Unable to install Blackbaud Power BI Custom Connector - .mez file recognized as zip

Question

Hi Blackbaud Community!

I am hoping someone can help me get the Power BI custom connector working for Raiser's Edge NXT. I have been following the instructions on the GitHub repository (github.com/blackbaud/powerbi-connector) but I am stuck on the last step.

Here is what I have done so far:

* Created a SKY Developer account and subscription
* Registered a Power BI application in the SKY Developer portal
* Added the correct redirect URI: https://oauth.powerbi.com/views/oauthredirect.html
* Set the scope to Full data access
* Updated the client_id.txt, client_secret.txt, and subscription_key.txt files with our credentials
* Compressed the files and renamed them to Blackbaud.mez
* Placed the Blackbaud.mez file in C:\Users\jMichaelson\Documents\Power BI Desktop\Custom Connectors
* Enabled "Allow any extension to load without validation or warning" in Power BI Desktop security settings

The problem is that when I open Power BI Desktop and search for "Blackbaud" in Get Data, it does not appear. Power BI seems to be recognizing the .mez file as a zip file rather than a connector.

I believe the issue may be with how I packaged the .mez file. When I compress the files, Windows keeps treating it as a zip even after renaming it to .mez.

Has anyone successfully installed this connector and can walk me through exactly how to create the .mez file correctly? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

* I have the file saved in my C: drive

2. Searching for the Blackbaud connector file named Blackbaud, I clicked on the Custom Connectors file anyway.

3. This is what came up when I clicked Load

4. And this is where I finished. No Blackbaud connection!

Erik Leaver · Answer

Yep. It's stable but since it's community owned, won't ever receive a production level review.

Julie Michaelson · Answer

Thank you both. I thought you had to change the file name. I updated the extension, and it worked out successfully. My question now is the connector supposed to say BETA?

Erik Leaver · Answer

@Julie Michaelson - The file is not being recognized as a .mez because I think you didn't change the extension. This screenshot is key:

Assuming you are using win11:

* Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar or pressing Windows key + E.
* Click on the View tab in the menu bar at the top.
* Check the box for File name extensions to make file extensions visible.
* Navigate to the file whose extension you want to change.
* Right-click the file and select Rename, or select the file and press F2.
* Edit the part of the file name after the last dot to the desired extension (e.g., change .txt to .pdf).
* Press Enter to save the changes.
* Confirm the change by clicking Yes in the warning dialog box.

After completing these steps, the file will now have the new extension and be recognized accordingly by Windows.