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URL: https://www.cdata.com/kb/tech/dynamicscrm-odbc-access-linked-tables.rst

⇱ How to Use a Microsoft Access Database to Update Dynamics CRM Data in Real Time

How to Use a Microsoft Access Database to Update Dynamics CRM Data in Real Time

👁 Jerod Johnson
Jerod Johnson
Director, Technology Evangelism
Update Dynamics CRM data by creating a linked table in Microsoft Access with the CData Dynamics CRM ODBC Driver.

CData ODBC drivers connect your data to any database management tool that supports Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). This includes many of the most popular productivity tools, adding new capabilities for document sharing and collaboration. Using the CData ODBC driver for Dynamics CRM, you can update live Dynamics CRM data in Microsoft Access; for example, you can make updates that can be immediately seen by other users.

About Dynamics CRM Data Integration

CData simplifies access and integration of live Microsoft Dynamics CRM data. Our customers leverage CData connectivity to:

  • Read and write data in the Dynamics CRM 2011+ Services and Dynamics CRM Online.
  • Extend the native features of Dynamics CRM with customizable caching and intelligent query aggregation and separation.
  • Authenticate securely with Dynamics CRM in a variety of ways, including Azure Active Directory, Azure Managed Service Identity credentials, and Azure Service Principal using either a client secret or a certificate.

CData customers use our Dynamics CRM connectivity solutions for a variety of reasons, whether they're looking to replicate their data into a data warehouse (alongside other data sources) or analyze live Dynamics CRMa data from their preferred data tools inside the Microsoft ecosystem (Power BI, Excel, etc.) or with external tools (Tableau, Looker, etc.).


Getting Started


Connect to Dynamics CRM 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 connection string options meet the authentication and connection requirements of different Dynamics CRM instances. To connect to your instance, set the User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, to valid Dynamics CRM user credentials and set the Url to a valid Dynamics CRM server organization root. Additionally, set the CRMVersion property to 'CRM2011+' or 'CRMOnline'. IFD configurations are supported as well; set InternetFacingDeployment to true.

Additionally, you can provide the security token service (STS) or AD FS endpoint in the STSURL property. This value can be retrieved with the GetSTSUrl stored procedure. Office 365 users can connect to the default STS URL by simply setting CRMVersion.

Create a Linked Table to Account Data

Follow the steps below to create a linked table, which enables you to access live Account data.

  1. On the External Data tab in Access, click ODBC Database. 👁 Use the Get External Data wizard to work with ODBC data sources in Access.
  2. Select the option to link to the data source. A linked table will enable you to read from and write data to the Account table. 👁 Linked Tables enable you use the live connection to Dynamics CRM that is provided by the driver.

  3. Select the CData Dynamics CRM data source from the Machine Data Source tab.

    👁 DSNs listed in the Get External Data wizard.
  4. Select the Account table. For more information on this table, see the "Data Model" chapter in the help documentation. 👁 Available tables. (Google is shown.)

  5. Double-click the linked table to make edits. The linked table will always have up-to-date data and any changes will be reflected back to the underlying table.

    👁 A linked table to the live data. (Google is shown.)

Ready to get started?

Download a free trial of the Dynamics CRM ODBC Driver to get started:

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Learn more:

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Dynamics CRM ODBC Driver

The Dynamics CRM ODBC Driver is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with live Dynamics CRM (OnPremise & Online) account data, directly from any applications that support ODBC connectivity.

Access Dynamics CRM data like you would a database - read, write, and update Leads, Contacts, Opportunities, Accounts, etc. through a standard ODBC Driver interface.