Create Interactive Metabase Dashboards that Work with Zoho Creator Data

Metabase is an open source data visualization tool that allows users to create interactive dashboards. When paired with CData Connect Server, users can easily create visualizations and dashboards linked to live Zoho Creator data. This article describes how to create a virtual database for Zoho Creator and build a simple visualization using Zoho Creator data.

CData Connect provides a pure SQL interface for Zoho Creator, allowing you to easily integrate with live Zoho Creator data in Metabase — without replicating the data. Connect looks exactly like a MySQL database to Metabase and uses optimized data processing out of the box to push all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc) directly to Zoho Creator, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return Zoho Creator data.

Create a Virtual MySQL Database for Zoho Creator Data

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 Databases.
2. Select "Zoho Creator" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Zoho Creator.

   The connector is already registered with Zoho Creator as an OAuth application.

   If you would prefer to use your own custom OAuth app, see the Help documentation.

4. Click Test Database.
5. Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions.

Connect to CData Connect from Metabase

After creating the virtual database, navigate to your Metabase instance. Use the MySQL interface to connect to CData Connect.

1. Navigate to the administration screen (Settings -> Admin) and click "Add Database" from the "Databases" tab
2. Configure the connection to CData Connect and click "Save"
   • Database type: Select "MySQL"
   • Name: Name the connection (e.g. "Zoho Creator (CData Connect)")
   • Host: The URL of your Connect instance (e.g. https://CONNECT_SERVER_URL)
   • Port: The port of the MySQL endpoint for your Connect instance (e.g. 3306)
   • Database name: The name of the virtual database you just created (e.g. Zoho Creator1)
   • Username: A CData Connect username
   • Password: The password for the above CData Connect user
   • Click to Use a secure connection (SSL)

Query Zoho Creator Data with Metabase

Once you configure the connection to CData Connect, you can query Zoho Creator and build visualizations.

1. Use the "Write SQL" tool to retrieve the Zoho Creator data
2. Write a SQL query based on the virtual database, e.g.
   
   

   SELECT ID, Leave_Type FROM Leave_Types WHERE Leave_Type = 'Sick'

3. Navigate to the "Visualization" screen, choose a visualization, and configure the visualization

More Information & Free Trial

At this point, you have built a simple visualization from Zoho Creator data in Metabase. You can continue to work with live Zoho Creator data in Metabase just like you would any MySQL database. For more information on creating a virtual MySQL database for Zoho Creator (and more than 200 other data sources), visit the Connect Server page. Sign up for a free trial and start working with live Zoho Creator data in Metabase today.