The connector comes with a connection builder which allows you to build and test your connection settings outside of Tableau. It also allows you to create a connection string, which can be used to provide options not listed in the connection dialog in Tableau.

Configuring a Connection Builder

There are two ways to access the connection builder:

• On Windows, there is a shortcut called Connection Builder in the start menu, under the CData Tableau Connector for Microsoft Dataverse folder.
• The connection builder can also be started by going to the driver install directory and running the .jar file in the lib directory.

In the connection builder, you can set values for connection properties and click the Test Connection button to validate that they work. You can also use the Copy to Clipboard button to save the connection string for use with Tableau.

Schema

Microsoft Dataverse supports schema values of 'System' and 'Entities' and can be set using the Schema property.

Using 'System' for Schema property uses the Web API to query entities/tables.

Using 'Entities' for Schema property uses the EntityDefinitions entity set path and retrieves information about EntityMetadata EntityType entities/tables. This will often result in more user friendly names, though requires extra metadata requests.

Connecting to Microsoft Dataverse

To authenticate to the Microsoft Dataverse source, you should first set the OrganizationUrl to the URL of the organization you are connecting to, such as https://[organization].crm.dynamics.com.

Azure AD

Azure AD is a connection type that leverages OAuth to authenticate. OAuth requires the authenticating user to interact with Microsoft Dataverse using an internet browser. The connector facilitates this in several ways as described below. Set your AuthScheme to AzureAD. The rest of the AzureAD flows assume that you have done so.

Desktop Applications

CData provides an embedded OAuth application that simplifies OAuth desktop Authentication. Alternatively, you can create a custom OAuth application. See Creating a Custom AzureAD App for information about creating custom applications and reasons for doing so.

For authentication, the only difference between the two methods is that you must set two additional connection properties when using custom OAuth applications.

After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:

• InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
• OAuthClientId: (custom applications only) Set this to the client Id in your application settings.
• OAuthClientSecret: (custom applications only) Set this to the client secret in your application settings.
• CallbackURL: Set this to the Redirect URL in your application settings.

When you connect the connector opens the OAuth endpoint in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions to the application. The connector 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 that persist across connections.

Client Credentials

Client credentials refers to a flow in OAuth where there is no direct user authentication taking place. Instead, credentials are created for just the app itself. All tasks taken by the app are done without a default user context. This makes the authentication flow a bit different from standard.

Client OAuth Flow

All permissions related to the client oauth flow require admin consent. This means the app embedded with the CData Tableau Connector for Microsoft Dataverse cannot be used in the client oauth flow. You must create your own OAuth app in order to use client credentials. See Creating a Custom AzureAD App for more details.

In your App Registration in portal.azure.com, navigate to API Permissions and select the Microsoft Graph permissions. There are two distinct sets of permissions - Delegated and Application permissions. The permissions used during client credential authentication are under Application Permissions. Select the applicable permissions you require for your integration.

You are ready to connect after setting one of the below connection properties groups depending on the authentication type.

1. Client Secret
   • InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can cuse InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • AzureTenant: Set this to the tenant you wish to connet to.
   • OAuthGrantType: Set this to CLIENT.
   • OAuthClientId: Set this to the Client Id in your app settings.
   • OAuthClientSecret: Set this to the Client Secret in your app settings.
2. Certificate
   • InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • AzureTenant: Set this to the tenant you wish to connect to.
   • OAuthGrantType: Set this to CLIENT.
   • OAuthClientId: Set this to the Client Id in your app settings.
   • OAuthJWTCert: Set this to the JWT Certificate store.
   • OAuthJWTCertType: Set this to the type of the certificate store specified by OAuthJWTCert.

Authentication with client credentials will take place automatically like any other connection, except there will be no window opened prompting the user. Because there is no user context, there is no need for a browser popup. Connections will take place and be handled internally.

Azure Service Principal

Azure Service Principal is a connection type that goes through OAuth. Set your AuthScheme to AzureServicePrincipal. The authentication as an Azure Service Principal is handled via the OAuth Client Credentials flow, and it does not involve direct user authentication. Instead, credentials are created for just the app itself. All tasks taken by the app are done without a default user context, but based on the assigned roles. The application access to the resources is controlled through the assigned roles' permissions.

Note: You must create a custom application prior to assigning a role. See Creating a Custom AzureAD App for more information.

When authenticating using an Azure Service Principal, you must register an application with an Azure AD tenant. Follow the steps below to create a new service principal that can be used with the role-based access control.

Assign a role to the application

To access resources in your subscription, you must assign a role to the application.

1. Open the Subscriptions page by searching and selecting the Subscriptions service from the search bar.
2. Select the particular subscription to assign the application to.
3. Open the Access control (IAM) and select Add > Add role assignment to open the Add role assignment page.
4. Select Owner as the role to assign to your created Azure AD app.

Complete the Authentication

You are ready to connect after setting one of the below connection properties groups, depending on the configured app authentication (client secret or certificate).

In both methods

Before choosing client secret or certicate authentication, follow these steps then continue to the relevant section below:

1. AuthScheme: Set this to the AzureServicePrincipal in your app settings.
2. InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
3. AzureTenant: Set this to the tenant you wish to connect to.
4. OAuthClientId: Set this to the client Id in your app settings.

Authenticating using a Client Secret

Continue with the following:

1. OAuthClientId: Set this to the client Id in your app settings.
2. OAuthClientSecret: Set this to the client secret in your app settings.

Authenticating using a Certificate

Continue with the following:

1. OAuthJWTCert: Set this to the JWT Certificate store.
2. OAuthJWTCertType: Set this to the type of the certificate store specified by OAuthJWTCert.

MSI

If you are running Microsoft Dataverse on an Azure VM, you can leverage Managed Service Identity (MSI) credentials to connect:

• AuthScheme: Set this to AzureMSI.

The MSI credentials are automatically obtained for authentication.

Next Step

See Getting Data for the next step, which includes authenticating to the Microsoft Dataverse APIs.