Build Authorize.Net Visualizations in Tableau Cloud

Tableau Cloud is an analytics platform fully hosted in the cloud. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant, cloud-to-cloud access to Authorize.Net data for visualizations, dashboards, and more. This article shows how to create a virtual database for Authorize.Net and build visualizations from Authorize.Net data in Tableau Cloud.

CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for Authorize.Net, allowing you to easily build visualizations from live Authorize.Net data in Tableau Cloud without installing connectors or publishing worksheets and data sources from Tableau Desktop. As you build visualizations, Tableau Cloud generates SQL queries to gather data. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc) directly to Authorize.Net, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return Authorize.Net data.

Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for Authorize.Net Data

CData Connect Server uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources and generate APIs.

1. Login to Connect Server and click Connections.
2. Select "Authorize.Net" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Authorize.Net.

   You can obtain the necessary connection properties on the Security Settings -> General Settings page after logging into your Merchant Account.

   • UseSandbox: The Authorize.Net API to be used to process transactions. If you are using a production account, this property can be left blank. If you are using a developer test account, set this to 'TRUE'.
   • LoginID: The API login Id associated with your payment gateway account. This property is used to authenticate that you are authorized to submit website transactions. Note that this value is not the same as the login Id that you use to log in to the Merchant Interface.
   • TransactionKey: The transaction key associated with your payment gateway account. This property is used to authenticate that you are authorized to submit website transactions.
4. Click Save Changes
5. Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions.

With the virtual database created, you are ready to build visualizations in Tableau Cloud.

Visualize Live Authorize.Net Data in Tableau Cloud

The steps below outline creating a new data source in Tableau Cloud based on the virtual Authorize.Net database in Connect Server and building a simple visualization from the data.

1. Log into Tableau Cloud, select a project, and create a new workbook.
2. In the new workbook, choose the Microsoft SQL Server Connector from the data wizard and fill in the values for your Connect Server instance.
   NOTE: Be sure to check the "Require SSL" checkbox.
3. Select your newly created database and the table(s) you wish to visualize (defining relationships for JOINed tables as needed).
4. Select Dimensions and Measures and configure your visualization.

SQL Access to Authorize.Net Data from Applications

At this point, you have a direct connection to live Authorize.Net data from your Tableau Cloud workbook. You can create new visualizations, build dashboards, and more, with no need to publish data sources and workbooks from Tableau Desktop. For more information on gaining SQL access to data from more than 100 SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources from cloud applications like Tableau Cloud, refer to our Connect Server page.