Create Dynamics AX-Connected Nintex Workflows

Nintex Workflow Cloud is a cloud-based platform where you can design workflows to automate simple or complex processes using drag-and-drop interactions — without writing any code. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant, cloud-to-cloud access to Dynamics AX data for business applications. This article shows how to create a virtual database for Dynamics AX in Connect Server and build a simple workflow from Dynamics AX data in Nintex.

CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for Dynamics AX, allowing you to build workflows from live Dynamics AX data in Nintex Workflow Cloud — without replicating the data to a natively supported database. Nintex allows you to access data directly using SQL queries. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc.) directly to Dynamics AX, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested Dynamics AX data.

Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for Dynamics AX Data

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

1. Log into Connect Server and click Connections.
2. Select "Dynamics AX" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Dynamics AX.

   To connect to DynamicsAX, specify User, Domain, and ObjectServer. You can also surface tables for a specific Company; when this property is blank, the default company is used.

   Alternatively, you can use the .NET Business Connector to connect on behalf of DynamicsAX users. You can obtain the ProxyUser and ProxyDomain properties on the System service accounts form: Click System Administration -> Setup -> System -> System Service Accounts. Additionally, set ProxyPassword.

   By default, only transaction data and base information from the TRANSACTION and MAIN table groups is returned. You can specify which groups to return with TableGroups.

   Set Language to use the same language you use in your DynamicsAX labels.

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 Dynamics AX data from Nintex.

Connect to Dynamics AX in Nintex

The steps below outline creating a new connection for access to Dynamics AX CData Connect Server from Nintex to create a new Dynamics AX data source.

1. Log into Nintex Workflow Cloud
2. In the Connections tab, click "Add new"
3. Select SQL Server as the connector and click "Connect"
4. In the SQL Server connection wizard, set the following properties:
   • Connection Name: name the connection (e.g., CData Connect Server Dynamics AX Connection)
   • Username: your Connect Server username
   • Password: your Connect Server password
   • Database Host: your Connect Server SQL Server endpoint (e.g., connect_server_url)
   • Database Name: the virtual Dynamics AX database (e.g., DynamicsAX1)
5. Click "Connect"
6. Configure the connection permissions and click "Save permissions"

Create a Simple Dynamics AX Workflow

With the connection to CData Connect Server configured, we are ready to build a simple workflow to access Dynamics AX data. Start by clicking the "Create workflow" button.

Configure the Start Event Action

1. Click the start event task and select the "Form" event
2. Click "Design form"
3. Drag a "Text - Long" element onto the Form and click the element to configure it
   • Set "Title" to "Enter SQL query"
   • Set "Required" to true
4. Drag a "Text - Short" element onto the Form and click the element to configure it
   • Set "Title" to "Enter desired result column"
   • Set "Required" to true

Configure an "Execute a Query" Action

1. Add an "Execute a query" action after the "Start event: Form" action and click to configure the action
2. Set "SQL Script" to the "Enter SQL Query" variable from the "Start event" action
3. Set "Column to retrieve" to the "Enter desired result column" variable from the "Start event" action
4. Set "Retrieved column" to a new variable (e.g., "values")

Configure a "Send an Email" Action

1. Add a "Send an email" action after the "Execute a query" action and click to configure the action
2. Set the "Recipient email address"
3. Set the "Subject"
4. Set the "Message body" to the variable created for the retrieved column

Once you configure the actions, click "Save," name the Workflow, and click "Save" again. You now have a simple workflow that will query Dynamics AX using SQL and send an email with the results.

To learn more about SQL data access to 200+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from your cloud applications, check out the CData Connect Server. Sign up for a free trial and reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.