Connecting the ChangeGPS platform with your XPM or Xero Tax account will allow you to access and use your existing client and contact details in the ChangeGPS apps
Firstly, there are some XPM User configuration required
What you need to do within Xero Practice Manager
A new Staff Privilege has been added to control who has permission to connect your Account to 3rd Party Addons. Any user with Administrator privileges can assign this new privilege to themselves or other Administrators.
If you don't have access to connect API's in your account, speak with your firm's Xero Account Manager.
Follow these steps for each Staff member you want to be able to authorise connections to 3rd Party Addons.
- Log in to your Xero Practice Manager account
- You’ll need to upgrade to API v3 to keep your connection live.
- Go to the Business > Settings > Staff page, or click on this link to go directly there.
- Search for the Staff Member that you would like to add this permission to.
- Ensure that the Staff has the Administrator Privilege. If they do not, tick the checkbox for this and Save the Staff settings first.
- You will now see a new Heading appear at the bottom of the page, “API Access Privileges”. Tick the checkbox for this and Save the Staff Settings to assign Authorise 3rd Party Full Access privilege.
Find your Account Key within XPM
In order to connect ChangeGPS and Xero Practice Manager, you first need to obtain an API key that will allow the two systems to talk with each other. Firstly log into your Xero Practice Manager account. Once logged in navigate to the "Business" menu and select "Settings".
Once on the settings page, click the "Add-ons" link under "Connections":
The add-ons page will list a number of third party tools, scroll under you see "ChangeGPS", then click the "Generate Key" button next to it.
It is recommended that you have both ChangeGPS and Xero Practice Manager open when completing the below steps.
Generating the API Key in XPM
- Log into Xero and use the main menu to open Practice Manager + Tax. The Menu options can change depending on where in Xero you are, see the diagram below for more info
- Open Business menu and select Settings at the bottom
- Go to the Connections area and select Add-on's
- Scroll the API Connections list until you see Change GPS - Client Structure
- Hit the Generate Key button on the right. You should now see a 32-character string next to Change GPS - Client Structure now (you may need to scroll back up/refresh the page)
- Select and copy this 32-character key in such a way you can easily paste it into the ChangeGPS platform. I.e. Ctrl + C to copy, Ctrl + V to paste, or right hand click on mouse and 'copy'
Add the API key generated into ChangeGPS
Now that you have the API key from Xero, follow these steps:
Users with Admin permissions can update these settings.
- Within the ChangeGPS platform navigate to Settings > General
- Scroll to the bottom, and click on the heading Connection Settings to expand the options
- Under Xero Practice Manager, paste the copied key into the ACCOUNT KEY field
- Hit Save Changes at the bottom of the page, and you're all done.
Useful Tip: If you have trouble accessing the XPM connection settings it could be because you have a browser setting or extension which is preventing pop ups from showing for you. Please adjust your browser settings to allow pop ups for https://changetech.cloud/
6. A pop up window will prompt users to log in to your Xero account.
7. Xero will prompt you to connect your account data. Click "Allow access".
TIP: When changing ChangeGPS Settings, always remember to Save any changes before leaving the page.
How do I disconnect from Xero Practice Manager?
There are two ways of removing the API Connection:
- Simply delete the API Key in your ChangeGPS General > Connection Settings, and Save Changes
- Disable the API Key in your Xero Practice Manager account. Here's how
We suggest you do both of these steps to remove the connection.