Create Dynamics GP-Connected Business Apps in AppSheet

AppSheet provides a no-code development platform for application software, which allows users to create mobile, tablet, and web applications. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant access to Dynamics GP data for business applications. This article shows how to create a virtual database for Dynamics GP in Connect Server and build a simple app from Dynamics GP data in AppSheet.

CData Connect Server provides a pure MySQL interface for Dynamics GP, allowing you to build reports from live Dynamics GP data in AppSheet — without replicating the data to a natively supported database. As you create applications to work with data, AppSheet 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 Dynamics GP, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested Dynamics GP data.

Create a Virtual MySQL Database for Dynamics GP 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 GP" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Dynamics GP.

   To authenticate set the User and Password connection properties.

   To connect set the URL to the Web services endpoint; for example, http://{servername}:{port}/Dynamics/GPService. Additionally, set CompanyId; you can obtain this value in the company setup window: Click Tools -> Setup -> Company.

   By default, data summaries are not returned to save performance. Set LookupIds to true to return details such as line items; however, note that entities must be retrieved one at a time.

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 GP data from AppSheet.

Connect to Dynamics GP in AppSheet

The steps below outline connecting to CData Connect Server from AppSheet to create a new Dynamics GP data source.

1. Log into AppSheet
2. Click "My account" in the menu
3. Click the Sources tab and add a new data source
4. Select Cloud Database and set the connection information
   • Type: MySQL
   • Server: the endpoint for your instance, including port, for example, CONNECT_SERVER_URL:3306
   • Database: the virtual database, for example, DynamicsGP1
   • Username: a Connect Server user with permissions for the database
   • Password: the password for the above Connect Server user
   • SSL: Require SSL
5. Click "Test Connection"
6. Click "Authorize Access"

Create an App

Once you create the data source for Dynamics GP, you can start building apps on Dynamics GP data. Start by clicking "My apps" in the menu.

1. Click to create a new app and select "Start with your own data"
2. Name the app and select an appropriate category, based on your data
3. Select the newly created data source (e.g., database-1)
4. Select the table or view with the data you want

At this point, you can configure the design of your app, selecting which columns from the selected table to display, use as labels, and more. Preview the app in the preview panel and then publish or share it when ready.

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