How to create an RPA flow for Power BI XMLA Data in UiPath Studio



Use the Power BI XMLA ODBC Driver to create workflows that access real-time Power BI XMLA data without any coding.

UiPath is a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platform with rich features and an easy-to-use UI that enables non-developers to create process automation. By using UiPath Studio, you can build an RPA program just like drawing a diagram. With the CData ODBC Driver for Power BI XMLA, users can embed Power BI XMLA data in the workflow.

This article walks through using the Power BI XMLA ODBC Driver in UiPath Studio to create an RPA program that accesses Power BI XMLA data.

Configure the Connection to Power BI XMLA

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

By default, use Azure AD to connect to Microsoft Power BI XMLA. Azure AD is Microsoft’s multi-tenant, cloud-based directory and identity management service. It is user-based authentication that requires that you set AuthScheme to AzureAD.

For more information on other authentication schemes, refer to the Help documentation.

Connect UiPath Studio to Power BI XMLA Data

Now you are ready to use Power BI XMLA data ODBC DSN in UiPath Studio with the following steps.

  1. From the Start page, click Blank to create a New Project.
  2. Click Manage Packages then search for and install UiPath.Database.Activities.
  3. Navigate to the Activities and drop a Flowchart (Workflow -> Flowchart -> Flowchart) onto the process.
  4. Drop a database Connect activity (App Integration -> Datbase -> Connect) after the Start activity.
  5. Double-click the Connect activity and configure the Connection.
    1. Click the Connection Wizard
    2. Select "Microsoft ODBC Data Source"
    3. In Connection Properties, select your DSN (CData PowerBIXMLA Source) and click OK
  6. To store Connection info, create a variable and bind to Output in the Properties section. Choose DatabaseConnection in Output.

Create an Execute Query Activity

With the connection configured, we are ready to query Power BI XMLA data in our RPA.

  1. From the Activities navigation, select Execute Query and drop it on the Flowchart.
  2. Double-click the Execute Query activity and set the properties as follows:
    • ExistingDbConnection: Your Connection variable
    • Sql: SELECT statement like SELECT Country, Education FROM Customer WHERE Country = 'Australia'
    • DataTable: Create and use a variable with the Type System.Data.DataTable

Create Write CSV Activity

With the Connection and Execute Query activities configured, we are ready to add a Write CSV activity to the Flowchart to replicate the Power BI XMLA data.

  1. From the Activities navigation, select Write CSV and drop it after the Execute Query activity.
  2. Double-click the Write CSV activity and set the properties as follows:
    • FilePath: Set to a file (new or existing) on disk (i.e.: C:\UiPath[id]-data.csv
    • DataTable: Set to the DataTable variable you created earlier

Connect the Activities and Run the Flowchart

If they are not already connected, connect each Activity that you created to complete the RPA project for extracting Power BI XMLA data and exporting it to CSV.

Click Run to extract Power BI XMLA data and create a CSV file.

In this article, we used the CData ODBC Driver for Power BI XMLA to create an automation flow that accesses Power BI XMLA data in UiPath Studio. Download a free, 30-day trial of the ODBC Driver and start working with live Power BI XMLA data in UiPath Studio today!

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Power BI XMLA Icon Power BI XMLA ODBC Driver

The Power BI XMLA ODBC Driver is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with live data from Power BI XMLA, directly from any applications that support ODBC connectivity.

Access Power BI XMLA data like you would a database - read, write, and update Power BI XMLA FALSE, etc. through a standard ODBC Driver interface.