Edit and Search External Dynamics NAV Objects in Salesforce Connect

CData Connect Server, enables you to access Dynamics NAV 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 Dynamics NAV objects alongside standard Salesforce objects.

Configuring Connect Server

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

Add a Connect Server User

Create a User to connect to Dynamics NAV 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 Dynamics NAV 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 "Dynamics NAV" from Available Data Sources
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to Dynamics NAV.
   
   

   Before you can connect, OData Services will need to be enabled on the server. Once OData Services are enabled, you will be able to query any Services that are published on the server.

   The User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid Dynamics NAV user credentials. In addition, you will need to specify a URL to a valid Dynamics NAV server organization root and a ServerInstance. If there is not a Service Default Company for the server, you will need to set the Company as well.

4. Click Save Changes
5. 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 Dynamics NAV OData Endpoints in Connect Server

After connecting to Dynamics NAV, create OData Endpoints for the desired table(s).

1. Click OData -> Tables -> Add Tables
2. Select the Dynamics NAV 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 Dynamics NAV 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 the Writable External Objects option.

5. Select JSON in the Format menu.

6. 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 Dynamics NAV Objects

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

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

Access Dynamics NAV Data as Salesforce Objects

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

• Create a new tab with a filter list view:

• Create reports of external objects:

• Create, update, and delete Dynamics NAV objects from the Salesforce dashboard:

Simplified Access to Dynamics NAV Data from Applications

At this point, you have a direct connection to live Dynamics NAV 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.