Create Reports from Microsoft Planner Data in Looker Studio

Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio) allows you to create branded reports with data visualizations to share with your clients. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant access to Microsoft Planner data for visualizations, dashboards, and more. This article shows how to create a virtual database for Microsoft Planner and build reports from Microsoft Planner data in Looker Studio.

CData Connect Server provides a pure MySQL interface for Microsoft Planner, allowing you to easily build reports from live Microsoft Planner data in Looker Studio — without replicating the data. As you build visualizations, Looker Studio generates queries to gather data. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported query operations (filters, JOINs, etc) directly to Microsoft Planner, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return Microsoft Planner data.

Connect to Microsoft Planner from Connect Server

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 "Microsoft Planner" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Microsoft Planner.

   You can connect without setting any connection properties for your user credentials. Below are the minimum connection properties required to connect.

   • InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • Tenant (optional): Set this if you wish to authenticate to a different tenant than your default. This is required to work with an organization not on your default Tenant.

   When you connect the Driver opens the MS Planner OAuth endpoint in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions to the Driver. The Driver then completes the OAuth process.

   1. Extracts the access token from the callback URL and authenticates requests.
   2. Obtains a new access token when the old one expires.
   3. Saves OAuth values in OAuthSettingsLocation to be persisted across connections.
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 Microsoft Planner data from Looker Studio.

Visualize Live Microsoft Planner Data in Looker Studio

The steps below outline connecting to CData Connect Server from Looker Studio to create a new Microsoft Planner data source and build a simple visualization from the data.

1. Log into Looker Studio, click data sources, create a new data source, and choose CData Connect Server Connector.
2. Authorize the Connector to connect to an external service (your Connect Server instance).
3. Use your instance name (myinstance in CONNECT_SERVER_URL), username, and password to connect to your Connect Server instance.
   • Username: myinstance/username
   • Password: your Connect Server password
4. Select a Database (e.g. MicrosoftPlanner1) and click Next.
5. Select a Table (e.g. Tasks) and click Next.
6. Click Connect.
7. If needed, modify columns, click Create Report, and add the data source to the report.
8. Select a visualization style and add it to the report.
9. Select Dimensions and Measures to customize your visualization.

Optional: Connect with the MySQL Connector

If you need to work with data from a custom SQL query, you can use the MySQL Connector. Connect using the server information for your Connect Server instance (server address, port, username, and password).

SQL Access to Microsoft Planner Data from Applications

Now you have a direct connection to live Microsoft Planner data from your Looker Studio workbook. You can create more data sources and new visualizations, build reports, and more — all without replicating Microsoft Planner data.

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