Connect to Dynamics CRM Data from PowerBuilder via ODBC

The CData ODBC Driver for Dynamics CRM can be used from any platform or development technology that supports ODBC, including PowerBuilder. This article shows how to connect to Dynamics CRM data and execute queries from the Database Painter and controls such as the DataWindow.

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 Profile for the ODBC Driver for Dynamics CRM

Follow the steps below to use the Database Painter tool to create a database profile based on an ODBC DSN (data source name) for Dynamics CRM. In the Database Painter, you can use wizards and the UI to work with Dynamics CRM data.

1. In PowerBuilder, click Tools -> Database Painter.
2. In the Objects window in the Database Painter, right-click the ODBC node and click New Profile.
3. On the Connection tab, enter a name for the profile and select the Dynamics CRM DSN in the Data Source menu. 👁 The ODBC DSN, required to create the Database Profile. (Salesforce is shown.)
   
4. To view and modify a table, right-click a table and then click Edit Data -> Grid.

Using Dynamics CRM Data with PowerBuilder Controls

You can use standard PowerBuilder objects to connect to ODBC data sources and execute queries. The following example shows how to retrieve Dynamics CRM data into a DataWindow. You can add the following code to the open method:

SQLCA.DBMS = "ODBC"
SQLCA.DBParm = "ConnectString='DSN=CData DynamicsCRM Source'"
CONNECT USING SQLCA;
dw_account.SetTransObject(SQLCA);
dw_account.Retrieve();