Virtualized data with Salesforce Connect external objects
When to read external data on demand instead of copying it, which Salesforce Connect adapter fits, how external objects relate to other records and authenticate, what they can't do in reports, fields and queries, and the other virtualization options: Files Connect, Heroku Connect and Data 360 zero copy.
Given a customer scenario, decide when to use virtualized data and describe virtualized data options.
~6 min read · 20 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Decide when to virtualize instead of copying, from volume, freshness, residency and how much data users read at once.
- Pick the Salesforce Connect adapter and include its add-on licence in the design.
- Relate external data with lookup, external lookup and indirect lookup relationships, and secure it with per-user authentication.
- Predict where external objects fall short: field types, reports, search sync, filters, activities.
- Name the other options: Files Connect, Heroku Connect and Data 360 (formerly Data Cloud) zero copy data federation.
Key terms: external object (maps to a table in an external system; API name ends __x); external data source (connection details and adapter); external lookup (child matched to an external parent's External ID standard field); indirect lookup (external child matched to a unique External ID on a Salesforce parent); zero copy data federation (Data 360 reads external warehouse data without copying it).
Key facts
- Detail
- Extra cost in Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited; included in Developer Edition
- Detail
- Up to 200 (default may be 100, raised by support case); don't count toward custom objects
- Detail
- Up to 20,000 primary-object records
- Detail
- Converted to a null filter
- Detail
- Each callout counts toward the provider org's API limits
- Detail
- Only with the cross-org adapter
- Detail
- Tests ID uniqueness, sorting and filtering
- Detail
- No external or indirect lookups to them
Sources for this section (7)
- Salesforce Connecthelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Define External Objectshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Connect Limitshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Connect Reportshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- External Objectshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- External Data Sourceshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- External Object Relationshipshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Why must a SOQL filter on an external text field sometimes include spaces the page doesn't show?
- When does a flow need a zero-second Pause before creating an external object record?
- Which report features don't work with external objects?
- Why choose Files Connect rather than Salesforce Connect for contract PDFs?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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