Build Pipelines with Live Dynamics CRM Data in Google Cloud Data Fusion (via CData Connect Cloud)

Google Cloud Data Fusion simplifies building and managing data pipelines by offering a visual interface to connect, transform, and move data across various sources and destinations, streamlining data integration processes. When combined with CData Connect Cloud, it provides access to Dynamics CRM data for building and managing ELT/ETL data pipelines. This article explains how to use CData Connect Cloud to create a live connection to Dynamics CRM and how to connect and access live Dynamics CRM data from the Cloud Data Fusion platform.

Configure Dynamics CRM Connectivity for Cloud Data Fusion

Connectivity to Dynamics CRM from Cloud Data Fusion is made possible through CData Connect Cloud. To work with Dynamics CRM data from Cloud Data Fusion, we start by creating and configuring a Dynamics CRM connection.

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

   The connection string options meet the authentication and connection requirements of different Dynamics CRM instances. To connect to your instance, set the User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, to valid Dynamics CRM user credentials and set the Url to a valid Dynamics CRM server organization root. Additionally, set the CRMVersion property to 'CRM2011+' or 'CRMOnline'. IFD configurations are supported as well; set InternetFacingDeployment to true.

   Additionally, you can provide the security token service (STS) or AD FS endpoint in the STSURL property. This value can be retrieved with the GetSTSUrl stored procedure. Office 365 users can connect to the default STS URL by simply setting CRMVersion.

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

Add a Personal Access Token

If you are connecting from a service, application, platform, or framework that does not support OAuth authentication, you can create a Personal Access Token (PAT) to use for authentication. Best practices would dictate that you create a separate PAT for each service, to maintain granularity of access.

1. Click on your username at the top right of the Connect Cloud app and click User Profile.
2. On the User Profile page, scroll down to the Personal Access Tokens section and click Create PAT.
3. Give your PAT a name and click Create.
4. The personal access token is only visible at creation, so be sure to copy it and store it securely for future use.

With the connection configured, you are ready to connect to Dynamics CRM data from Cloud Data Fusion.

Connecting to Dynamics CRM from Cloud Data Fusion

Follow these steps to establish a connection from Cloud Data Fusion to Dynamics CRM through the CData Connect Cloud JDBC driver:

1. Download and install the CData Connect Cloud JDBC driver:
   1. Open the Client Tools page of CData Connect Cloud.
   2. Search for JDBC or Cloud Data Fusion.
   3. Click on Download and select your operating system (Mac/Windows/Linux).
   4. Once the download is complete, run the setup file.
   5. When the installation is complete, the JAR file can be found in the installation directory (inside the lib folder).
2. Log into Cloud Data Fusion.
3. Click the green "+" button at the top right to add an entity.
4. Under Driver, click Upload.
5. Now, upload the CData Connect Cloud JDBC driver (JAR file).
6. Enter the driver settings:
   • Name: Enter the name of the driver
   • Class name: Enter "cdata.jdbc.connect.ConnectDriver"
   • Version: Enter the driver version
   • Description (optional): Enter a description for the driver
7. Click on Finish.
8. Enter source configuration settings:
   • Label: Helps to identify the connection
   • JDBC driver name: Enter the JDBC driver name to identify the driver configured in Step 6.
   • Connection string: Enter the JDBC connection string and include the following parameters in it: jdbc:connect:AuthScheme=Basic;User=[User];Password=[Password];
   • User: Enter your CData Connect Cloud username, displayed in the top-right corner of the CData Connect Cloud interface. For example, "[email protected]"
   • Password: Enter the PAT you generated on the Settings page.
9. Click Validate in the top right corner.
10. If the connection is successful, you can manage the pipeline by editing it through the UI.
11. Run the pipepline created.

Troubleshooting

Please be aware that there is a known issue in Cloud Data Fusion where "int" types from source data are automatically cast as "long".

Live Access to Dynamics CRM Data from Cloud Applications

Now you have a direct connection to live Dynamics CRM data from from Google Cloud Data Fusion. You can create more connections to ensure a smooth movement of data across various sources and destinations, thereby streamlining data integration processes - all without replicating Dynamics CRM data.

To get real-time data access to 100+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources (including Dynamics CRM) directly from your cloud applications, explore the CData Connect Cloud.