External Objects in Salesforce Connect
External objects behave similar to custom objects except that they map to data stored outside Salesforce in an external data source. Each external object maps to a data table, and the object fields map to accessible table columns.
Required Editions
| Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience (not for high-data-volume external objects) |
Available in: Developer Edition Available for an extra cost in: Enterprise, Performance, and Unlimited Editions |
As with custom objects, you must create custom tabs to display external object data in Salesforce. When you add a custom tab to an app in Salesforce Classic, it appears as a tab. When you add a custom tab to an app in Lightning Experience, it appears as an item in the app’s navigation bar and in the App Launcher. See Create a Custom Object Tab.
To know the field types that you can create for external objects, see Custom Field Types. Some special behavior for text and number fields on external objects.
- Text fields: Make sure that the field length matches the length of the associated field on the external object to avoid any display or edit issues.
- Number fields: Ensure that the specified length can contain all digits to the left of the decimal point in external values. If the numeric value from an external system doesn’t fit within the length of the associated number field on the external object, the value is blank in your Salesforce org. If you notice blank numeric field values, adjust Length and Decimal Places for the number field on the external object to accommodate more digits to the left of the decimal point. If the digits to the right of the decimal point in the external values don’t fit within the specified decimal places, the value is truncated.
When a custom field on an external object record is displayed, leading and trailing spaces are removed from the field value. Keep this behavior in mind when you filter by a field that contains leading or trailing spaces. For example, include the leading and trailing spaces in the following SOQL query to match the values that are stored in the external system. However, the spaces aren’t displayed in the query results.
SELECT FirstName__c FROM Buyers__x WHERE FirstName__c = ' Test '
Record IDs for Salesforce Connect External Objects
The first time a data row is retrieved from an external system, the external object record is assigned a Salesforce ID. Record IDs can change and aren't permanent identifiers. For a persistent ID, use an external ID. See Understanding Changes to External Object ID (x00) Format and Recommended Best Practices.
Features Not Supported
- Set up data with external objects
- Merge Fields
- Schema Builder
- Validation Rules
- Custom fields
- Field types not supported
- Auto-Number (available only with the cross-org adapter for Salesforce Connect)
- Currency (available only with the cross-org adapter for Salesforce Connect)
- Formula
- Geolocation
- Master-Detail Relationship
- Picklist and Picklist (Multi-select) (available only with the cross-org adapter for Salesforce Connect)
- Roll-up Summary
- Text (Encrypted)
- Text Area (Rich)
- Lookup filter on relationship fields
- Default field values
- Field types not supported
- Record-level security to manage data access for external objects
- Record types to customize external data
- Productivity Tools
- Activities, Events, and Tasks
- Attachments
- Files (only for cross-org adapter)
- Notes
To understand specific behavior and limitations, refer to considerations that apply to the corresponding Salesforce Connect adapter.
