How to Visualize Salesforce CRM Analytics Data in Python with pandas via CData Connect AI

The rich ecosystem of Python modules lets you get to work quickly and integrate your systems more effectively. With the CData Connect AI Python SDK, the pandas and Matplotlib modules, you can build Salesforce CRM Analytics-connected Python applications and scripts for visualizing Salesforce CRM Analytics data. This article shows how to connect to Connect AI and use the pandas and Matplotlib built-in functions to query Salesforce CRM Analytics data and visualize the results.

The Connect AI Python SDK (cdata-connect-ai) is a DB-API 2.0 (PEP 249) compliant client, so pandas can read query results directly from the SDK connection object. There is no driver to install per source and no SQLAlchemy engine to configure: connect with a Personal Access Token and pass the connection straight to pandas.read_sql.

Connect to Salesforce CRM Analytics in Connect AI

CData Connect AI uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources.

1. Log into Connect AI, click Sources, and then click Add Connection

2. Select "Salesforce CRM Analytics" from the Add Connection panel

3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Salesforce CRM Analytics.

   Salesforce CRM Analytics uses the OAuth 2 authentication standard. Obtain the OAuthClientId and OAuthClientSecret by registering an app with Salesforce CRM Analytics.

   See the Getting Started section of the Help documentation for an authentication guide.

   Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

   If the connected Salesforce org has MFA enforcement enabled, set MFACode to the time-based one-time passcode (TOTP) generated by your authenticator app (such as Salesforce Authenticator or Google Authenticator). MFACode applies alongside the standard OAuth flow.

   
4. Click Save & Test
5. Navigate to the Permissions tab and update the user-based permissions.

Generate a Personal Access Token (PAT)

The Python SDK authenticates to Connect AI with your account email and a Personal Access Token (PAT). It is best practice to create a separate PAT for each application to maintain granularity of access.

1. Click the Gear icon () at the top right of the Connect AI app to open the Settings page.
2. On the Settings page, go to the Access Tokens section and click Create PAT.
3. Give the PAT a name and click Create.
4. The PAT is only visible at creation, so copy it and store it securely.

Install Required Modules

Install the SDK (with the pandas extra) and Matplotlib using the pip utility:

pip install "cdata-connect-ai[full]"
pip install matplotlib

Visualize Salesforce CRM Analytics Data in Python

Import the modules, then connect to Connect AI with your account email and PAT. Identifiers are three-part: <Connection>.<Schema>.<Table>, where the connection name defaults to the source name (for example, SalesforceCRMAnalytics1).

import pandas
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import cdata_connect_ai

conn = cdata_connect_ai.connect(
    username="[email protected]",
    password="<your_pat>",
)

Query Salesforce CRM Analytics with pandas

Use the read_sql function from pandas to execute a SQL statement and store the result set in a DataFrame. Pass the SDK connection directly, no engine required.

df = pandas.read_sql(
    "SELECT Name, CloseDate "
    "FROM [SalesforceCRMAnalytics1].[SalesforceCRMAnalytics].[Dataset_Opportunity] "
    "WHERE StageName = 'Closed Won'",
    conn,
)

Note: pandas may print a UserWarning stating that it only officially supports SQLAlchemy connectables. This is expected when passing a DB-API connection directly—the query runs correctly and the warning is safe to ignore.

Visualize Salesforce CRM Analytics Data

With the query results stored in a DataFrame, use the plot function to build a chart. The show method displays the chart in a new window.

df.plot(kind="bar", x="Name", y="CloseDate")
plt.show()

conn.close()

More Information and Free Trial

Now you can read live Salesforce CRM Analytics data into pandas through the CData Connect AI Python SDK. For more information on connecting to Salesforce CRM Analytics (and hundreds of other data sources), visit the Connect AI page. Sign up for a free trial and start working with live Salesforce CRM Analytics data in Python.

Full Source Code

import pandas
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import cdata_connect_ai

conn = cdata_connect_ai.connect(
    username="[email protected]",
    password="<your_pat>",
)

df = pandas.read_sql(
    "SELECT Name, CloseDate "
    "FROM [SalesforceCRMAnalytics1].[SalesforceCRMAnalytics].[Dataset_Opportunity] "
    "WHERE StageName = 'Closed Won'",
    conn,
)

df.plot(kind="bar", x="Name", y="CloseDate")
plt.show()

conn.close()