Validate Blackbaud FE NXT Data with QuerySurge

QuerySurge is a smart data testing solution that automates data validation and testing. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Blackbaud FE NXT, QuerySurge can work with live Blackbaud FE NXT data. This article walks through connecting to Blackbaud FE NXT data from QuerySurge.

With built-in optimized data processing, the CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live Blackbaud FE NXT data. When you issue complex SQL queries to Blackbaud FE NXT, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Blackbaud FE NXT and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations client-side (often SQL functions and JOIN operations). Its built-in dynamic metadata querying allows you to work with and analyze Blackbaud FE NXT data using native data types.

Connecting to Blackbaud FE NXT Data in QuerySurge

To connect to live Blackbaud FE NXT data from QuerySurge, you need to deploy the JDBC Driver JAR file to your QuerySurge Agent(s) and add a new connection from the QuerySurge Admin view.

Deploy the JDBC Driver

1. Download the CData JDBC Driver for Blackbaud FE NXT installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.
2. Once the driver is installed, stop the Agent Service.
3. Copy the JAR File (and license file if it exists) from the installation location (typically C:\Program Files\CData\CData JDBC Driver for Blackbaud FE NXT\lib\) to your Agent(s) (QuerySurge_install_dir\agent\jdbc).
4. Restart the Agent Service.

For more information on deploying JDBC drivers for QuerySurge, refer to the QuerySurge Knowledge Base.

Configure a New Connection to Blackbaud FE NXT

1. Log into QuerySurge and navigate to the Admin view.
2. Click Configuration -> Connections in the Administration Tree.
3. Click Add to create a new connection.
4. In the QuerySurge Connection Wizard, click Next.
5. Name the connection (e.g. CData JDBC Connection to Blackbaud FE NXT).
6. Set the Data Source to "All Other JDBC Connections (Connection Extensibility)" and click Next.
7. Set the Driver Class to cdata.jdbc.financialedgenxt.FinancialEdgeNXTDriver and click Next.

8. Set the Connection URL using the necessary connection properties to authenticate with Blackbaud FE NXT. Your Connection URL will look something like the following:

   jdbc:financialedgenxt:SubscriptionKey=MySubscriptionKey;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH

   Built-in Connection String Designer

   For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Blackbaud FE NXT JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.financialedgenxt.jar

   Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

   Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT uses the OAuth authentication standard. To authenticate using OAuth, you will need to create an app to obtain the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL connection properties.

   See the Getting Started guide in the CData driver documentation for more information.

9. Set the Test Query to enable the Test Connection button for the Connection (e.g. SELECT * FROM Accounts LIMIT 1) and click Next.
10. Click Test Connection to ensure the connection is configured properly and click Save to add the connection.

Once the connection is added, you can write SQL queries against your Blackbaud FE NXT data in QuerySurge.

Compare Blackbaud FE NXT Data Queries with a QueryPair

With the connection configured, you can follow the steps below to compare querying Blackbaud FE NXT data with a QueryPair.

1. Select "Design Library" from the Design Menu
2. Click QueryPairs under QuerySurge Design
3. Click "Create New QueryPair"
4. Name the QueryPair and click Save
5. In either the Source or Target panes, select the connection created above (select the same connection to query Blackbaud FE NXT twice or another connection to perform a comparison)
6. Write queries in the Editor for each pane, e.g. SELECT * FROM Accounts
7. Click the "Design-Time Run" tab to execute the queries
8. When the query execution is finished, click "View Query Results" to see the Blackbaud FE NXT data returned by the query

Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for Blackbaud FE NXT and start working with your live Blackbaud FE NXT data in QuerySurge. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.