Apex code is a strongly typed, object-oriented programming language that allows developers to execute flow and transaction control statements on the Force.com platform. It provides the ability to define triggers and classes that can be initiated by user interface events as well as API calls. Apex code executes on the Force.com servers and provides a way for developers to add custom application logic to their Force.com deployments in a way that is integrated with the platform. Testing of Apex code is also supported to help ensure code quality.

1. Coding the Cloud: An Introduction
to Apex Code
Force.com Platform Fundamentals
Andrew Albert, salesforce.com

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3. Andrew Albert
Technical Evangelist

4. Apex Code: Logic-as-a-Service
 What is it?
 What can it do?
 How do I use it?
 Well, let‟s see it!

5. Introducing Apex
 Force.com allows many customizations through User
Interface
 Force.com API allows developers to write client-side
programs or integrations for more flexibility in their
applications
– Client side programs have performance costs
– Lack transactional control across API requests
– Cost and complexity of client hosting server code
 APEX was introduced to address those issues and to
revolutionize the way developers create on-demand
applications.

6. Apex Code Is
 Strongly-typed, object-based programming language
 Enables developers to execute logic and transaction
control statements on Force.com
 Runs natively on the server
 Code executes on the server when initiated by User
Interface via Buttons & Events, and data through the
API
 Java or C#-like syntax
 Transactional

7. How can you use Apex Code?
 Database Trigger
- Apex Code that is executed in response to a
database interaction
Example: Apex trigger is initiated whenever a new
Contact record is inserted.
 Class
- Similar to a Java or .NET class
- A trigger can call an Apex Class

8. Differences between Triggers and Classes
 Triggers execute implicitly in response to a database
action
 Apex class methods can be explicitly called in many
areas of the Force.com
 For example:
(a) Email to Apex Services
(b) Apex Web Services
(c) Visualforce controllers

9. How is Apex Different?
 Executes directly on the Force.com
 Eliminates network traffic between client application
and Force.com
 Apex Code tightly integrated to the rest of the platform
functionality
 Changes to the metadata referenced in Apex Code will
cause an automatic recompilation the next time those
components are executed

10. Language Basics
Data Types – Primitive
- String
- Boolean
- Date and DateTime
- Integer, Long, Double
- ID (Force.com database record identifier)
- Blob (for storing binary data)
- Sobject (object representing a Force.com standard or custom
object)
Example:
DateTime dt = System.now() + 1;
Boolean isClosed = true;
String sCapsFirstName = „Andrew‟.toUpperCase();
Account acct = new Account(); //Sobject example

11. Language Basics (cont)
Data Types – Collections
- Lists
- Sets
- Maps
- Arrays
Example:
List<Integer> myList = new List<Integer>();
myList.add(12); //Add the number 12 to the list
myList.get(0); //Access to first integer stored in the List

12. Language Basics (cont)
Statements and Expressions
- If/Else
- For Loops
- Do/While Loops
- While Loops
Example:
Integer count = 0;
while(count < 11){
System.debug(„Count = „ + count);
count++;
}

13. Language Basics (cont)
Exception Handling
- Try/Catch/Finally statements
- Ability to create and throw your own Exceptions
Example:
public class OtherException extends BaseException {}
Try{
//Add code here
throw new OtherException(„Something went wrong here…‟);
} Catch (OtherException oex) {
//Caught a custom exception type here
} Catch (Exception ex){
//Caught all other exceptions here
}

14. Force.com Query Languages
 SOQL – Salesforce object Query Language
String myName = „Acme‟;
Account[] accts = [select ID from Account where name =:myName] //Pass in a variable
 SOSL – Salesforce object Search Language
List<List<SObject>> searchList = [FIND '415' IN PHONE FIELDS RETURNING Account, Contact ];
Account [] accounts = ((List<Account>)searchList[0]);
Contact [] contacts = ((List<Contact>)searchList[1]);

15. Data Manipulation with Apex
 DML (Data Manipulation Language)
- Insert
- Update
- Upsert - Operation to create a new or update existing record
based on an external id.
- Delete
- Undelete

16. Here’s what it looks like Interface
Implementation
Function
Declaration
1 1 global class tasks implements Messaging.InboundEmailHandler {
2 2
3 3 global Messaging.InboundEmailResult handleInboundEmail(Messaging.inboundEmail email,
4 4 Messaging.InboundEnvelope env){
5 5
6 6 // Create inboundEmailResult object for returning the result of the Force.com Email Service
7 7 Messaging.InboundEmailResult result = new Messaging.InboundEmailResult();
8 8
9 9 String myPlainText = '‟; Object
101 Instantiation
Variable Declaration
111 // Add the email plain text into the local variable
121 try {
131 myPlainText = email.plainTextBody.substring(0, email.plainTextBody.indexOf('<stop>'));
141 } catch (System.StringException e) {
151 myPlainText = email.plainTextBody; Exception
161 System.debug('No <stop> in email: ' + e); Handling
171 }
181
191 // new Task object to be created List Creation Comment
202 List<Task> newTask = new List<Task>(); Syntax
212
222 /* Try to lookup any contacts based on the email from address
232 / If there is more than 1 contact with the same email address
24 / an exception will be thrown and the catch statement will be called
25 */
262 try {
272 Contact vCon = Id, Name, Email From Contact Where Email = :email.fromAddress]
[Select
28
29 ...
Query Language

17. Bulk data operations with Apex
 Commonly, the ordering of process for an apex solution is as follows:
1) Records are retrieved from the Force.com database with a query
statement
2) The array of records ismodified in the processing of your Apex
Code
3) The array of records is then sent back to the object through a
data manipulation statement
These actions are performed in bulk on the Force.com

18. Bulk data operations with Apex (cont)
 Apex Code must be designed to handle bulk operations
 Why is this important?
- The Force.com enforces limits to how many records can be
processed at a time (governor limits)
 Examples:
 Limit on the number of records that can be queried.
 Limit on the number of records that be modified.
 Limits are calculated by the number of records invoking the Apex
Code code

19. Handling Bulk operations - example

20. Testing
 Apex Code to test your Apex Code
 Code to help developers perform and automate unit testing
 Enables the platform to execute these “test methods” during
deployment
 Force.com requires that at least 75% of your Apex is
covered by testing before code can be deployed to a
Production environment (100% is ideal!)
 Unit test methods are denoted with testMethod keyword.
 testMethods do not modify any data in your org

21. What can you do with Apex Code?
 Triggers
 Apex Web Services
 Email Services
 SOA (callouts)
 Visualforce Controllers

22. What can you do with Apex Code?
 Triggers
– Code runs when data changes to ensure business logic is
applied
– Executes on the server when data changes in either the UI or API.
 Email Services
– Send & Receive emails, including attachments, with custom
logic to process contents.
– Includes all standard email attributes, use email templates, and
supports plain text or HTML.
– Force.com generates a unique email address to process the
contents.

23. What else can you do with Apex Code?
 Apex Web Services
– Develop new Force.com Web Services
– Define and expose a custom Web Service for an external service
to invoke.
– As simple as adding the “webService” keyword to a Apex method
– WSDL automatically available
 Consume other Web Services
– Provides integration with external Web Services
– Apex provides integration with Web services that utilize SOAP
and WSDL, or HTTP services

24. What else can you do with Apex Code?
 Visualforce Controllers
– Apex logic accessed by Visualforce pages through custom
controllers and controller extensions.
– Apex Class that drives the logic when a user interacts with the
Visualforce pages.

25. Winter ‘09 Apex Feature – Dynamic Apex
 Streamline code design
public class displayFields{
……
//Retrieves available SObjects with Global Describe
eliminate repetitive code by
private Map <String, Schema.SObjectType> schemaMap =
Schema.getGlobalDescribe(); constructing dynamic procedures
//Retrieve accessible fields for specified object
public List<Field> showFields(String selectedObject) {
for query, search, and data
fields.clear();
Map <String, Schema.SObjectField> fieldMap = manipulation
schemaMap.get(selectedObject).getDescribe().fields.getMap();
//for each field – determine whether the running user has
access to the field
 Describe methods
for(Schema.SObjectField f : fieldMap.Values()){
Schema.DescribeFieldResult df = f.getDescribe();
if(df.isAccessible()){
New Apex methods to describe
fields.add(f);
} schema including object definition
}
return fields; and field definitions.
}
 User permission awareness
The power of system level access
with the capability to enforce user
permissions and constraints

26. Winter ‘09 Apex Feature – Async Apex
global class myclass {
public class MyException extends Exception{}
 Asynchronous execution
public static void throwException() {
System.debug('calling throw exception');  Supports web service callouts
throw new MyException('for bar');
} from triggers
@future(callout=true) static void voidvoid() {
System.debug('void void');  Monitoring UI provides
Http http = new Http();
HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest(); detailed view of status and
req.setMethod('GET');
req.setEndpoint('http://www.cheenath.com'); execution time
HttpResponse res = http.send(req);
System.debug(res.getBody());
//throw new MyException('for bar');
}
@future static void createAccount(String n) {
Account a = new Account(name=n);
insert a;
}

27. Additional Dreamforce 2008 Apex Sessions
 Apex Test Coverage Best Practices
– Tuesday, 2:00-3:00PM, Esplanade 305
 Hands-On : Apex Code
– Tuesday, 2:00-3:00PM, South 102
 Development As A Service – Building and Deploying Apps
in the Cloud
– Wednesday, 10:15-11:15AM, Esplanade 303

28. Force.com Library
 Books
– Developer‟s Guide to the Force.com
– Force.com Cookbook
– Creating On-Demand Apps
 Apex Language Reference

29. Additional Resources
 Developer.Force.com
– Force.com Developer Community
– Apex Developer Guide & Language Reference
– Recorded technical presentations and whitepapers
– Apex Message Boards
 Sign up for free Developer Edition
 Training Courses & Certification
– DEV401: Force.com essentials
– DEV501: Visualforce, Apex, DaaS (Development As A Service)

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SESSION