The webinar discusses data models, relationships, and SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) on the Force.com platform, including comparisons with relational databases. It emphasizes the importance of understanding predefined joins and relationship types within the platform, along with the unique features of SOQL compared to SQL. Additionally, the presentation covers various querying techniques and best practices for effective data design in Salesforce.

1. Webinar: Data Models,
Relationships and SOQL
April 8, 2014

2. Rob Woodward
Platform Solution Engineer
@robw116

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4. Agenda
Data Model & Relationships
Comparing Force.com with Relational DBMS
Relationship Types & the Predefined Join
Relationships & SOQL
SOQL vs SQL
Relationship Queries

5. Assumptions
 A basic understanding of the Force.com Platform
including:
– Creating Custom Objects
– Adding Custom Fields
– Navigating the UI
 Knowledge of relational database concepts
– Tables
– Primary/Foreign Keys
– Joins

6. Data Model and Relationships
Relationships and SOQL
Agenda

7. Data Model and the Force.com Platform
 sObject:
– Table-like data structure
• Records
• Fields
– Extensible
– Queryable/Updatable
– Relationships
 Automatic Features:
– User Interface
– Security
• CRUD
• Field-level
• Record-level (ACL)
– REST & SOAP APIs

8. Standard Data Model
 Standard Objects
– Account
– Contact
– Lead
– Opportunity
– Case
– …
 Standard Fields
– Id
– Name
– CreatedBy/Date
– LastModifiedBy/Date
– OwnerId
– IsDeleted
– …

9. Extensible Data Model
 Custom Objects
– Workshop__c
– Room__c
– …
 Custom Fields
– Status__c
– Type__c
– Start_Time__c
– End_Time__c
– …

10. Relationships: The Predefined Join
 RDBMS
– Join at runtime
with SQL or
view
 Force.com
– Predefined join
at design-time
– Similar to
integrity
constraints

11. Master-DetailLookup
Relationship Types
NeverOptional
Cascade
Clear
Field/Block/Cascade*
Nullability
Delete Behavior
Child Inherits from ParentIndependent Parent/Child
225
Record Sharing
Access
Max Allowed Fields

12. Demo Use Case:
– Community Centre
– Workshops and Rooms

13. Data Model and Relationships
Relationships and SOQL
Agenda

14. SOQL
 Salesforce Object Query Language
 SQL-like syntax
 Queries the Force.com Object Layer
 Used in:
– Apex
– Developer Tools (Developer Console, Eclipse, Workbench, …)
– API (REST, SOAP, Bulk, …)

15. From SQL to SOQL
 At first may look familiar
 Important differences
 Learn the differences
 Use good data design practices

16. From SQL to SOQL: The Familiar Bits
 Table-like structure
 Similar query syntax
 Indexed
 Transactional
 Triggers
SELECT Id, Name, Capacity__c
FROM Room__c
WHERE Capacity__c > 10

17. From SQL to SOQL: Immediate Differences
 No select *
 No views
 SOQL is read-only
 Limited indexes
 Object-relational mapping is automatic
 Schema changes protected

18. From SQL to SOQL: Differences To Learn
 sObjects are not actually tables – multi-tenant
environment
 Relationship metadata
– Management of referential integrity
– Predefines joins
– Relationship query syntax
 Query usage explicitly metered
– API Batch Limits
– Apex Governor Limits

19. The __c and __r Suffixes
Room__c
Workshop__c
Id
Id
Room__c
Room__r
Workshops__r Type:
List<Workshop__c>
Type: Id
Type: Room__c
1-M

20. Relationship Query: Child to Parent
SELECT Id, Name, Room__c,
Room__r.Id,
Room__r.Capacity__c
FROM Workshop__c
WHERE Status__c = ’Open’
[
{
"Id": "a0145000000aBf4AAE",
"Name": "Yoga for Beginners",
"Room__c": "a00vn000000dU3dAAE",
"Room__r": {
"Id": "a00vn000000dU3dAAE",
"Capacity__c": 10
}
},
{
"Id": "a0145000000aBf4AAE",
"Name": "Yoga for Beginners",
"Room__c": "",
"Room__r": ""
}, ...
]

21. Relationship Query: Parent to Child
SELECT Id, Name,
(SELECT Id, Status__c
FROM Workshops__r)
FROM Room__c
WHERE Capacity__c > 10
[
{
"Id": "a00vn000000dU3dAAE",
"Name": "Salon 1 West",
"Workshops__r": [
{
"Id": "a0145000000aBf4AAE",
"Status__c": "Open"
},
{
"Id": "a0145000000aBd4AAE",
"Status__c": "Full"
}
]
}, ...
]

22. Querying for Intersection
Select Id, Name,
Room__r.Name,
Room__r.Capacity__c
FROM Workshop__c
WHERE
Room__r.Capacity__c > 8
[
{
"Id": "a0145000000aBf4AAE",
"Name": "Yoga for Beginners",
"Room__c": "a00vn000000dU3dAAE",
"Room__r": {
"Id": "a00vn000000dU3dAAE",
"Capacity__c": 10
}
},
{...},
...
]

23. Aggregate Queries
SELECT
COUNT(Id) rmCount,
MAX(Capacity__c) maxRmCap,
Configuration__c
FROM Room__c
GROUP BY Configuration__c
[
{
"rmCount": 4,
"maxRmCap": 6,
"Configuration__c": "Classroom"
},
{
"rmCount": 2,
"maxRmCap": 10,
"Configuration__c": "Theatre"
},
...
]

24. Demo Use Case:
– Find a tally of empty spaces
being held for workshops that
are not actively enrolling
delegates

25. Recap
 Data Model &
Relationships
– Much that looks similar,
but
– Many important
differences
– Predefined Join
– Relationship Types
 Relationships & SOQL
– SOQL has relations but is
not “relational”
– Limits cannot be ignored
– Good design principles
still apply but check your
assumptions

26. Read More
 Article: From SQL to SOQL http://bit.ly/sql2soql
 SOQL-SOSL Guide http://bit.ly/soqlsosl
 Sharing http://bit.ly/sharingarch
 Limits http://bit.ly/apexgovlim
 Multi-Tenant Architecture http://bit.ly/sfmultiten

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May 15: Intro to building Mobile Apps with
Salesforce1 Platform – No code required