---
schema_version: "1"
id: 76805db6e59804c59b9c61771f5f4484edcb246adf309ba0e4b4f83285b93a62
title: Accelerate Data Updates Using Unique IDs for External Objects
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/release-notes/260-0-0/rn_sdp_integrate_user_primary_key_external.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=release-notes.rn_sdp_integrate_user_primary_key_external.htm&release=260&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 1b6a9907ae76c149d56c841373591031d536d83609662df11d7f9381dcb6b839
description: Now you can specify an external object field as a unique ID to function as a primary key for that object. Use defined primary keys to update massive datasets in minutes by only processing changed records. For example, a nightly sync for a two-billion-row sales transaction object now processes only the 500,000 new or changed records instead of the entire dataset.
products:
  - Cross Cloud Packages Solutions
release: "260"
---
# Accelerate Data Updates Using Unique IDs for External Objects

Now you can specify an external object field as a unique ID to function as a primary key for that object. Use defined primary keys to update massive datasets in minutes by only processing changed records. For example, a nightly sync for a two-billion-row sales transaction object now processes only the 500,000 new or changed records instead of the entire dataset.

**Where:** This change applies to Salesforce Data Pipelines in Lightning Experience and Salesforce Classic. Salesforce Data Pipelines is available for an extra cost in Enterprise, Performance, and Unlimited editions.

**When:** The Unique ID feature is available starting in February 2026.

**How:** In Data Manager, on your connection tab, select the external object to update. Then, click the edit icon (1) for the column to use as a primary key. Select **Is Unique ID** (2) and save.

![The Is Unique ID checkbox for an external object field](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-salesforce_release_notes-260-0-0-production-enus/ba62a63b-6cd1-440e-8d24-e867afab0363/salesforce_release_notes/images/analytics/rn_bi_integrate_external_column_is_unique_id.png)

#### See Also

- [_Salesforce Help_: Add and Remove Remote Objects and Fields from Data Sync](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.sdp_connectors_replicate_connection.htm&language=en_US)