---
schema_version: "1"
id: e3e6e174e746e5bf9784df846cd51d6f58203fb4786a892a1b4cdd1f77175b6e
title: Writable External Objects Considerations for Salesforce Connect OData Adapters
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/odata_considerations_writable_external_objects.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.odata_considerations_writable_external_objects.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 544f5545094d920d776ad031b5afb9b8581b1e2810e309b84a91222cefac0ec0
description: Some special behaviors and limitations affect writable external objects that are associated with OData 2.0, 4.0, and 4.01 adapters for Salesforce Connect.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Writable External Objects Considerations for Salesforce Connect OData Adapters

Some special behaviors and limitations affect writable external objects that are associated with OData 2.0, 4.0, and 4.01 adapters for Salesforce Connect.

### 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 (not for high-data-volume
            external objects)</td>

        </tr>
        <tr class="">
          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p>Available in: <strong>Developer</strong> Edition</p>
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Available for an extra cost
              in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, and <strong>Unlimited</strong>
              Editions</p>
          </td>

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

- An external object custom field associated with an OData complex type on the external system is always read only, even if the external object is writable.
- Writable external objects aren’t available for high-data-volume external data sources.
- If your external system requires write operations to specify values for entity keys, ensure that External ID standard field values and entity key values don’t contradict each other. For each write operation, include either the External ID standard field value or the custom field values that form the entity key, but never both.
- When an external object record is edited, Salesforce Connect sends an HTTP request to the external system.
    - If the record is edited from the Salesforce user interface, the HTTP request includes all fields, including the fields that weren’t changed.
    - If the record is edited from the API, only the specified fields are included in the HTTP request.
- Make sure that the OData producer supports the HTTP methods that are used by your Salesforce Connect adapter.
    
       
    | To Do This | OData 4.01 Adapter Uses This HTTP Method | OData 4.0 Adapter Uses This HTTP Method | OData 2.0 Adapter Uses This HTTP Method |
    | --- | --- | --- | --- |
    | Create record | `POST` | `POST` | `POST` |
    | Edit record | `PATCH` | `POST` with `X-HTTP-METHOD` header set to `PATCH` | `POST` with `X-HTTP-METHOD` header set to `MERGE` |
    | Delete record | `DELETE` | `DELETE` | `DELETE` |
    | View record | `GET` | `GET` | `GET` |

Also review the considerations that apply to all Salesforce Connect adapters.

#### See Also

- [Writable External Objects in Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.platform_connect_considerations_writable_external_objects.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Select Writable External Objects when you define an external data source and use Salesforce Connect external objects to create, update, and delete data. External objects are read only by default.")
- [External IDs and OData Entity Keys](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.odata_external_id_entity_key.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "When you access external data with the OData 2.0, 4.0, or 4.01 adapter for Salesforce Connect, the values of the External ID standard field on an external object are derived according to the entity key that’s defined in the OData service metadata document.")
- [OData Adapters for Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.odata_adapter_about.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Connect to your back office for a complete view of your business. With the OData 2.0, 4.0, or 4.01 adapter, Salesforce Connect uses Open Data Protocol Version 2.0, Version 4.0, or Version 4.01 to access data that’s stored outside Salesforce.")