Query Clio Data as a SQL Server in Node.js

You can use CData Connect Server to query Clio data through a SQL Server interface. Follow the procedure below to create a virtual database for Clio in Connect Server and start querying using Node.js.

CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for Clio, allowing you to easily build reports from live Clio data in Node.js — without replicating the data to a natively supported database. As you build visualizations, Node.js generates SQL queries to gather data. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc) directly to Clio, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested Clio data.

Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for Clio Data

CData Connect Server uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources and generate APIs.

1. Login to Connect Server and click Connections.
2. Select "Clio" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Clio.

   Start by setting the Profile connection property to the location of the Clio Profile on disk (e.g. C:\profiles\Clio.apip). Next, set the ProfileSettings connection property to the connection string for Clio (see below).

   Clio API Profile Settings

   Clio uses OAuth-based authentication.

   First, register an OAuth application with Clio. You can do so by logging to your Developer Account and clicking the Add button. Enter details and select the scope of your application here - these details will be shown to Clio users when they're asked to authorize your application. Your Oauth application will be assigned a client id (key) and a client secret (secret). Additionally you will need to set the Region in ProfileSettings connection property.

   After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:

   • AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth.
   • InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to manage the process to obtain the OAuthAccessToken.
   • OAuthClientId: Set this to the client_id that is specified in you app settings.
   • OAuthClientSecret: Set this to the client_secret that is specified in you app settings.
   • CallbackURL: Set this to the Redirect URI that is specified in your app settings.
   • Region: Set this in ProfileSettings to your Clio geographic region. Defaults to app.clio.com.
4. Click Save Changes
5. Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions.

With the virtual database created, you are ready to connect to Clio data from Node.js.

Query Clio from Node.js

The following example shows how to define a connection and execute queries to Clio with the SQL Server module. You will need the following information:

• Host name, or address, and port: The address of your Connect Server instance and the port (1433)
• Username and password: The username and password of a user you authorized on Connect Server
• Database name: The database you configured for Clio (API1)

Connect to Clio data and start executing queries with the code below:

const sql = require('mssql');

const config = {
    user: 'your_connect_username', 
    password: 'your_connect_password', 
    server: 'connect_server_url', 
    port: 1433, // optional, defaults to 1433
    database: 'API1',
    authentication: {
        type: 'default'
    },
    options: {
        encrypt: true
    }
}

console.log("Starting...");
connectAndQuery();

async function connectAndQuery() {
    try {
        var poolConnection = await sql.connect(config);

        console.log("Reading rows from the table...");
        var resultSet = await poolConnection.request().query(`SELECT * FROM table_name`);

        console.log(`${resultSet.recordset.length} rows returned.`);

        // output column headers
        var columns = "";
        for (var column in resultSet.recordset.columns) {
            columns += column + ", ";
        }
        console.log("%s	", columns.substring(0, columns.length - 2));

        // ouput row contents from default record set
        resultSet.recordset.forEach(row => {
            console.log("%s	%s", row.CategoryName, row.ProductName);
        });

        // close connection only when we're certain application is finished
        poolConnection.close();
    } catch (err) {
        console.error(err.message);
    }
}

SQL Server Access to Clio Data from Node.js

You have retrieved live Clio Data using Node.js. Now, you can easily access data sources and more — all without replicating Clio data.

To get SQL data access to 200+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from your applications, try CData Connect Server.