Search External Salesforce Data Cloud Objects in Salesforce Connect

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

Configuring Connect Server

To work with live Salesforce Data Cloud data in Salesforce Connect, we need to connect to Salesforce Data Cloud from Connect Server, provide user access to the new virtual database, and create OData endpoints for the Salesforce Data Cloud data.

Add a Connect Server User

Create a User to connect to Salesforce Data Cloud from Reveal through Connect Server.

1. Click Users -> Add
2. Configure a User
3. Click Save Changes and make note of the Authtoken for the new user

Connect to Salesforce Data Cloud from Connect Server

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

1. Open Connect Server and click Connections
2. Select "Salesforce Data Cloud" from Available Data Sources
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Salesforce Data Cloud.
   
   

   Salesforce Data Cloud supports authentication via the OAuth standard.

   OAuth

   Set AuthScheme to OAuth.

   Desktop Applications

   CData provides an embedded OAuth application that simplifies authentication at the desktop.

   You can also authenticate from the desktop via a custom OAuth application, which you configure and register at the Salesforce Data Cloud console. For further information, see Creating a Custom OAuth App in the Help documentation.

   Before you connect, set these properties:

   • InitiateOAuth: GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • OAuthClientId (custom applications only): The Client ID assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.
   • OAuthClientSecret (custom applications only): The Client Secret assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.

   When you connect, the driver opens Salesforce Data Cloud's OAuth endpoint in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions to the application.

   The driver then completes the OAuth process as follows:

   • Extracts the access token from the callback URL.
   • Obtains a new access token when the old one expires.
   • Saves OAuth values in OAuthSettingsLocation so that they persist across connections.

   For other OAuth methods, including Web Applications and Headless Machines, refer to the Help documentation.

   
   • Click Save Changes
   • Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions (SELECT is all that is required for Reveal).

Add Salesforce Data Cloud OData Endpoints in Connect Server

After connecting to Salesforce Data Cloud, create OData Endpoints for the desired table(s).

1. Click OData -> Tables -> Add Tables
2. Select the Salesforce Data Cloud database
3. Select the table(s) you wish to work with and click Next
4. (Optional) Edit the table definition to select specific fields and more
5. Save the settings

(Optional) Configure Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS)

When accessing and connecting to multiple different domains, there is a possibility of violating the limitations of cross-site scripting. In that case, configure the CORS settings in OData -> Settings.

• Enable cross-origin resource sharing (CORS): ON
• Allow all domains without '*': ON
• Access-Control-Allow-Methods: GET, PUT, POST, OPTIONS
• Access-Control-Allow-Headers: Authorization

Save the changes to the settings.

Connect to Salesforce Data Cloud 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 -> Integrations -> 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 CONNECT_SERVER_URL/api.rsc/

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 CData Connect Server.
   • Password: Enter the user's authtoken.

Synchronize Salesforce Data Cloud Objects

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

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

Access Salesforce Data Cloud Data as Salesforce Objects

After adding Salesforce Data Cloud data as an external data source and syncing Salesforce Data Cloud tables as external objects, you can use the external Salesforce Data Cloud 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 Salesforce Data Cloud Data from Applications

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