---
schema_version: "1"
id: 194afff6df00d010ff3d523646f6b24b7c9340a6dd5f1c1657447dc32cd06597
title: Define a Simple URL External Data Source
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/experience/264-0-0/admin_files_simple_url_xds.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.admin_files_simple_url_xds.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: cb576fb40b3a7fbfc161afd79c8782cce05891f05a2017fb9f85b585851eeb8a
description: If Chatter is enabled for your organization, Salesforce can access data hosted on another web domain for use in the Files tab and feed.
products:
  - Experiences
release: "264"
---
# Define a Simple URL External Data Source

If Chatter is enabled for your organization, Salesforce can access data hosted on another web domain for use in the Files tab and feed.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d13139e70">User Permissions
              Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e70 ">To define an external data source:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e70 ">Customize Application</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

1. From Setup, enter External Data Sources in the Quick Find box, and then select **External Data Sources**.
2. Click **New External Data Source**, and set the following options:
    
    <table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
            <colgroup>
              <col style="width:50%">
              <col style="width:50%">
            </colgroup>
            <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
              <tr class="">
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d13139e130">Field</th>
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d13139e133">Description</th>
              </tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Label</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">A user-friendly name for the data source displayed in the Salesforce user
                  interface.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Name</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">A unique identifier used to refer to this external data source definition
                  through the API. The <strong class="uicontrol">Name</strong> field can contain only
                  underscores and alphanumeric characters. It must be unique, begin with a letter,
                  not include spaces, not end with an underscore, and not contain two consecutive
                  underscores.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Type</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">Choose <strong class="uicontrol">Simple URL</strong>.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">URL</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">The URL of the server hosting data outside of Salesforce, which must begin
                  with <em>http://</em> or <em>https://</em>.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Default External Repository</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">Used for SharePoint® Online®. If metadata is not accessible, use this field
                  to create tables and default table fields.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Large Icon</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">
                  <p>Specify an icon to easily identify the data source in the Salesforce user
                    interface.</p>
                  <p style="margin-bottom:0;">First define the icon as a static resource in Salesforce. For
                    more information, see <a href="https://help.salesforce.com/HTViewHelpDoc?id=pages_static_resources_create.htm&amp;language=en_US" target="_blank">Defining Static
                      Resources</a>.</p>
                </td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Small Icon</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">
                  <p>Specify an icon to easily identify the data source in the Salesforce user
                    interface.</p>
                  <p style="margin-bottom:0;">First define the icon as a static resource in Salesforce. For
                    more information, see <a href="https://help.salesforce.com/HTViewHelpDoc?id=pages_static_resources_create.htm&amp;language=en_US" target="_blank">Defining Static
                      Resources</a>.</p>
                </td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Identity Type</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">
                  <p>The identity type used to authenticate to the external data
                    source.</p>
                  <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Select <strong class="uicontrol">Anonymous</strong>, which doesn’t require users
                    to provide credentials when accessing the data source.</p>
                </td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e130 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Authentication Protocol</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d13139e133 ">
                  <p>The protocol required to access the data source.</p>
                  <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Select <strong class="uicontrol">No
                      Authentication</strong>.</p>
                </td>

              </tr>
            </tbody>
          </table>

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-experience-collaboration-264-0-0-production-enus/1aab5b5e-c990-4b8c-840a-6fb18af49709/images/icon_note.png)

Note

- Simple URL data sources can’t be included in global search, so the “Validate and Sync” option isn’t supported.
- SOQL queries can’t be performed on the external objects created from Simple URL data sources.
- Files from a Simple URL data source can’t be previewed in the file preview player.