Lightning connect adapter

Abstract

Various embodiments concern custom adapters for platforms that enable synchronization with an external service. More specifically, the adapters can be used to read external data from a database associated with the external service, and then continually reference the external data in order to provide a live view of the external data. Thus, the custom adapters enable real-time, live data integration without data replication. The custom adapters also allow the external data to be dynamically mapped to data object(s) that are used to create the interface. Therefore, a user may be able to modify the external data using the interface and an interface associated with the external service.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a database configured to store a data object and a data structure; and   a processor configured to receive input indicative of a command to alter the data object used in a programming environment, to examine the data structure configured to map the data object to external data records of an external database, to format the external data records to conform to one or more data formats associated with a platform associated with the programming environment, to parse the external data records to identify one or more specifications associated with the platform, the external data records are parsed by calling an application program interface associated with the external database within the programming environment, wherein the external data records are parsed without copying the external data records to an internal database of the platform, to map the external data records according to the one or more specifications after the formatting and the parsing are performed, the external data records being mapped to the data object in the one or more data formats and according to the one or more specifications associated with the platform, to identify, based on the examining, a record of the external data records corresponding to the data object, to transmit metadata indicative of the command to the application programming interface, wherein receipt of the metadata causes the external database to formulate an instruction, the execution of which causes the identified data record to be altered, and to synchronize the external data records based on changes made to the data objects in real time without requiring an explicit synchronization request.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calling causes the external data records to be read from another database. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to format, based on the parsing, the external data records to ensure that the external data records read from the another database conform to a specification of the programming environment. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the data structure by mapping the external data records to the data objects used in the programming environment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to reference the external data records of the external database and the data objects in the programming environment on a continual basis, enabling a given record of the external data records in another database to be updated in near real time when a change is made to a corresponding data object of the one or more data objects, and a given data object of the one or more data objects in the programming environment to be updated in near real time when a change is made to a corresponding external record of the external data records. 
     
     
         6 . A system, comprising:
 a data structure configured to perform an operation on a data object; and   a lightning connect adapter configured to transfer data with a programming environment associated with an application development platform, to examine a data structure that maps an external data record from a database to the data object, to format the external data record to ensure that the external data record conforms to a data format associated with the application development platform, to parse the external records to identify a specification, the external data record being parsed by calling an application program interface associated with the database within the programming environment, wherein the external data records are parsed without copying the external data record to an internal database of the platform, to establish a lookup relationship by mapping the external data record to the data objects in the programming environment after formatting and parsing are performed, the external data record being mapped to the data object in the data format and according to the specification, and to reference the external data record in the database and the data object in the programming environment on a continual basis to enable a given record of the external data record in the database to be updated in near real time when a change is made to a corresponding data object in the programming environment to be updated in near real time when a change is made to a corresponding external record of the external data record, wherein metadata indicative of a command associated with the change is transmitted to the application programming interface to cause the database to update the given record without an explicit synchronization request.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein logic in the programming environment is implemented using an Apex programming language. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lightning connect adapter is further configured to perform a reading operation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lightning connect adapter is further configured to perform a reading operation to analyze the external data records to determine content of each cell of a spreadsheet that is represented by the external data records. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lookup relationship is dynamically updated based on the content determined to be in each cell of the spreadsheet. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lightning connect adapter is further configured to present a live view of the external data records residing in the database. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lightning connect adapter further comprises algorithmic logic that evaluates content of each cell of a spreadsheet that is represented by the external data record. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the change associated with the external data record comprises creation of a new data record. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the change associated with the external data record comprises modification of an existing data record. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the change associated with the external data record comprises deletion of an existing data record. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a data structure configured to perform an operation on a data object; and   a processor configured to receive input indicative of a command to alter the data object used in a programming environment, to examine the data structure configured to map the data object to an external data record of an external database, to format the external data record to conform to a data format associated with a platform associated with the programming environment, to parse the external data record to identify a specification associated with the platform, the external data record being parsed by calling an application program interface associated with the external database within the programming environment, wherein the external data record is parsed without copying the external data record to an internal database associated with the platform, to map the external data record to the specification after the formatting and the parsing are performed, the external data record being mapped to the data object in the data format and according to the specification, to identify, based on the examining, a record of the external data record corresponding to the data object, to transmit metadata indicative of a command to the application programming interface, wherein receipt of the metadata causes the external database to formulate an instruction, the execution of which causes the record to be modified, and to synchronize the external data record based on a change made to the data object without requiring an explicit synchronization request.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the calling causes the external data records to be read from another database. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to format, based on the parsing, the external data records to ensure that the external data records read from the Google Sheets database conforms to a specification of the programming environment. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to create the data structure by mapping the external data records to the data objects used in the programming environment. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to reference the external data records of the external database and the data objects in the programming environment on a continual basis, enabling a given record of the external data records in a Google Sheets database to be updated in near real time when a change is made to a corresponding data object of the one or more data objects via a Salesforce interface, and a given data object of the one or more data objects in the programming environment to be updated in near real time when a change is made to a corresponding external record of the external data records via a Google Sheets interface.