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Get the Report →Build Automated Freshdesk-Connected Workflows in Zapier
Use CData Connect Cloud to connect to live Freshdesk data and build automated workflows in Zapier.
Zapier is an online automation tool that connects your apps and services. When paired with CData Connect Cloud, you get access to live Freshdesk data for your workflows. This article shows how to connect to Freshdesk and build workflows with live Freshdesk data in Zapier.
Connect to Freshdesk from Zapier
To work with Freshdesk in Zapier, we need to connect to Freshdesk from Connect Cloud, provide user access to the connection, and create OData endpoints for the Freshdesk data.
(Optional) Add a New Connect Cloud User
As needed, create Users to connect to Freshdesk through Connect Cloud.
- Navigate to the Users page and click Invite Users
- Enter the new user's email address and click Send to invite the user
- You can review and edit users from the Users page
Add a Personal Access Token
If you are connecting from a service, application, platform, or framework that does not support OAuth authentication, you can create a Personal Access Token (PAT) to use for authentication. Best practices would dictate that you create a separate PAT for each service, to maintain granularity of access.
- Click on your username at the top right of the Connect Cloud app and click User Profile.
- On the User Profile page, scroll down to the Personal Access Tokens section and click Create PAT.
- Give your PAT a name and click Create.
- The personal access token is only visible at creation, so be sure to copy it and store it securely for future use.
Connect to Freshdesk from Connect Cloud
CData Connect Cloud uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources.
- Log into Connect Cloud, click Connections and click Add Connection
- Select "Freshdesk" from the Add Connection panel
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Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Freshdesk.
FreshDesk makes use of basic authentication. To connect to data, set the following connection properties:
- Domain: Set this to the domain associated with your FreshDesk account. For example, in your URL: https://my_domain.freshdesk.com.
- APIKey: Set this to the API key associated with your FreshDesk account. To retrieve your API key, Log into your support Portal -> Click on profile picture in the top right corner -> profile settings page. The API key will be available below the change password section to the right.
- Click Create & Test
- Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add Freshdesk Connection page and update the User-based permissions.
Configure Freshdesk Endpoints for Zapier
After connecting to Freshdesk, create a workspace and virtual dataset for your desired table(s).
- Navigate to the Virtual Datasets page and click Add to create a new Workspace (or select an existing workspace).
- Click Add to add new assets to the Workspace.
- Select the Freshdesk connection (e.g. FreshDesk1) and click Next.
- Select the table(s) you wish to work with and click Confirm.
- Make note of the OData Service URL for your workspace, e.g. https://cloud.cdata.com/api/odata/{workspace_name}
With the connection and Workspace configured, you are ready to connect to Freshdesk data from Zapier.
Connect to Freshdesk Data in Zapier Workflows
To establish a connection from Zapier to CData Connect Cloud using the OData protocol, follow these steps.
- Log into Zapier.
- Click Create Zap.
- In the dialog that appears, search for "Webhooks by Zapier", and click the option underneath.
- Under Event, select Retrieve Poll.
- Fill in the connection details:
- URL: Enter the OData URL (e.g. https://cloud.cdata.com/api/odata/{workspace_name}).
- Key: Enter "value.name."
- Authentication details: Fill in the Basic Auth or Headers. The basic option requires a user (your Connect Cloud username, e.g. [email protected]) and password (the PAT you've previously created) separated by a pipe symbol: |. The headers option requires a request type header with encoded credentials.
- Click Test. If the connection is set up properly, sample records will appear.
Simplified Access to Freshdesk Data from Cloud Applications
At this point, you have a direct, cloud-to-cloud connection to live Freshdesk data from Zapier. For more information on gaining simplified access to data from more than 100 SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources in cloud applications like Zapier, refer to our Connect Cloud page.