Visualize Live Act CRM Data in Tableau

Tableau is a visual analytics platform transforming the way businesses use data to solve problems. When paired with the CData Tableau Connector for Act CRM, you can easily get access to live Act CRM data within Tableau. This article shows how to connect to Act CRM in Tableau and build a simple chart.

The CData Tableau Connectors enable high-speed access to live Act CRM data in Tableau. Once you install the connector, you simply authenticate with Act CRM and you can immediately start building responsive, dynamic visualizations and dashboards. By surfacing Act CRM data using native Tableau data types and handling complex filters, aggregations, & other operations automatically, CData Tableau Connectors grant seamless access to Act CRM data.

NOTE: The CData Tableau Connectors require Tableau 2020.3 or higher. If you are using an older version of Tableau, you will need to use the CData Tableau Connector for Act CRM. If you wish to connect to Act CRM data in Tableau Cloud, you will need to use CData Connect Cloud.

Connect to Act CRM in Tableau

Open Tableau and click More under Connect -> To a Server. Select "Act CRM by CData," then configure the connection and click "Sign In."

The User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid Act! user credentials. In addition to the authentication values, see the following:

• Connecting to Act! Premium

  In addition to the authentication values, the URL to Act! is also required; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/.

  Additionally, you must specify the ActDatabase you will connect to. This is found by going to the About Act! Premium menu of your account, at the top right of the page, in the ? menu. Use the Database Name in the window that appears.

• Connecting to Act! Premium Cloud

  To connect to your Act! Premium Cloud account, you also need to specify the ActCloudName property. This property is found in the URL address of the Cloud account; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/ActCloudName/.

Note that retrieving ActCRM metadata can be expensive. It is advised that you set the CacheMetadata property to store the metadata locally.

Discover Schemas and Query Data

1. Select CData from the Database pull-down menu.
2. Select ActCRM from the Schema pull-down menu.
3. Drag the tables and views you wish to visualize onto the join area. You can include multiple tables.
4. Select Update Now or Automatically Update. Update Now lets you preview the first 10,000 rows of the data source (or enter the number of rows you want to see in the Rows text box). Automatically Update automatically reflects the changes in the preview area.
5. Click the tab for your worksheet. Columns are listed as Dimensions and Measures, depending on the data type. The CData Tableau Connector discovers data types automatically, allowing you to leverage the powerful data processing and visualization features of Tableau.
6. Drag a field from the Dimensions or Measures area to Rows or Columns. Tableau creates column or row headers.
7. Select one of the chart types from the Show Me tab. Tableau displays the chart type that you selected.

Using the CData Tableau Connector for Act CRM with Tableau, you can easily create robust visualizations and reports on Act CRM data. Download a free, 30-day trial and get started today.