required. You can do it all using the high-performance Shopify ODBC Driver for SSAS (often referred to as the Shopify Connector). We'll walk you through the entire setup.

Ready to dive in? Download the product to jump right in, or follow the step-by-step guide below to see how it works.

Shopify ODBC Driver Powering this integration

High performance
Bidirectional
Low-code / No-code
Easy to use

Built on the ZappySys API Driver, the Shopify ODBC Driver is a high-performance, low-code / no-code solution. It enables you to connect to Shopify data without any coding right in your SQL Server, or any ODBC/JDBC application. Part of the ODBC PowerPack.

Documentation

Create data source in ZappySys Data Gateway

In this section we will create a data source for Shopify in the Data Gateway. Let's follow these steps to accomplish that:

Download and install ODBC PowerPack (if you haven't already).
Search for gateway in the Windows Start Menu and open ZappySys Data Gateway Configuration:
Go to the Users tab and follow these steps to add a Data Gateway user:
- Click the Add button
- In the Login field enter a username, e.g., john
- Then enter a Password
- Check the Is Administrator checkbox
- Click OK to save
Now we are ready to add a data source:
- Click the Add button
- Give the Data source a name (have it handy for later)
- Then select Native - ZappySys API Driver
- Finally, click OK
ShopifyDSN

ZappySys API Driver
When the Configuration window appears give your data source a name if you haven't done that already, then select "Shopify" from the list of Popular Connectors. If "Shopify" is not present in the list, then click "Search Online" and download it. Then set the path to the location where you downloaded it. Finally, click Continue >> to proceed with configuring the DSN:

ShopifyDSN

Shopify

Now it's time to configure the Connection Manager. Select Authentication Type, e.g. Token Authentication. Then select API Base URL (in most cases, the default one is the right one). More info is available in the Authentication section.

Admin Access Token (Custom App)

Shopify authentication

Method: Admin API Access Token (Recommended for Single-Store Connections)

This method uses a permanent Admin API Access Token generated from a "Custom App" within your Shopify Admin. This is the simplest way to connect if you are only integrating with your own store.

Quick Setup Summary:

Log in to your Shopify Admin and click Settings (the gear icon in the bottom left).
Select Apps from the left-side settings menu.
Click the Develop apps button at the top right of the page.
Open your app (or create a new one) and configure the necessary Admin API access scopes.
Click Install app. Once installed, navigate to the API credentials tab.

Important: Your Admin API access token (shpat_xxx) is only revealed once. Please copy and store it securely immediately after clicking "Reveal token once."

Note: If you are using the Shopify Dev Dashboard (via a Partner Account), you must use the OAuth Authorization Code Grant method, as those apps do not issue permanent 'shpat' tokens.

Video Tutorial: How to Get Admin API Access Token in Shopify?

Part 1: Create and Configure the Shopify App

Visit https://accounts.shopify.com and log into your Shopify store account.
After logging in, select the store you wish to connect to.
Select Settings (gear icon in the lower-left corner) to launch the Settings screen.
On the left menu panel, select Apps. (Note: Sales channels are now managed in a separate menu item).
On the Apps page, select Develop apps (near the top right of the screen).
Note: If this is your first time accessing this section, you may need to click "Allow custom app development" to proceed.
On the App development screen, select Create an app.
Give the app a name (e.g., "ZappySys Connector"), select the appropriate developer from the drop-down, and select Create app.
Click Configure Admin API scopes.
In the Admin API access scopes screen, select the checkboxes based on which features you plan to use:
- For Customers: read_customers, write_customers
- For Orders: read_orders, write_orders
- For Products: read_products, write_products
- For Inventory: read_inventory, write_inventory
- For Locations: read_locations
- For Payouts/Analytics: read_all_orders or read_analytics
Important: If you select fewer scopes than required, some connector features will not work. To ensure full functionality, select both read and write permissions for the resources you need to access.
After selecting your scopes, click Save at the top or bottom of the page.
Install the app by clicking the Install app button (upper-right corner). If prompted, confirm by selecting Install.

Part 2: Get Admin API Access Token

Once the app is installed, you will be taken to the API credentials tab.
Look for the Admin API access token section. Select Reveal token once to show the token (it starts with shpat_).
IMPORTANT: Copy and save this token immediately in a secure location. You cannot view it again after leaving this page.

Note: You may also see an API Key or Secret Key in this section; these are not required for this specific authentication method. Use only the Admin API access token.

Part 3: Configure the ZappySys Connector

Open the ZappySys connector configuration screen.
Enter Subdomain: Enter the unique subdomain of your Shopify store into the Subdomain parameter textbox.
How to find your Subdomain:

If you use a custom domain (e.g., www.my-store.com), you must still use your internal Shopify subdomain:
- Method 1 (Admin URL): While logged into Shopify, check your browser address bar.
  - If the URL is admin.shopify.com/store/my-unique-slug, your subdomain is my-unique-slug.
  - If the URL is my-unique-slug.myshopify.com/admin, your subdomain is my-unique-slug.
- Method 2 (Domains Setting): Go to Settings > Domains. Look for the "Primary domain for the online store" or the fallback domain ending in .myshopify.com. The part before the dots is your subdomain.
Enter Access Token: Paste the shpat_xxx token you saved in Step 14 into the Admin API Access Token textbox.
Tip: Click the ellipses (...) button inside the textbox to open a larger dialog for easier pasting.
Click Test Connection to verify the settings.
If the test is successful, click OK to save the configuration.

API Connection Manager configuration

Just perform these simple steps to finish authentication configuration:

Set Authentication Type to Admin Access Token (Custom App) [Http]
Optional step. Modify API Base URL if needed (in most cases default will work).
Fill in all the required parameters and set optional parameters if needed.
Finally, hit OK button:

ShopifyDSN

Shopify

Admin Access Token (Custom App) [Http]

https://[$Subdomain$].myshopify.com/admin/api/2025-01

Required Parameters
Sub-domain	Fill-in the parameter...
Admin API Access Token	Fill-in the parameter...
Optional Parameters
RetryMode	RetryWhenStatusCodeMatch
RetryStatusCodeList	429
RetryCountMax	5
RetryMultiplyWaitTime	True

OAuth Authorization Code Grant (3-legged) - RECOMMENDED

Shopify authentication

Authenticate using OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow (3-legged). Use this for apps built in the Dev Dashboard (https://dev.shopify.com). This is the primary OAuth flow supported for public apps and apps created in the Dev Dashboard.

Method: OAuth Authorization Code Grant (3-Legged)

This method is for apps built in the Shopify Dev Dashboard. Use this if you are a Partner or developer building a multi-store integration.

Note: If you are connecting to your own single store, the Admin Access Token method is significantly simpler. Use this OAuth method only if your integration specifically requires a Client ID and Secret.

Part 1: Create and Configure App in Dev Dashboard

Log in to the Shopify Dev Dashboard using your Partner account.
Click Apps in the left menu, then click Create app.
Select Start from Dev Dashboard (manual setup) and give your app a name.
Step 1: Configure Scopes and URLs via "Versions"
- Click the Versions tab at the top of the app screen.
- Click Create version (or edit the Draft).
- In the URLs section, enter https://zappysys.com/oauth into Allowed redirection URL(s).
- Select your Admin API scopes based on which features you plan to use:
  - For Customers: read_customers, write_customers
  - For Orders: read_orders, write_orders
  - For Products: read_products, write_products
  - For Inventory: read_inventory, write_inventory
  - For Locations: read_locations
  - For Payouts/Analytics: read_all_orders or read_analytics
  Important: If you select fewer scopes than required, some connector features will not work. To ensure full functionality, select both read and write permissions for the resources you need to access.
- Click Release (top right). Note: Settings only become active once a version is Released.
Step 2: Set Distribution Method
- Click Distribution in the left-side menu.
- Select Custom Distribution.
- Enter your Shopify store URL (e.g., your-store.myshopify.com) and click Generate link.
- Action Required: Copy the generated install link, open it in your browser, and follow the prompts to install/unlock the app for your store. You must complete this step before testing the connection in ZappySys.

Part 2: Get Client Credentials

Click on Settings in the left-side navigation of your app.
In the Client credentials section, copy the Client ID and Client Secret (click the eye icon to reveal).

Part 3: Configure the ZappySys Connector

Open the ZappySys connector and select OAuth Authorization Code Grant (3-legged).
Subdomain: Enter your store handle (the part before .myshopify.com).
Client ID / Secret: Paste the credentials from Steps 6 and 7.
Redirect URI: Enter https://zappysys.com/oauth.
Click Test Connection. You will be prompted to authorize the app in your browser.

Note on Tokens: Successful authorization generates an "Offline" Access Token (starting with shpca_). This token does not expire and does not require a refresh token.

Troubleshooting: If you see "App no longer available," ensure you have completed the Distribution step and followed the Install Link in Step 5 to unlock the app for your store.

API Connection Manager configuration

Just perform these simple steps to finish authentication configuration:

Set Authentication Type to OAuth Authorization Code Grant (3-legged) - RECOMMENDED [OAuth]
Optional step. Modify API Base URL if needed (in most cases default will work).
Fill in all the required parameters and set optional parameters if needed.
Press Generate Token button to generate the tokens.
Finally, hit OK button:

ShopifyDSN

Shopify

OAuth Authorization Code Grant (3-legged) - RECOMMENDED [OAuth]

https://[$Subdomain$].myshopify.com/admin/api/2025-01

Required Parameters
Redirect URI (*Must match App Settings*)	Fill-in the parameter...

Once the data source connection has been configured, it's time to configure the SQL query. Select the Preview tab and then click Query Builder button to configure the SQL query:

ZappySys API Driver - Shopify

Read and write Shopify data effortlessly. Integrate, manage, and automate customers, orders, products, and inventory — almost no coding required.

ShopifyDSN
Start by selecting the Table or Endpoint you are interested in and then configure the parameters. This will generate a query that we will use in SSAS to retrieve data from Shopify. Hit OK button to use this query in the next step.
```
SELECT * FROM Products
```
Some parameters configured in this window will be passed to the Shopify API, e.g. filtering parameters. It means that filtering will be done on the server side (instead of the client side), enabling you to get only the meaningful data much faster.
Now hit Preview Data button to preview the data using the generated SQL query. If you are satisfied with the result, use this query in SSAS:
ZappySys API Driver - Shopify

Read and write Shopify data effortlessly. Integrate, manage, and automate customers, orders, products, and inventory — almost no coding required.

ShopifyDSN
```
SELECT * FROM Products
```
You can also access data quickly from the tables dropdown by selecting <Select table>.

A WHERE clause, LIMIT keyword will be performed on the client side, meaning that the whole result set will be retrieved from the Shopify API first, and only then the filtering will be applied to the data. If possible, it is recommended to use parameters in Query Builder to filter the data on the server side (in Shopify servers).
Click OK to finish creating the data source.
Once done, go to the Network Settings tab and Add a firewall rule for inbound traffic:
- This will initially allow all inbound traffic.
- Click Edit IP filters to restrict access to specific IP addresses or ranges.
Crucial Step: After creating or modifying the data source, you must:
- Click the Save button to persist your changes.
- Hit Yes when prompted to restart the Data Gateway service.
This ensures all changes are properly applied:

Skipping this step may cause the new settings to fail, preventing you from connecting to the data source.

Read Shopify data in SSAS cube

With the data source created in the Data Gateway (previous step), we're now ready to read Shopify data in an SSAS cube. Before we dive in, open Visual Studio and create a new Analysis Services project. Then, you're all set!

In the example below, we use Multidimensional and Data Mining Analysis Services project, but it should work with Tabular project too.

Create data source based on ZappySys Data Gateway

Let's start by creating a data source for a cube, based on the Data Gateway's data source we created earlier. So, what are we waiting for? Let's do it!

Create a new data source:
Once a window opens, select Create a data source based on an existing or new connection option and click New...:
Here things become a little complicated, but do not despair, it's only for a little while. Just perform these little steps:
- Select Native OLE DB\SQL Server Native Client 11.0 as provider.
- Enter your Server name (or IP address) and Port, separated by a comma.
- Select SQL Server Authentication option for authentication.
- Input User name which has admin permissions in the ZappySys Data Gateway.
- In Database name field enter the same data source name you use in the ZappySys Data Gateway.
- Hopefully, our hard work is done, when we Test Connection.
ShopifyDSN

ShopifyDSN
If SQL Server Native Client 11.0 is not listed as Native OLE DB provider, try using these:
- Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server
- Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server
Indeed, life is easy again:

Add data source view

We have data source in place, it's now time to add a data source view. Let's not waste a single second and get on to it!

Start by right-clicking on Data Source Views and then choosing New Data Source View...:
Select the previously created data source and click Next:
Ignore the Name Matching window and click Next.
Add the tables you will use in your SSAS cube:
For cube dimensions, consider creating a Virtual Table in the Data Gateway's data source. Use the DISTINCT keyword in the SELECT statement to get unique values from the facts table, like this:
```
SELECT DISTINCT Country FROM Customers
```
For demonstration purposes we are using sample tables which may not be available in Shopify.
Review your data source view and click Finish:
Add the missing table relationships and you're done!

Create cube

We have a data source view ready to be used by our cube. Let's create one!

Start by right-clicking on Cubes and selecting New Cube... menu item:
Select tables you will use for the measures:
And then select the measures themselves:
Don't stop and select the dimensions too:
Move along and click Finish before the final steps:
Review your cube before processing it:
It's time for the grand finale! Hit Process... to create the cube:
A splendid success!

Execute MDX query

The cube is created and processed. It's time to reap what we sow! Just execute an MDX query and get Shopify data in your SSAS cube:

Execute MDX in SSAS cube to read API data

Supported Shopify Connector actions

Got a specific use case in mind? We've mapped out exactly how to perform a variety of essential Shopify operations directly in SSAS, so you don't have to figure out the setup from scratch. Check out the step-by-step guides below:

Conclusion

In this article we showed you how to connect to Shopify in SSAS and integrate data without writing complex code — all of this was powered by Shopify ODBC Driver.

Download ODBC PowerPack now or ping us via chat if you have any questions or are looking for a specific feature (you can also reach out to us by submitting a ticket):

Download Chat