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URL: https://www.cdata.com/kb/tech/dynamicscrm-odbc-rad-data-explorer.rst

⇱ Viewing Dynamics CRM Data in RAD Studio Data Explorer

Viewing Dynamics CRM Data in RAD Studio Data Explorer

👁 Dibyendu Datta
Dibyendu Datta
Lead Technology Evangelist
How to view Dynamics CRM data in RAD Studio Data Explorer using the CData ODBC Driver for Dynamics CRM.

Embarcadero RAD Studio provides a development environment for Delphi and C++Builder applications. With the CData ODBC Driver for Dynamics CRM, you gain access to live Dynamics CRM data within RAD Studio, abstracting the data into tables, views, and stored procedures that can be used to both retrieve and update Dynamics CRM data. This article will walk through connecting to Dynamics CRM using the Data Explorer.

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


Configure a Connection to Dynamics CRM

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.

Connecting to Dynamics CRM Data Using Data Explorer

You can create a simple application for displaying Dynamics CRM data by utilizing the CData FireDAC Components for Dynamics CRM and a new VCL Forms Application:

  1. Open the Data Explorer in RAD Studio and expand FireDAC.
  2. Right-click the ODBC Data Source node in the Data Explorer.
  3. Click Add New Connection. 👁 Adding a New Connection. (Salesforce is shown.)
  4. Enter a name for the connection.
  5. In the FireDAC Connection Editor that appears, set the DataSource property to the name of the ODBC DSN for Dynamics CRM. 👁 Setting the Connection Parameters. (Salesforce is shown.)
  6. Back in the Data Explorer, expand the tables for the connection.

  7. Create a new VCL Forms application and drag a table (for example: Account) onto the form.

    👁 Placing the Table on the Form. (Salesforce is shown.)
  8. Select the AccountTable object on the form and set the Active property to true.

  9. Right-click on the object, bind visually, and link everything (*) to a new control (TStringGrid).

    👁 Visually Binding the Table. (Salesforce is shown.)

  10. Arrange the TStringGrid on the form and run the application to see the Account data.

    👁 The Table data on a Form. (Salesforce is shown.)

Related Articles

Below you can find other articles for using the CData ODBC Driver with RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++ Builder.

Ready to get started?

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

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Learn more:

👁 Dynamics CRM Icon
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.