Use the CData ODBC Driver for Blackbaud FE NXT in Microsoft Power Query

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

Connect to Blackbaud FE NXT 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.

Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT uses the OAuth authentication standard. To authenticate using OAuth, create an app to obtain the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL connection properties.

See the Getting Started guide in the CData driver documentation for more information.

Import Blackbaud FE NXT Data

Follow the steps below to import Blackbaud FE NXT 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 FinancialEdgeNXT Source

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

    SELECT AccountId, AccountNumber FROM Accounts
    

   👁 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.)