Slides from our Dreamforce 2016 presentation

1. Publishing Data to REST APIs with
Lightning Process Builder
Scott Coleman
Principal Solutions Architect, Cloud Giants
scott@cloudgiants.com
@scottsalesforce
alex@cloudgiants.com
@KenneyAlexandra
Alex Kenney
Solutions Consultant, Cloud Giants

2. Welcome to Dreamforce
Why implement simple data integrations using Process Builder and Invocable Apex?
• Maximum use of platform features, filling gaps with code when necessary
• Using clicks instead of code increases maintainability and reusability
Key takeaways
• REST web service basics
• A mostly clicks approach to simple integration
• A process and some code that you can use right away!
• How to decide if this approach is for you - this isn't the only way (and isn't always the best way)
• Ideas about extending the solution to meet your specific needs
Thanks for joining us!

3. REST Web Services and APIs
What is an API?
• Application Programming Interface
• Defines the interface between one component and second component that provides services for it
What is REST?
• Representational State Transfer
• An architectural style that can be applied to APIs (most commonly on the web); a set of conventions or
rules
• Emphasis on lightweight payloads and predictable behaviors
REST API examples
• Slack webhooks
• Google Maps Geocoding API
• Salesforce REST API
A (Very) High Level Introduction

4. Calling Apex from Process Builder
Process Builder - have you used it?
You can call Apex methods from your process!
• Powerful way to create mostly-declarative solutions
• A chance for collaboration between admins and devs
• Use the "Apex" action type in Process Builder, select the method to call, and specify the values to pass into the
method
There are rules for your Apex class and method. It must:
• Method should be annotated with @InvocableMethod
• Only accept one List as its input parameter (though it can be custom type - use @InvocableVariable on members of
user-defined types)
• Be static and public/global
The Basics

5. Slack Integration
Demo
Slack is a popular
communication tool used by
companies, project teams,
other organizations
Possible use case: Notify
your team when a hot lead
lands in Salesforce
Let's run through a quick
demo of this simple
Salesforce to Slack
integration

6. Slack Integration
Slack configuration
• Define a webhook and specify which channel messages should appear in
• Take note of the webhook address
Responsibilities of our Process Builder process
• Know when to send a notification (criteria)
• Specify what data should be included in the notification
• Specify the address of the Slack webhook to which the notification should be sent
Configuration

7. Slack Integration
Process Builder
Let's walk through our
process!

8. Slack Integration
Not coupled to any particular object or webhook address
• Labels, values, and address passed in by process
• Same class can be used with any object that supports Process Builder
• Make sure to create a Remote Site in Salesforce for https://hooks.slack.com
Very simple implementation with basic capabilities
• Data structure is flat - not hierarchical
• Number of fields you can include in notification is limited
• Optional record link can be included so user can get more details
• Works great for most quick notifications
Apex Class

9. Slack Integration
Apex Class
Let's dive into the code!

10. Extending the Solution
Is this pattern right for you?
• Great for productivity features - not the best solution for reliable messaging, guaranteed delivery, business
critical scenarios
Payload format
• Slack's webhook uses a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) payload, but your REST endpoint may use a
different format
• We're using a very flat data structure - maybe your target requires a hierarchical structure
Authentication
• Slack's webhook REST endpoint doesn't implement any authentication, but your target endpoint likely does
• Consider using Named Credentials (Spring '15 feature) to make your code simpler (more on this later)
Let us know how you extend the solution (or let us know if we can help!)
• Session Chatter feed, Twitter, Email
Meet your specific needs

11. Salesforce-to-Salesforce Integration
Demo
Possible use case: Publish new
accounts from one org to
another
Let's run through a quick demo
of this basic Salesforce to
Salesforce integration

12. Named Credentials
What are they?
• A configuration item that allows you to define the credentials that should be used when making a callout to
a particular external service, either per user or for all users
Why are they useful?
• Simplifies your Apex code by managing non-trivial authentication flows for you, like OAuth 2.0
• Keeps the endpoint address in one place, outside of your process and Apex code
What else is needed to make this work in our use case?
• A Connected App defined in the target org to grant access
• An Auth Provider defined in the source org to be used by the Named Credential for authentication in the
target org
An Introduction

13. Salesforce-to-Salesforce Integration
Responsibilities of our Process Builder process
• Similar to our first use case
• Know when to send a notification (criteria)
• Specify what data should be included in the notification
• Specify the Salesforce API endpoint to which the notification should be sent (and the credentials to be used)
• Used Named Credentials for this
Configuration

14. Salesforce-to-Salesforce Integration
Process Builder
Let's walk through our
process!

15. Salesforce-to-Salesforce Integration
Not coupled to any particular object or org
• Labels, values, named credential passed in by process
• Same class can be used with any object that supports Process Builder
Not appropriate in scenarios where data is business critical and we need guaranteed delivery
• This approach is best for informational integrations and data that isn't business critical (productivity)
Apex Class

16. Salesforce-to-Salesforce Integration
Apex Class
Let's dive into the code
and related authentication
config!

17. Resources
Get the Process, Code, and Step-by-Step Instructions
• Available at GitHub: https://github.com/scott-cloudgiants/df16-procbuilder-restapi
Salesforce Documentation
• Lightning Process Builder
• https://help.salesforce.com/HTViewHelpDoc?id=process_overview.htm
• InvocableMethod Annotation
• https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_annotation_InvocableMethod.htm
• Apex Web Services and Callouts
• https://developer.salesforce.com/page/Apex_Web_Services_and_Callouts
• Named Credentials as Callout Endpoints
• https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_callouts_named_credentials.htm
Blog Posts
• Slack and Salesforce Integration by Christophe Coenraets - the inspiration for our approach!
• http://coenraets.org/blog/2016/01/slack-salesforce-integration/
• Salesforce to Salesforce integration using Named Credentials in 5 lines by Jitendra Zaa - more inspiration!
• http://www.jitendrazaa.com/blog/salesforce/salesforce-to-salesforce-integration-using-named-credentials-in-just-5-lines-of-code/

18. Q&A
Ask questions!

19. Thank Y u
Scott Coleman
Principal Solutions Architect, Cloud Giants
scott@cloudgiants.com
@scottsalesforce
Alex Kenney
Solutions Consultant, Cloud Giants
alex@cloudgiants.com
@KenneyAlexandra