Connect NetSuite Data to Claris FileMaker via ESS using an ODBC Driver and the CData SQL Gateway


Connect to your NetSuite data using the ESS feature of Claris FileMaker with MySQL ODBC driver and CData SQL Gateway.

Claris FileMaker is a low-code platform that enables users to quickly create custom apps to manage and automate data workflows. Using the CData ODBC Driver for NetSuite and the CData SQL Gateway, FileMaker connects to NetSuite data through its ESS (External SQL Source) feature, allowing you to work with NetSuite records as if they were native FileMaker tables.

In this article, we configure and use the CData ODBC Driver for NetSuite and the CData SQL Gateway, along with the MySQL ODBC Driver, to connect to NetSuite data using the ESS functionality in FileMaker.

About NetSuite Data Integration

CData provides the easiest way to access and integrate live data from Oracle NetSuite. Customers use CData connectivity to:

  • Access all editions of NetSuite, including Standard, CRM, and OneWorld.
  • Connect with all versions of the SuiteTalk API (SOAP-based) and SuiteQL, which functions like SQL, enabling easier data querying and manipulation.
  • Access predefined and custom reports through support for Saved Searches.
  • Securely authenticate with Token-based and OAuth 2.0, ensuring compatibility and security for all use cases.
  • Use SQL stored procedures to perform functional actions like uploading or downloading files, attaching or detaching records or relationships, retrieving roles, getting extra table or column info, getting job results, and more.

Customers use CData solutions to access live NetSuite data from their preferred analytics tools, Power BI and Excel. They also use CData's solutions to integrate their NetSuite data into comprehensive databases and data warehouse using CData Sync directly or leveraging CData's compatibility with other applications like Azure Data Factory. CData also helps Oracle NetSuite customers easily write apps that can pull data from and push data to NetSuite, allowing organizations to integrate data from other sources with NetSuite.

For more information about our Oracle NetSuite solutions, read our blog: Drivers in Focus Part 2: Replicating and Consolidating ... NetSuite Accounting Data.


Getting Started


Create an ODBC Data Source for NetSuite

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

The User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid NetSuite user credentials. In addition, the AccountId must be set to the ID of a company account that can be used by the specified User. The RoleId can be optionally specified to log in the user with limited permissions.

See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for more information on connecting to NetSuite.

When you configure the DSN, you may also want to set the Max Rows connection property. This will limit the number of rows returned, which is especially helpful for improving performance when designing reports and visualizations.

Configuring the CData SQL Gateway

The CData SQL Gateway bridges non-SQL data sources (like SaaS applications, APIs, and NoSQL databases) with SQL-based tools (like FileMaker, MySQL clients, and BI tools).

In simple terms, it exposes any CData driver-supported source - for example, NetSuite - as a standard MySQL or SQL Server endpoint.

See the SQL Gateway Overview to set up NetSuite data connectivity as a virtual MySQL database. Set up a MySQL remoting service that listens for MySQL requests from clients, and configure the service through the SQL Gateway UI (as shown below). Save the user credentials (Username and Password) for future use.

Once you establish the connection, you can use the CData SQL Gateway to access NetSuite data through the MySQL protocol.

Installing the MySQL ODBC Driver

Follow the steps below to install and configure the MySQL ODBC Driver:

  1. Download and install the latest 64-bit Windows version of the MySQL ODBC Unicode Driver from this link.
  2. Launch ODBC Data Sources (64-bit) from Windows search. Open the System DSN tab, click Add, select MySQL ODBC Unicode Driver from the Create New Data Source window, and click Finish.
  3. Enter the following connection details in the MySQL Connector/ODBC Data Source Configuration window:
    • Data Source Name: Enter a DSN of your choice
    • TCP/IP Server: localhost
    • Port: Enter the port set in the SQL Gateway (for this procedure, use "3307")
    • User: Enter the username set in the CData SQL Gateway
    • Password: Enter the password set in the CData SQL Gateway
    • Database: CData NetSuite Sys
  4. Click Test to verify that the "Connection Successful" dialog box appears. Then click OK to save the configuration details.

You have now successfully configured the MySQL ODBC Driver.

Use FileMaker ESS function to load NetSuite data

In this section, we explore how to use the ESS (External SQL Source) feature to retrieve data in the FileMaker application. Follow the given steps to complete the process:

  1. Open FileMaker Pro. Navigate to Create from the left panel and select Blank > Create.
  2. Enter a desired filename and click Save.
  3. In Manage Database, remove the Tables and Fields from the respective tabs. Select the Relationships tab and click Add Table.
  4. In Specify Table, expand the Data Source dropdown menu and select Add ODBC Data Source. Click OK.
  5. In Select ODBC Data Source, select the previously configured MySQL ODBC driver and click Continue.
  6. In the Edit Data Source window, enter the following details:
    • Name: This field will be auto-filled. Enter a new name of choice if necessary.
    • Type: Select "ODBC".
    • Under Authentication, select the Specify username and password radio button and enter the following details:
      • User name: Enter the username set in the CData SQL Gateway.
      • Password: Enter the password set in the CData SQL Gateway.
    • Catalog Name: CData NetSuite Sys
  7. Click OK.
  8. View the tables from NetSuite populated under the Data Source section. Select the table of your choice and click OK.
  9. The Relationships tab now displays the selected table and its metadata. Click OK.
  10. Select the table from the Layout dropdown. The NetSuite table data appears on the screen. (As shown)

Get Started Today

Download a free 30-day trial of CData ODBC Driver for NetSuite to integrate NetSuite data into Claris FileMaker and use NetSuite data in your FileMaker applications.

Contact our Support Team if you have any questions.

Ready to get started?

Download a free trial of the NetSuite ODBC Driver to get started:

 Download Now

Learn more:

NetSuite Icon NetSuite ODBC Driver

The NetSuite ODBC Driver is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with live NetSuite data, directly from any applications that support ODBC connectivity.

Access NetSuite like you would a database - read, write, and update Leads, Contacts, Opportunities, Accounts, etc. through a standard ODBC Driver interface.

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