Setting Up OData in Altru and Excel

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OData allows you to import data from Altru into other programs such as Microsoft Excel and Tableau in order to consume, share, and manipulate the data in pivot tables, power views, and dashboards. OData is available from any query in the system. You can share dashboards and charts created with OData with any user, regardless of their Blackbaud permissions. However, because users must enter their Blackbaud credentials when they consume the data, any data refreshes respect the user's security permissions.

In order to create reports outside of Altru using OData, first we will need to setup the root URL so that Altru can produce the OData link. This is a one-time setup that needs to be done prior to trying to get an OData link.

1. The root URL can be found in the address bar, you will need to copy this link. You will be copying everything prior to /webui as seen below.
odata12. From Administration, select Set application root URL.

3. Paste the link into the Application root URL field and click Save.
odata2Opening OData in Excel 2013

  • OData can be opened in Excel 2010 and 2007 as long as PowerPivot is installed, however it works best in 2013, as you do not need to install anything.
  • First, we will need to get an OData link.

    1. From Analysis, select Information library, click the double arrow button to the left of the query name and click Get OData link.odata3
    2. Copy the link.


  • Now we will need to open a new blank worksheet in Excel.

    1. Select the Data tab.odata4
    2. Click the From Other Sources button, then select From OData Data Feed.odata5
    3. Paste your copied link from Altru into the Link or File field, then enter your Altru User Name and Password and click Next. Note: You may find that you encounter the error below. If this occurs, enter blackbaudhost\ before your username as it appears in the 2nd screenshot below.odata6 odata7
    4. In the Select tables box, mark ODataQuery.ashx and click Next.odata8
    5. On the Save Data Connection File and Finish screen, you can change the file name and give it a friendly name. Then click Finish.odata9
    6. Select how you want to view the data and click OK.odata10



What you end up with is your query results in Excel that you can save and refresh when needed.

Check out a video here and don't miss the great OData and Power Pivot Tips that we shared in an earlier blog post.

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1 Comments
I am having trouble with the update. I changed the age of one of our constituents and it did not update.

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