---
schema_version: "1"
id: d90cf8cf471f76ce54add16f1b785a7e3e6c794e8778a2501643f1141de6879a
title: Validate and Sync an External Data Source
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/ext_data_sync_database.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.ext_data_sync_database.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 2284713f5702cf1fd68acb77257a6c8f8508b00c284841852e43f6325d078cd6
description: After you configure an external data source, synchronize it to map its tables with external objects in your Salesforce org. The content and data of external objects appear in federated search, together with your Salesforce content and data.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Validate and Sync an External Data Source

After you configure an external data source, synchronize it to map its tables with external objects in your Salesforce org. The content and data of external objects appear in federated search, together with your Salesforce content and data.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition">
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            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience</td>

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            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
              <p>Salesforce Connect is available in: <strong>Developer</strong> Edition and for an extra
                cost in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, and <strong>Unlimited</strong> Editions</p>
              <p><span id="ext_data_sync_database__files_connect_cloud_editions"><a name="ext_data_sync_database__files_connect_cloud_editions"><!-- --></a>Files Connect for cloud-based external data
                  sources is available in: <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Enterprise</strong>,
                  <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong>
                  Editions</span></p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Federated Search is available in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>,
                <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions
              </p>
            </td>

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      </table> <table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
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            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d109862e104">User Permissions
              Needed</th>
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            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d109862e104 ">To create an external object from an external data source:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d109862e104 ">Customize Application</td>

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When you sync a large number of tables, you can select to execute the sync operation asynchronously as a background job and avoid connection timeout. You can view the list of sync operations performed as background jobs in the corresponding External Data Source page.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/images/icon_note.png)

Note

- Syncing creates or overwrites Salesforce external objects that map to the external system’s schema. Syncing doesn’t copy any data into your Salesforce org or write data from your org to the external system.
- Syncing is a one-time process. If the external system’s schema changes, the modifications aren’t automatically synced to your Salesforce org. To reflect the changes in the external system, resync the objects. After resyncing, full field-level security to the external objects is granted to all users who have the same profile as the user who initiated the resync.
- Each org can have up to 200 external objects. External objects don’t count toward the amount for custom objects. Syncing fails if it causes your org to exceed 200 external objects.
- For Salesforce Connect external data sources, make sure that you read and understand the sync considerations. See [Sync an External Data Source for Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.platform_connect_considerations_sync.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "When you validate and sync an external data source, it creates or overwrites Salesforce external objects that map to the external system’s schema. Syncing doesn’t copy any data into your Salesforce org or write data from your org to the external system.").

1. From Setup, enter External Data Sources in the Quick Find box, then select **External Data Sources**.
2. Click the name of the external data source.
3. Click **Validate and Sync**, and confirm that the connection is successful.
4. Select tables and click **Sync** to do the following for each selected table.
    - Automatically create a Salesforce external object.
    - Automatically create a custom field for each table column that’s compatible with a Salesforce metadata field type.

![Example](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/images/icon_example.png)

Example The resulting external data source detail page includes a list of related external objects like this.

![external object screen after syncing](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/extend_click/images/extdata_validatesync.png)

#### See Also

- [The Files Connect Setup Process](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.admin_files_connect_overview.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.platform_connect_about.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Salesforce Connect provides seamless integration of data across system boundaries by letting your users view, search, and modify data that’s stored outside your Salesforce org. For example, perhaps you have data that’s stored on premises in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Instead of copying the data into your org, you can use external objects to access the data in real time via web service callouts.")