Connect to Dynamics CRM Data in DBeaver

The CData ODBC Driver for Dynamics CRM enables access to live data from Dynamics CRM under the ODBC standard, allowing you work with Dynamics CRM data in a wide variety of BI, reporting, and ETL tools and directly, using familiar SQL queries. This article shows how to manage Dynamics CRM data with visual tools in DBeaver like the query browser.

The CData ODBC drivers offer unmatched performance for interacting with live Dynamics CRM data in DBeaver due to optimized data processing built into the driver. When you issue complex SQL queries from DBeaver to Dynamics CRM, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Dynamics CRM and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations (often SQL functions and JOIN operations) client-side. With built-in dynamic metadata querying, you can manage and analyze Dynamics CRM data.

Connect to Dynamics CRM

If you have not already done so, provide values for the required connection properties in the data source name (DSN). You can configure the DSN using the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator. This is also the last step of the driver installation. See the "Getting Started" chapter in the Help documentation for a guide to using the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure a DSN.

The connection string options meet the authentication and connection requirements of different Dynamics CRM instances. To connect to your instance, set the User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, to valid Dynamics CRM user credentials and set the Url to a valid Dynamics CRM server organization root. Additionally, set the CRMVersion property to 'CRM2011+' or 'CRMOnline'. IFD configurations are supported as well; set InternetFacingDeployment to true.

Additionally, you can provide the security token service (STS) or AD FS endpoint in the STSURL property. This value can be retrieved with the GetSTSUrl stored procedure. Office 365 users can connect to the default STS URL by simply setting CRMVersion.

Finally, set the "Map To WVarchar connection property to False in the DSN Configuration window for the driver. This configuration will allow string types to be mapped to SQL_VARCHAR and prevent SQL_WVARCHAR types from being displayed as NULL.

Connecting to the Dynamics CRM ODBC Data Source in DBeaver

1. Open the DBeaver application and in the Database menu, select the New Database Connection option.
2. In the 'Connect to a database' window, select ODBC and click Next.
3. In the Database/Schema field, enter the DSN name (CData Dynamics CRM Source by default). It will be automatically added to the JDBC URL as well.
4. Click the Test Connection button. You should receive a 'Connected' message after DBeaver has detected the DSN, along with details about the driver if the connection is successful.

Query Dynamics CRM Data

You can now query information from the tables exposed by the data source connection. You can expand the database structure in order to view all the tables. You can retrieve the table's data by right-clicking on a table name and selecting View data. The data will then be available in the Data tab.

Free Trial & More Information

At this point, you have connected to live Dynamics CRM data from DBeaver. For more information, visit the CData ODBC Driver page. Download a free, 30-day trial and start working live Dynamics CRM data DBeaver today.