Build Apps with Live Act CRM data in Adalo using CData Connect Cloud

Adalo is a no-code platform used to build custom mobile and web applications without needing programming skills. It allows users to design interfaces, manage databases, and integrate functionality through simple drag-and-drop tools, making app development accessible and efficient. When combined with CData Connect Cloud, it provides access to Act CRM data to build custom applications and more.

This article explains how to use CData Connect Cloud to create a live connection to Act CRM and how to connect and access live Act CRM data from the Adalo platform.

Configure Act CRM connectivity for Adalo in CData Connect Cloud

To work with Act CRM data in Adalo, you need to connect to Act CRM from Connect Cloud, provide user access to the connection, and create an OData endpoint for Act CRM data.

Additionally, you need to generate a Personal Access Token (PAT) on the Settings page. Be sure to copy it down, as it serves as your password during authentication.

Follow the steps below to configure Act CRM connectivity for Adalo. For more information, see the Connections section of the Help documentation.

1. Log into Connect Cloud, click Connections and click Add Connection
2. Select "Act CRM" from the Add Connection panel
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Act CRM.

   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.

4. Click Create & Test
5. Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add Act CRM Connection page and update the User-based permissions.

Add a Act CRM OData endpoint to CData Connect Cloud

Once you're connected to Act CRM, create an OData endpoint for the desired table.

1. Go to the OData page from the left panel. Click Add and select Connections from the Add Entity Set window.
2. Select your Act CRM connection (for example, Act CRM1) and click Next.
3. Select the table you want to use and click Confirm to create a new OData endpoint.
4. Save the endpoint to connect Act CRM with Adalo in the next section.

With the connection and OData endpoint configured, you can connect to Act CRM data from Adalo.

NOTE: You can also do the same using the Virtual Datasets functionality in CData Connect Cloud. Refer to this YouTube link or our product documentation to learn more about the Virtual Datasets.

Build a custom app with Adalo

After configuring CData Connect Cloud, you can begin developing the Adalo app using Act CRM data.

1. Click on CREATE NEW APP.
2. Select Desktop Web App and click on Next.
3. You can choose any template, but for testing purposes, we've chosen a Blank template.
4. Finally, add an app name and choose a color scheme, and your app is ready to go!

Registering external collections

Adalo uses a data structure called Collection to manage app data and offers a feature called External Collections with APIs, which lets you seamlessly integrate Collection with external APIs. Use this feature to connect to Connect Cloud.

1. After creating an app, you first need to register a Collection, which is a definition for handling data within the Adalo app. There are two types of Collections: Database Collections, which are like Adalo's own internal database, and External Collections, which allow access to external APIs. In this case, we will access an external API, registering it as an External Collection.
2. On the External Collections registration screen, click on ADD COLLECTION to enter the collection name (any name of your choice), and provide the API base URL endpoint (OData endpoint registered on Connect Cloud). Make sure to add "/(table)" to the OData URL to access the specific endpoint. (Refer to the image given for reference)
3. In order to authenticate, you need a base64 authorization header comprising your username and PAT, joined by a colon. For example, [email protected]:MY_PAT. You can use a scripting tool, web tool, or other application to create this header.

   Using Postman to generate the Authorization header

   1. Open the Postman application. Enter the OData URL mentioned in the previous step for a GET request on Postman. Click on the Authorization tab and select Auth Type as "Basic Auth". Enter the Username and Password as follows and click on Send:
      • Username: Connect Cloud Username
      • Password: PAT generated on Connect Cloud
   2. Go to the Headers tab and copy/save the value of the Authorization key.
4. Back in Adalo, click on ADD ITEM and select Header.
5. Enter the details in the Header section as follows:
   • Name: "Authorization"
   • Value: Authorization key value copied in the previous step
6. Select Done and click on Next.
7. Select Get All and enter "value" in the Results Key section. Click on Done and Next.
8. Now, to test the API setup, click on RUN TEST. If you finally see the message and response shown below, the creation of External Collections is complete.

Creating a list screen

After configuring CData Connect Cloud, you can now begin developing the app on Adalo using Act CRM data.

1. First, click the + button in the upper right corner of the Adalo screen to display the list screen, then drag and drop "Simple List" onto the screen.
2. Once the layout is complete as shown below, link the External Collections definition you created earlier to What is this a list of?
3. Click on "Add Magic Text" button (as shown) to add the "Title" and "Subtitle" to the data items you want to obtain.
4. Now, click on View App in the top right corner of the screen and select Staging Preview.
5. You can now view the Act CRM data in the app created on Adalo.

Live connections to Act CRM data from cloud applications

Adalo now allows you to connect to live Act CRM data directly, allowing you to create more connections and apps without duplicating Act CRM data.

To get real-time data access to over 100 SaaS, big data, and NoSQL sources directly from your cloud applications, visit CData Connect Cloud.