Search Adobe Target External Objects in Salesforce Connect (API Server)

The CData API Server enables you to access Adobe Target data from cloud-based applications like the Salesforce console and mobile applications like the Salesforce1 Mobile App. In this article, you will use the API Server and Salesforce Connect to access Adobe Target external objects alongside standard Salesforce objects.

Set Up the API Server

If you have not already done so, download the CData API Server. Once you have installed the API Server, follow the steps below to begin producing secure Adobe Target OData services:

Connect to Adobe Target

To work with Adobe Target data from Salesforce Connect, we start by creating and configuring a Adobe Target connection. Follow the steps below to configure the API Server to connect to Adobe Target data:

1. First, navigate to the Connections page.
2. Click Add Connection and then search for and select the Adobe Target connection.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Adobe Target.

   To connect to Adobe Target, you must provide the Tenant property along with OAuth connection properties mentioned below. Note that while other connection properties can influence processing behavior, they do not affect the ability to connect.

   To determine your Tenant name:

   1. Log in to Adobe Experience. The URL will look similar to: "https://experience.adobe.com/#/@mycompanyname/preferences/general-section".
   2. Extract the value after the "/#/@". In this example, it is "mycompanyname".
   3. Set the Tenant connection property to that value.

   User Accounts (OAuth)

   You must set AuthScheme to OAuthClient for all user account flows.

   Note: Adobe authentication via OAuth requires updating your token every two weeks.

   All Applications

   CData provides an embedded OAuth application that simplifies OAuth authentication. Alternatively, you can create a custom OAuth application. Review Creating a Custom OAuth App in the Help documentation for more information.

   Obtaining the OAuth Access Token

   Set the following properties to connect:

   • InitiateOAuth: Set to GETANDREFRESH to automatically perform the OAuth exchange and refresh the OAuthAccessToken as needed.
   • OAuthClientId : Set to the client Id assigned when you registered your app.
   • OAuthClientSecret : Set to the client secret assigned when you registered your app.
   • CallbackURL : Set to the redirect URI defined when you registered your app. For example: https://localhost:3333

   With these settings, the provider obtains an access token from Adobe Target, which it uses to request data. The OAuth values are stored in the location specified by OAuthSettingsLocation, ensuring they persist across connections.

   
4. After configuring the connection, click Save & Test to confirm a successful connection.

Configure API Server Users

Next, create a user to access your Adobe Target data through the API Server. You can add and configure users on the Users page. Follow the steps below to configure and create a user:

1. On the Users page, click Add User to open the Add User dialog.
2. Next, set the Role, Username, and Privileges properties and then click Add User.
3. An Authtoken is then generated for the user. You can find the Authtoken and other information for each user on the Users page:

Creating API Endpoints for Adobe Target

Having created a user, you are ready to create API endpoints for the Adobe Target tables:

1. First, navigate to the API page and then click Add Table .
2. Select the connection you wish to access and click Next.
3. With the connection selected, create endpoints by selecting each table and then clicking Confirm.

Gather the OData Url

Having configured a connection to Adobe Target data, created a user, and added resources to the API Server, you now have an easily accessible REST API based on the OData protocol for those resources. From the API page in API Server, you can view and copy the API Endpoints for the API:

Connect to Adobe Target Data as an External Data Source

Follow the steps below to connect to the feed produced by the API Server.

1. Log into Salesforce and click Setup -> Develop -> External Data Sources.
2. Click New External Data Source.
3. Enter values for the following properties:
   • External Data Source: Enter a label to be used in list views and reports.
   • Name: Enter a unique identifier.
   • Type: Select the option "Salesforce Connect: OData 4.0".

   • URL: Enter the URL to the OData endpoint of the API Server. The format of the OData URL is https://your-server:your-port/api.rsc.

     Note that plain-text is suitable for only testing; for production, use TLS.

4. Select JSON in the Format menu.

5. In the Authentication section, set the following properties:
   • Identity Type: If all members of your organization will use the same credentials to access the API Server, select "Named Principal". If the members of your organization will connect with their own credentials, select "Per User".
   • Authentication Protocol: Select Password Authentication to use basic authentication.
   • Certificate: Enter or browse to the certificate to be used to encrypt and authenticate communications from Salesforce to your server.
   • Username: Enter the username for a user known to the API Server.
   • Password: Enter the user's authtoken.

Synchronize Adobe Target Objects

After you have created the external data source, follow the steps below to create Adobe Target external objects that reflect any changes in the data source. You will synchronize the definitions for the Adobe Target external objects with the definitions for Adobe Target tables.

1. Click the link for the external data source you created.
2. Click Validate and Sync.
3. Select the Adobe Target tables you want to work with as external objects.

Access Adobe Target Data as Salesforce Objects

After adding Adobe Target data as an external data source and syncing Adobe Target tables with Adobe Target external objects, you can use the external objects just as you would standard Salesforce objects.

• Create a new tab with a filter list view:

  

• Display related lists of Adobe Target external objects alongside standard Salesforce objects:

  

Troubleshooting

You can use the following checklist to avoid typical connection problems:

• Ensure that your server has a publicly accessible IP address. Related to this check, but one layer up, at the operating system layer, you will also need to ensure that your firewall has an opening for the port the API Server is running on. At the application layer, ensure that you have added trusted IP addresses on the Settings -> Security tab of the administration console.
• Ensure that you are using a connection secured by an SSL certificate from a commercial, trusted CA. Salesforce does not currently accept self-signed certificates or internal CAs.

• Ensure that the server you are hosting the API Server on is using TLS 1.1 or above. If you are using the .NET API Server, you can accomplish this by using the .NET API Server's embedded server.

  If you are using IIS, TLS 1.1 and 1.2 are supported but not enabled by default. To enable these protocols, refer to the how-to on MSDN and the Microsoft technical reference.

  If you are using the Java edition, note that TLS 1.2 is enabled by default in Java 8 but not in Java 6 or 7. If you are using these earlier versions, you can refer to this this Oracle how-to.