Build Salesforce Data Cloud-Powered Applications in Claude Code with CData Code Assist MCP

Claude Code is an AI-powered command line tool that enables agentic coding workflows. With support for MCP, Claude Code can connect to local tools and enterprise data sources directly from your terminal, enabling natural language interaction with live systems without switching context.

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting LLM clients to external services through structured tool interfaces. MCP servers expose capabilities such as schema discovery and live querying, allowing AI agents to retrieve and reason over real-time data safely and consistently.

The following steps cover installing the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud, configuring the connection to Salesforce Data Cloud, connecting the Code Assist MCP add-on to Claude Code, and querying live Salesforce Data Cloud data from within the terminal.

Step 1: Download and install the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud

1. To begin, download the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud
2. Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation

When the installation is complete, you are ready to configure your Code Assist MCP add-on by connecting to Salesforce Data Cloud.

Step 2: Configure the connection to Salesforce Data Cloud

1. After installation, open the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud configuration wizard

   NOTE: If the wizard does not open automatically, search for "CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud" in the Windows search bar and open the application.

   
2. In MCP Configuration > Configuration Name, either select an existing configuration or choose to create a new one
3. Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_salesforcedatacloud") and click OK

4. Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard

   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.

   
5. Click Connect to authenticate with Salesforce Data Cloud through OAuth
6. Then, click Save Configuration to save the Code Assist MCP add-on

This process creates a .mcp configuration file that Claude Code will reference when launching the Code Assist MCP add-on. Now with your Code Assist MCP add-on configured, you are ready to connect it to Claude Code.

Step 3: Connect the Code Assist MCP add-on to Claude Code

1. Install the Claude Code CLI using the terminal
2. Open the Claude Code configuration file at ~/.config/claude-code/config.json (or the location shown after initialization)

Option 1: Manually add the MCP configuration

1. Open the mcp.json file in your preferred editor
2. Add the code shown below

{
"mcpServers" : {
  "cdata_salesforcedatacloud" : {
    "type" : "stdio",
    "command" : "C:\Program Files\CData\CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud\jre\bin\java.exe",
    "args" : [ "-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8", "-jar", "C:\Program Files\CData\CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud/lib/cdata.mcp.salesforcedatacloud.jar", "cdata_salesforcedatacloud" ],  
    "env" : {}
  }
}
}

NOTE: The command value should point to your Java 17+ java.exe executable, and the JAR path should point to the installed CData Code Assist MCP add-on .jar file. The final argument must match the MCP configuration name you saved in the CData configuration wizard (e.g. "cdata_salesforcedatacloud").

Option 2: Copy the MCP configuration from the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud UI

1. After saving and testing your connection in the configuration wizard, click Next

2. Select Claude Code from the AI MCP Tool dropdown

3. Click Copy JSON to copy the generated MCP configuration to your clipboard

4. Paste the copied JSON into the mcp.json file

Step 4: Verify connection in Claude Code

Claude Code provides tools to verify the connection is active before building.

1. Open a terminal and navigate to your project directory. Run the command claude mcp list
2. Check that your configuration name appears with a Connected status

3. Start Claude Code by running claude
4. Inside the Claude Code session, type /mcp to view active servers

Step 5: Query live Salesforce Data Cloud data in Claude Code

With the connection verified, you can now use natural language prompts to query and work with live Salesforce Data Cloud data.

1. Prompt Claude Code to review the instructions for your MCP connection to ensure it has all the appropriate context when writing code
2. Start building with natural language prompts! For example:

   For my project, data from the Account is very important. Pull data from the most important columns like [Account ID] and [Account Name].

Claude Code will use the MCP add-on to connect to Salesforce Data Cloud, retrieve the requested data, and provide results directly in your terminal

Build with Code Assist MCP. Deploy with CData Drivers.

Download Code Assist MCP for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live Salesforce Data Cloud data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData Salesforce Data Cloud Drivers deliver the same SQL-based access with enterprise-grade performance, security, and reliability.

Visit the CData Community to share insights, ask questions, and explore what's possible with MCP-powered AI workflows.