Visualize Live Microsoft Dataverse 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 Microsoft Dataverse, you can easily get access to live Microsoft Dataverse data within Tableau. This article shows how to connect to Microsoft Dataverse in Tableau and build a simple chart.

The CData Tableau Connectors enable high-speed access to live Microsoft Dataverse data in Tableau. Once you install the connector, you simply authenticate with Microsoft Dataverse and you can immediately start building responsive, dynamic visualizations and dashboards. By surfacing Microsoft Dataverse data using native Tableau data types and handling complex filters, aggregations, & other operations automatically, CData Tableau Connectors grant seamless access to Microsoft Dataverse 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 Microsoft Dataverse. If you wish to connect to Microsoft Dataverse data in Tableau Cloud, you will need to use CData Connect Cloud.

Connect to Microsoft Dataverse in Tableau

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

You can connect without setting any connection properties for your user credentials. Below are the minimum connection properties required to connect.

• InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
• OrganizationUrl: Set this to the organization URL you are connecting to, such as https://myorganization.crm.dynamics.com.
• Tenant (optional): Set this if you wish to authenticate to a different tenant than your default. This is required to work with an organization not on your default Tenant.

When you connect the Common Data Service OAuth endpoint opens in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions. The OAuth process completes automatically.

Discover Schemas and Query Data

1. Select CData from the Database pull-down menu.
2. Select CDS 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 Microsoft Dataverse with Tableau, you can easily create robust visualizations and reports on Microsoft Dataverse data. Download a free, 30-day trial and get started today.