Search External BambooHR Objects in Salesforce Connect

CData Connect AI, enables you to access BambooHR data from cloud-based applications like the Salesforce console and mobile applications like the Salesforce Mobile App. In this article, you will use CData Connect AI and Salesforce Connect to access external BambooHR objects alongside standard Salesforce objects.

Connect to BambooHR from Salesforce

To work with live BambooHR data in Salesforce Connect, we need to connect to BambooHR from Connect AI, provide user access to the connection, and create a Workspace for the BambooHR data.

Connect to BambooHR from Connect AI

CData Connect AI uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources.

1. Log into Connect AI, click Sources, and then click Add Connection

2. Select "BambooHR" from the Add Connection panel

3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to BambooHR.

   To connect to BambooHR, generate an API key by logging in and navigating to your user menu (lower-left) > API Keys > Add API Key. Copy the key immediately (it is shown only once). Then set the following:

   • Domain: The subdomain of your BambooHR account URL. For example, if your URL is acmeinc.bamboohr.com, set this to acmeinc.
   • API Key: The API key generated from your BambooHR account.
   
4. Click Save & Test
5. Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add BambooHR Connection page and update the User-based permissions.

Add a Personal Access Token

When connecting to Connect AI through the REST API, the OData API, or the Virtual SQL Server, a Personal Access Token (PAT) is used to authenticate the connection to Connect AI. It is best practice to create a separate PAT for each service to maintain granularity of access.

1. Click on the Gear icon () at the top right of the Connect AI app to open the settings page.
2. On the Settings page, go to the Access Tokens section and click Create PAT.
3. Give the PAT a name and click Create.
4. The personal access token is only visible at creation, so be sure to copy it and store it securely for future use.

Configure BambooHR Endpoints for Salesforce Connect

After connecting to BambooHR, create a workspace for your desired table(s).

1. Navigate to the Workspaces page and click Add to create a new Workspace (or select an existing workspace).
2. Click Add to add new assets to the Workspace.
3. Select the BambooHR connection (e.g. API1) and click Next.
4. Select the table(s) you wish to work with and click Confirm.
5. Make note of the OData Service URL for your workspace, e.g. https://cloud.cdata.com/api/odata/{workspace_name}

With the connection, PAT, and Workspace configured, you are ready to connect to BambooHR data from Salesforce Connect.

Connect to BambooHR Data as an External Data Sources

Follow the steps below to connect to the feed produced by Connect AI.

1. Log into Salesforce and click Setup -> Integrations -> External Data Sources.
2. Click Now External Data Sources.
3. Enter values for the following properties:
   • External Data Sources: 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 Connect AI: https://cloud.cdata.com/api/odata/{workspace_name}
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 Connect AI, 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 a CData Connect AI username (e.g. [email protected]).
   • Password: Enter the user's PAT.

Synchronize BambooHR Objects

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

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

Access BambooHR Data as Salesforce Objects

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

• Create a new tab with a filter list view:

  

• Create reports of external objects:

  

Simplified Access to BambooHR Data from Cloud Applications

At this point, you have a direct, cloud-to-cloud connection to live BambooHR data from Salesforce. For more information on gaining simplified access to data from more than 100 SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources in cloud applications like Salesforce, refer to our Connect AI page.