Create SSAS Tabular Models from Webflow Data

Dibyendu Datta
Dibyendu Datta
Lead Technology Evangelist
How to build a SQL Server Analysis Service Tabular Model from Webflow data using CData drivers.

SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is an analytical data engine used in decision support and business analytics. It provides enterprise-grade semantic data models for business reports and client applications, such as Power BI, Excel, Reporting Services reports, and other data visualization tools. When paired with the CData API Driver for ODBC, you can create a tabular model from Webflow data for deeper and faster data analysis.

Create a Connection to Webflow Data

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.

Authentication

Webflow uses OAuth 2.0 authentication to ensure secure access to sites, CMS collections, e-commerce data, and other resources. This authentication method allows you to securely connect to your Webflow workspace and manage resources with proper authorization.

OAuth 2.0 Setup and Configuration

Step 1: Create a Webflow OAuth Application

To set up OAuth authentication:

  1. Visit the Webflow Developer Portal
  2. Navigate to "Apps & Integrations" in your Webflow account
  3. Click "Register an App" to create a new OAuth application
  4. Configure the application name, description, and redirect URI (CallbackURL)
  5. Copy the Client ID and Client Secret for use in your connection

Required Connection Properties

  • AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth (required)
  • OAuthClientId: Client ID from your Webflow OAuth application (required)
  • OAuthClientSecret: Client secret from your Webflow OAuth application (required)
  • CallbackURL: Redirect URI specified in your OAuth application (required)
  • InitiateOAuth: Set to GETANDREFRESH for automatic token management (recommended)

Required OAuth Scopes

The Webflow API Profile requires the following OAuth scopes:

  • sites:read - Read access to site information and configuration
  • pages:read - Read access to site pages
  • cms:read - Read access to CMS collections and items
  • forms:read - Read access to forms and form submissions
  • assets:read - Read access to media assets and folders
  • ecommerce:read - Read access to products, orders, and inventory
  • authorized_user:read - Read access to the authorized user

Creating a Data Source for Webflow

Start by creating a new Analysis Services Tabular Project in Visual Studio. Ensure that you select a Compatibility Level of 1400 or higher in the Tabular model designer dialog. Next create a Data Source for Webflow in the project.

  1. In the Tabular Model Explorer, right-click Data Sources and select "New Data Source"
  2. Select "ODBC" from the Other tab and click "Connect"
  3. Select the DSN you previously configured
  4. Choose "Default or Custom" as the authentication option and click "Connect"

Add Tables & Relationships

After creating the data source you are ready to import tables and define the relationships between the tables.

  1. Right-click the new data source, click "Import New Tables" and select the tables to import
  2. After importing the tables, right-click "Relationships" and click "Create Relationships"
  3. Select table(s), and choose the foreign keys, cardinality, and filter direction

Create Measures

After importing the tables and defining the relationships, you are ready to create measures.

  1. Select the column in the table for which you wish to create a measure
  2. In the Extensions menu -> click "Columns" -> "AutoSum" and select your aggregation method

Deploy the Model

Once you create measures, you are ready to deploy the model. Configure the target server and database by right-clicking the project found in the Solution Explorer and selecting "Properties." Configure the "Deployment Server" properties and click "OK."

After configuring the deployment server, open the "Build" menu and click "Deploy Solution." You now have a tabular model for Webflow data in your SSAS instance, ready to be analyzed, reported, and viewed. Get started with a free, 30-day trial of the CData API Driver for ODBC.

Ready to get started?

Connect to live data from Webflow with the API Driver

Connect to Webflow