Use the CData ODBC Driver for Avalara AvaTax in Microsoft Power Query

The CData ODBC Driver for Avalara AvaTax enables you to link to Avalara AvaTax data in Microsoft Power Query, ensuring that you see any updates. This article details how to use the ODBC driver to import Avalara AvaTax data into Microsoft Power Query.

Connect to Avalara AvaTax as an ODBC Data Source

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.

The primary method for performing basic authentication is to provide your login credentials, as follows:

• User: Set this to your username.
• Password: Set this to your password.

Optionally, if you are making use of a sandbox environment, set the following:

• UseSandbox: Set this to true if you are authenticating with a sandbox account.

Authenticating Using Account Number and License Key

Alternatively, you can authenticate using your account number and license key. Connect to data using the following:

• AccountId: Set this to your Account Id. The Account Id is listed in the upper right hand corner of the admin console.
• LicenseKey: Set this to your Avalara Avatax license key. You can generate a license key by logging into Avalara Avatax as an account administrator and navigating to Settings -> Reset License Key.

Import Avalara AvaTax Data

Follow the steps below to import Avalara AvaTax data using standard SQL:

1. From the ribbon in Excel, click Power Query -> From Other Data Sources -> From ODBC.

2. Enter the ODBC connection string. Below is a connection string using the default DSN created when you install the driver:

   Provider=MSDASQL.1;Persist Security Info=False;DSN=CData AvalaraAvatax Source

3. Enter the SELECT statement to import data with. For example:

    SELECT Id, TotalTax FROM Transactions WHERE Code = '051349'
    

   👁 The ODBC connection string and SELECT query. (Salesforce is shown.)
   

4. Enter credentials, if required, and click Connect. The results of the query are displayed in the Query Editor Preview. You can combine queries from other data sources or refine the data with Power Query formulas. To load the query to the worksheet, click the Close and Load button.

   👁 Tables loaded in Power Query. (Salesforce is shown.)