Model Context Protocol (MCP) finally gives AI models a way to access the business data needed to make them really useful at work. CData MCP Servers have the depth and performance to make sure AI has access to all of the answers.
Try them now for free →
Create Xero Dashboards in Bold BI
Use CData Connect Server to create a virtual SQL Server Database for Xero data to build custom dashboards in Bold BI.
Bold BI allows you to create, share, and collaborate on interactive BI dashboards. When paired with CData Connect Server, you get instant access to Xero data for visualizations, dashboards, and more. This article shows how to create a virtual database for Xero and build reports from Xero data in Bold BI.
CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for Xero, allowing you to easily build reports from live Xero data in Bold BI — without replicating the data to a natively supported database. As you build visualizations, Bold BI generates SQL queries to gather data. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc) directly to Xero, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested Xero data.
About Xero Data Integration
Accessing and integrating live data from Xero has never been easier with CData. Customers rely on CData connectivity to:
- Connect to Xero Accounts and both US and Australian Payroll APIs.
- Read, write, update, and delete ServiceNow objects like Customers, Transactions, Invoices, Sales Receipts and more.
- Use SQL stored procedures for actions like adding items to a cart, submitting orders, and downloading attachments.
- Work with accounting, payroll, file, fixed asset, and project data.
Customers regularly integrate their Xero data with preferred tools, like Tableau, Qlik Sense, or Excel, and integrate Xero data into their database or data warehouse.
Getting Started
Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for Xero Data
CData Connect Server uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources and generate APIs.
- Login to Connect Server and click Connections.
![]( "Adding a connection")
- Select "Xero" from Available Data Sources.
- Xero uses OAuth to authenticate. Click Connect to authenticate with Xero.
- Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions.
With the virtual database created, you are ready to connect to Xero data from Bold BI.
Visualize Live Xero Data in Bold BI
The steps below outline connecting to CData Connect Server from Bold BI to create a new Xero data source and build a simple visualization from the data.
- Log into your Bold BI instance, click the data sources tab, create a new data source, and choose the SQL Server connector.
- Choose the basic configuration and set the connection properties:
- Name: Name your connection
- Server name: Your Connect Server instance (CONNECT_SERVER_URL)
- Port: 1433
- Username: Your Connect Server username
- Password: Your Connect Server password
- Mode: Choose Live to query Xero on-demand or choose Extract to load the data into Bold BI
- Database: Choose the database you created from the drop-down menu (xerodb)
- Click Connect
- Select the table to visualize and drag it onto the workspace.
- Select a visualization style and add it to the report.
- Click the gear icon for the visualization to configure the visualization properties and assign columns to the visualization.
SQL Access to Xero Data from Applications
Now you have a direct connection to live Xero data from your Bold BI workbook. You can create more data sources and new visualizations, build reports, and more — all without replicating Xero data.
To get SQL data access to 200+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from your applications, see the CData Connect page.
