Integrate data from Precoro to your Power BI and utilize the data dashboards, reports, and datasets to your full advantage.
You can learn more about the Precoro Power BI Custom Connector here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Step 1. Contact Your CSM Manager and Receive Access to the Connector
Please get in touch with your manager if you have any questions or suggestions or need a consultation.
Step 2. Install the Connector
1. In Windows, copy the PrecoroAPI.mez file to the following folder: C:\Users\[userName]\Documents\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors\.
If this folder does not exist, please create the proper folders to complete the path. Make sure you create them exactly as spelled above. If Power BI Desktop is open during this, you may need to restart it so that it will recognize the connector.
If you already have other connectors and installed on-premises data gateway, place the connector in the folder where your other connectors are stored. Usually, it is C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\PBIEgwService\Documents\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors.
2. Adjust the data extension security settings in Power BI Desktop as follows:
- Go to File → Options and settings → Options → Security.
- Under Data Extensions, select “(Not Recommended) Allow any extension to load without validation or warning.” Click OK.
- Restart Power BI Desktop.
If necessary, you can find more information on Custom Connectors installation here.
Step 3. Generate Credentials
The Power BI Data Connector will require you to have an email and X-AUTH-TOKEN (API key) during the setup.
1. In Precoro, go to the API access tokens page.
2. If you do not have a generated token, click the Create new API token button.
3. Copy the Token so you can further use it to log into the Connector.
Find more detailed instructions on how to get your API token in Precoro here.
Step 4. Log in to the Connector
1. Go to the Power BI Desktop and click on Get Data.
2. Select the More... option from the drop-down menu.
3. Use the search field to find the Connector named PrecoroAPI (Beta).
4. Select it and click on Connect.
5. Choose a name for this connection, and click OK. It is better to use an easy-to-remember name (e.g., your company’s name in Precoro).
The purpose of this step: Power BI will store your credentials under this name, so you will not need to provide them every time when connecting to Precoro. Also, if you are a multi-companies or multi-accounts user in Precoro, you can store credentials for each company under different connection names and each time easily retrieve data from the needed company/account. Refer to the article Specifics of Using Precoro PowerBI Connector for Multi-Companies to find out more.
4. Next, input your credentials:
- The email you use to log in to the Precoro account.
- X-AUTH-TOKEN (API Token, which you have previously created and copied in Step 3).
Then, click on Connect to load the list of data tables.
Next time you wish to connect to the database, use Recent Sources and select the needed Connection name from the drop-down:
That is it! Now, you can retrieve your company’s data to build special reports and dashboards.
Read this article to follow the next steps in Power BI installation: How to Load and Transform Data Tables via the Power BI Custom Connector.