Build Pipelines with Live Act CRM Data in Google Cloud Data Fusion (via CData Connect AI)

Google Cloud Data Fusion simplifies building and managing data pipelines by offering a visual interface to connect, transform, and move data across various sources and destinations, streamlining data integration processes. When combined with CData Connect AI, it provides access to Act CRM data for building and managing ELT/ETL data pipelines. This article explains how to use CData Connect AI to create a live connection to Act CRM and how to connect and access live Act CRM data from the Cloud Data Fusion platform.

Configure Act CRM Connectivity for Cloud Data Fusion

Connectivity to Act CRM from Cloud Data Fusion is made possible through CData Connect AI. To work with Act CRM data from Cloud Data Fusion, we start by creating and configuring a Act CRM connection.

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

2. Select "Act CRM" from the Add Connection panel
👁 Selecting a data source

3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Act CRM.

   The and properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid Act! user credentials. In addition to the authentication values, see the following:

   • Connecting to Act! Premium

     In addition to the authentication values, the to Act! is also required; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/.

     Additionally, you must specify the you will connect to. This is found by going to the About Act! Premium menu of your account, at the top right of the page, in the ? menu. Use the Database Name in the window that appears.

   • Connecting to Act! Premium Cloud

     To connect to your Act! Premium Cloud account, you also need to specify the property. This property is found in the URL address of the Cloud account; for example https://eup1-iis-04.eu.hosted.act.com/ActCloudName/.

   Note that retrieving ActCRM metadata can be expensive. It is advised that you set the property to store the metadata locally.

   👁 Configuring a connection (Salesforce is shown)
   
4. Click Save & Test
5. Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add Act CRM Connection page and update the User-based permissions. 👁 Updating permissions
   

Add a Personal Access Token

When connecting to Connect AI through the REST API, the OData API, or the Virtual SQL Server, a Personal Access Token (PAT) is used to authenticate the connection to Connect AI. It is best practice to create a separate PAT for each service to maintain granularity of access.

1. Click on 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. 👁 Creating a new PAT
   
4. The personal access token is only visible at creation, so be sure to copy it and store it securely for future use.

With the connection configured and a PAT generated, you are ready to connect to Act CRM data from Cloud Data Fusion.

Connecting to Act CRM from Cloud Data Fusion

Follow these steps to establish a connection from Cloud Data Fusion to Act CRM through the CData Connect AI JDBC driver:

1. Download and install the CData Connect AI JDBC driver:
   1. Open the Integrations page of CData Connect AI.
   2. Search for and select JDBC.
   3. Download and run the setup file.
   4. When the installation is complete, copy the JAR file(cdata.jdbc.connect.jar) from the installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\CData\JDBC Driver for CData Connect\lib).
2. Log into Cloud Data Fusion.
3. Click the green "+" button at the top right to add an entity.
4. Under Driver, click Upload. 👁 Upload the driver JAR file
   
5. Now, upload the CData Connect AI JDBC driver (JAR file).
6. Enter the driver settings:
   • Name: Enter the name of the driver
   • Class name: Enter "cdata.jdbc.connect.ConnectDriver"
   • Version: Enter the driver version
   • Description (optional): Enter a description for the driver 👁 Enter the driver settings
     
7. Click on Finish.
8. Enter source configuration settings:
   • Label: Helps to identify the connection
   • JDBC driver name: Enter the JDBC driver name to identify the driver configured in Step 6.
   • Connection string: Enter the JDBC connection string, for example:

     jdbc:connect:AuthScheme=Basic;user=username;password=PAT;

   • User: Enter your CData Connect AI username, displayed in the top-right corner of the CData Connect AI interface. For example, "[email protected]"
   • Password: Enter the PAT you generated on the Settings page. 👁 Enter the source configuration settings
     
9. Click Validate in the top right corner.
10. If the connection is successful, you can manage the pipeline by editing it through the UI. 👁 Build and manage the pipeline in the UI
    
11. Run the pipepline created. 👁 Run the pipeline
    

Troubleshooting

Please be aware that there is a known issue in Cloud Data Fusion where "int" types from source data are automatically cast as "long".

Live Access to Act CRM Data from Cloud Applications

Now you have a direct connection to live Act CRM data from from Google Cloud Data Fusion. You can create more connections to ensure a smooth movement of data across various sources and destinations, thereby streamlining data integration processes - all without replicating Act CRM data.

To get real-time data access to hundreds of SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources (including Act CRM) directly from your cloud applications, explore the CData Connect AI.