Expose data to External System

Question

I am very new to integration part.

I need to do one requirement. I have one Custom Object in which I am storing data. Now I want to expose this data to the external system. For this, as I know I need to create the API and expose it to the external system. but I am totally clueless about this.

I have done it through Postman, I am able to get the access token and fetch the data, but how can I convert it to the code. Please help!

Can you guys please send me the steps that can follow to achieve this scenario.

Thanks in advance Nirav

Answer 1

There are two solutions of your requirement

1. OOB Rest API:

   Use the Query resource to execute a SOQL query that returns all the results in a single response, or if needed, returns part of the results and an identifier used to retrieve the remaining results.

   In this solution External system (java,.net,php) application will consume Saleforce API like any other standard rest api.

   Here are the steps for that:

   • Generate token using auth password flow by hitting https://test.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/token
   • Read token,instance url from step 1 and call Salesforce service endpoint https://yourInstance url/services/data/v20.0/query/? q=SELECT+name,id+from+Account"

2. Develop custom rest api

   By utilizing custom Apex REST endpoints, developers can tailor the REST API to suit the business needs of their application.

   An endpoint can be defined with an Apex Class using the @RestResource annotation, and the method annotations allow the endpoint to behave specifically for creating, updating, deleting and querying data within the instance.

   In areas where the REST API has already proven successful, i.e. third party web integrations and mobile applications – the ability to use Apex REST will make those applications even more versatile and powerful.

   So in this solution you will create your own rest api and you will expose to external system.

   • Generate token using auth password flow by hitting https://test.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/token
   • Read token,instance url from step 1 and call your custom api endpoint https://yourInstance url/services/apexrest/myaccount/*

I would recommend solution 1 as there is no custom development required and you can perform all the calculation in your external system (.net/php/java) application for example if date is null perform some step etc.

Answer 2

In your question ,you informed that you tried in Postman and able to fetch record from salesforce. Postman has a option to convert your request to respective code.