Model Context Protocol (MCP) finally gives AI models a way to access the business data needed to make them really useful at work. CData MCP Servers have the depth and performance to make sure AI has access to all of the answers.
Try them now for free →
CData Drivers Now Support UI URL Capture for Seamless SaaS Navigation: Asana, HubSpot, Jira, and more
The latest UI URL capture feature in CData Drivers allows users to navigate directly from business data reports in BI tools like Power BI and Tableau to the corresponding record in the source system. Whether you're working with data from Asana, HubSpot, DocuSign, Monday, or other platforms, you can now include direct, actionable links in your BI reports, allowing you to jump directly to the SaaS interface from within Power BI or Tableau.
In this article, we'll explore how this new feature transforms the way you interact with your data!Retrieve screen URLs effortlessly from multiple data sources with CData Drivers
CData upgraded its drivers with a powerful feature that simplifies navigation between business intelligence (BI) tools and SaaS platforms. This update allows several drivers to retrieve screen URLs as a column in data records, giving users direct access to specific pages within connected SaaS applications.
Traditionally, retrieving a screen URL required significant effort when APIs returned only record IDs, such as https://service.com/opportunity/{id}. Users often had to construct URLs manually by combining fixed parts with record-specific IDs. However, with this new enhancement, URLs are now returned as part of the record value, eliminating the need for manual concatenation and streamlining the implementation of actionable links within BI dashboards and reports.
The Fall 2024 release supports screen URL functionality for the following drivers:
Additionally, screen URL support is under development for these platforms:This feature goes beyond BI tools, offering significant utility for spreadsheets, enterprise search solutions, and custom applications. By providing seamless access to SaaS interfaces, it enhances productivity and simplifies workflows for users across various platforms.
Jump from Power BI to your Asana reports
In this section, we will demonstrate how to create reports from Asana data in Power BI using the CData Asana Power BI Connector. By connecting directly to Asana, this integration provides actionable insights and enables seamless navigation between Power BI and your Asana workspace.
Connect to Asana with the CData Asana Power BI Connector
With the CData Drivers' built-in OAuth authentication, setting up the connection is simple—no need for manual token retrieval. Just retrieve your unique Workspace ID or “gid" from Asana's API, test the connection, and configure the DSN (Data Source Name).
Note: Access the following URL while logged in to Asana. An ID number will be returned as a field called "gid". Enter this value into the Workspace ID, as mentioned above.
Click OK to complete the connection. Note down the DSN or Data Source Name (the default is "CData PBI Asana Source") as you will use it in the next section.
Set the URL field when creating a report in Power BI
- Open Power BI, navigate and click on Get data > Other > CData Asana (Custom).
- Enter the “Data Source Name" you noted earlier in the respective field.
- Keep the Data Connectivity mode to Import and click OK.
- Next, click Connect.
- Asana data is displayed in a table format, making it ready for use in Power BI. Select the object you wish to work with and continue. For this example, we selected the "Task" table and click Load.
- Now that Power BI has imported the data (and you can refresh it anytime within Power BI), you can proceed to create a report.
- In the "Task" table, you will find a column named "ItemURL," which contains the URL that links directly to the Asana screen. To format it as a clickable web link, click on the column entity in the Data pane at the right. Then, from the drop-down menu on the top ribbon, select "Web URL" as the data category. This will convert the plain string into an active web URL in the report.
Access the Asana screen directly from the Power BI report
Now, click any task link in the ItemURL column of the Asana report you just created in Power BI.
The URL will take you directly to the task screen in Asana. While this may seem routine, you'll be impressed by how effortless the process is.
Free Trial & More Information
By now, you've learned how to use URLs in Power BI reports to link directly to their respective data sources. With the help of CData Power BI Connectors, users can seamlessly connect Power BI to live data from SaaS platforms, Big Data systems, and NoSQL databases. This capability enables advanced analytics and the creation of impactful visualizations to drive business decisions.
Get started with a free 30-day trial of any of the Power BI Connectors. For more videos, head over to our YouTube channel. As always, let us know if you have any questions during your evaluation. Our world-class CData Support Team is always available to help!
