How to Connect to Salesforce in Delphi Using UniDAC

Delphi applications often require reliable connectivity to external data sources, and UniDAC is the ideal solution for this. It provides a simple and efficient way to connect Delphi to popular platforms like Salesforce for flawless data integration and management. With UniDAC, you can rely on establishing a dependable connection to Salesforce and easily retrieve and manipulate Salesforce data.

Why UniDAC?

UniDAC (Universal Data Access Components) is a powerful set of data access components designed for Delphi and C++ Builder. It provides a uniform interface for connecting to a wide range of databases, allowing developers to work with different data sources without needing to write separate code for each one.

UniDAC supports a variety of database systems, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, and others. The main advantage of UniDAC is its ability to provide seamless connectivity to multiple database types using a single set of components, making it an ideal choice for projects that require interaction with different data sources.

UniDAC also supports modern authentication methods such as OAuth 2.0, which is especially useful when connecting to cloud services like Salesforce. This makes UniDAC suitable for both secure enterprise environments and personal development projects.

Why connect Delphi with Salesforce CRM?

By integrating Delphi applications with Salesforce, you enhance the functionality of both solutions and create services that leverage the capabilities of both Delphi and Salesforce, delivering strong business value:

• Centralized data management

  Integrations between Delphi and Salesforce bridge the gap between local systems and cloud-based CRM workflows, enabling bi-directional data synchronization and exchange. Such data management systems ensure data consistency, integrity, and trust, improving performance and facilitating governance and compliance.

• Better customer insights

  Data synchronization between Delphi applications and Salesforce empowers sales representatives and analysts with full knowledge of customer interactions, improving personalization and targeting and increasing service quality.

• Enhancement of custom sales tools

  Through integration, the business logic of custom Delphi applications can be made available to Salesforce users, while the agility of Salesforce workflows improves the performance of Delphi solutions.

• Higher operational efficiency

  Database synchronization between Delphi and Salesforce maintains data consistency and facilitates handling by minimizing manual work and enabling automation.

Common challenges in Delphi-Salesforce integration

Different organizational principles of Delphi and Salesforce may present certain challenges that sometimes arise during integration. Below is a list of complexities that are frequently encountered when integrating Delphi applications and Salesforce.

Key benefits of using Devart UniDAC for Salesforce integration

Devart UniDAC is a library of components that enable direct access to multiple cloud services and database management systems, Salesforce being one of them. Choosing UniDAC as your Delphi-Salesforce connector allows you to resolve major integration challenges and provides high-performance interface to Salesforce CRM. In addition to intuitive setup and configuration, UniDAC brings other tangible benefits:

• Native integration with OAuth and REST API
• Unified SQL interface for Salesforce objects
• Support for development of applications using data hosted in cloud services
• Component-based development that supports modular application design
• Advanced data synchronization enabling data management across multiple sources
• Secure connection between the database server and client

Connect to Salesforce from Delphi using UniDAC

Step 1. Install ODBC Driver for Salesforce

1. Download the Driver.
2. Launch the downloaded installer and follow the step-by-step instructions in the setup wizard.

Step 2. Configure connection to Salesforce via UniDAC

1. Launch your RAD Studio.
2. Navigate to File > New > Windows VCL Application - Delphi to create a new Delphi project.

3. Add the TUniConnection component to your form.
   • 3.1 Navigate to the Component palette and locate the UniDAC category.
   • 3.2 Drag the TUniConnection component and drop it onto the Form Designer.

4. Double-click the UniConnection1 label on the form to open the configuration dialog, and provide the following TUniConnection properties:
   • In the Provider dropdown menu, select Salesforce.
   • In the Server field, enter your Salesforce URL.
   • In the Username field, enter your Salesforce username.
   • In the Password field, enter your Salesforce password.

5. Go to the Options tab and in the Security Token field enter your Salesforce security token.

6. Return to the Connect tab and click Connect.

Configure connection from the Code Editor

To set up a connection to Salesforce using the Code Editor, use the TUniConnection component from UniDAC. Start by placing the component on your form. Then, open the Code Editor and configure the TUniConnection properties programmatically to establish the connection.

// Create and configure TUniConnection
UniConnection1 := TUniConnection.Create(nil);
try
  UniConnection1.ProviderName := 'Salesforce';
  UniConnection1.Server := 'login.salesforce.com';
  UniConnection1.Username := 'your_username';
  UniConnection1.Password := 'your_password';
  UniConnection1.SpecificOptions.Values['SecurityToken'] := 'your_security_token';

  // Attempt to connect
  UniConnection1.Connect;
  if UniConnection1.Connected then
    ShowMessage('Connection to Salesforce was successful!')
  else
    ShowMessage('Failed to connect to Salesforce.');
except
  on E: Exception do
    ShowMessage('Error: ' + E.Message);
end;
  

You can place this code within a method that you call when your form is created or when a specific event is triggered.

Universal Delphi Data Access Components

Access various databases and clouds from Delphi with a universal tool for Delphi developers.
Powerful functionality with fast and reliable support.

Download free trial

Retrieve and manage Salesforce data via UniDAC at design time

UniDAC enables you to connect to Salesforce and access its data visually right from the design-time environment. You can browse tables, run queries, and modify data—all without writing a single line of code.

Access Salesforce data visually in RAD Studio

To retrieve data from Salesforce:

1. Navigate to the Component palette, locate the UniDAC category, and drag the TUniQuery and TUniDataSource components onto your form.
2. Similarly add the TSalesforceUniProvider component: drag and drop it from the UniDAC Cloud Providers category.
3. Finally, add the TButton component from the Standard category and TDBGrid from the Data Controls category.
4. Click the DBGrid1 label in the Form Designer and set the DataSource property to the UniDataSource1 value in the Object Inspector.
5. Click the UniDataSource1 label in the Form Designer and set the DataSet property to the UniQuery1 value in the Object Inspector.

4. Double-click the UniQuery1 label in the Form Designer and enter a query to select the data from Salesforce. For example:

SELECT * FROM CaseStatus;
  

7. Click OK to save changes and close the dialog.
8. Run the application by clicking Run, then click Button1 to activate the query and display the results.

Manipulate Salesforce data visually in RAD Studio

You can also add, edit, or delete Salesforce data at design time. What's more, you don't need to write a single line of code for that.

1. Add a new TUniQuery component to the Form Designer, or adjust the existing one as needed.
2. In the Form Designer, select the UniQuery1 component and set its Active property to True in the Object Inspector.
3. Double-click the UniQuery1 component in the Form Designer and enter a SQL query to insert, delete, or update data in the Salesforce database. For example:

UPDATE Account
SET Name = 'Acme Corporation', 
    Industry = 'Technology', 
    Phone = '123-456-7890'
WHERE Id = '0015g00000NQvXcAAL';

4. Click Execute, then click OK to close the dialog.
5. Check the result.

In a similar way, you can delete or update data in Salesforce.

Manage Salesforce data using UniDAC at runtime

Select Salesforce data using code

To retrieve data from Salesforce at runtime with UniDAC—a robust library for universal data access—you can use the TUniQuery component. It allows you to write and run SQL queries using familiar, standard syntax.

1. Add the TUniQuery, TUniDataSource, and TSalesforceUniProvider components to your form.
2. In the Form Designer, select the UniDataSource1 component and set its DataSet property to UniQuery1 in the Object Inspector.
3. Double-click the UniQuery1 label in the Form Designer and enter a query to select the data from Salesforce.
4. Click OK to save changes and close the dialog.
5. Execute the query at runtime.

Example code in Delphi:

procedure TForm10.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  UniQuery1.Open
end;

Insert, update, or delete Salesforce data at runtime

Insert data

To insert data into a Salesforce table at runtime, use the INSERT INTO SQL statement. Parameters can be used to pass values dynamically.

Example code in Delphi:

procedure TForm1.InsertIntoAccountTable;
begin
  // Link the TUniQuery component to the Salesforce connection
  UniQuery1.Connection := UniConnection1;
  
  // Write the SQL INSERT statement for the Account object
  UniQuery1.SQL.Text := 'INSERT INTO Account (Name, Industry, Phone, Website) ' +
                        'VALUES (:Name, :Industry, :Phone, :Website)';
  
  // Assign parameter values
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Name').AsString := 'Acme Corporation';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Industry').AsString := 'Technology';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Phone').AsString := '123-456-7890';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Website').AsString := 'https://www.acme.com';
  
  try
    // Execute the query
    UniQuery1.Execute;
    ShowMessage('Account inserted successfully!');
  except
    on E: Exception do
      ShowMessage('Failed to insert account: ' + E.Message);
  end;
end;  

Update data

To change existing records, use the UPDATE statement along with a WHERE clause to specify which rows to update.

Example code in Delphi:

procedure TForm1.UpdateAccountDetails;
begin
  // Link the TUniQuery component to the Salesforce connection
  UniQuery1.Connection := UniConnection1;
        
  // Write the SQL update query for the Account object
  UniQuery1.SQL.Text := 'UPDATE Account ' +
                        'SET Name = :Name, ' +
                        'Industry = :Industry, ' +
                        'BillingCity = :BillingCity, ' +
                        'Phone = :Phone, ' +
                        'Website = :Website ' +
                        'WHERE Id = :AccountID';
        
  // Assign parameter values
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Name').AsString := 'Globex International';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Industry').AsString := 'Manufacturing';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('BillingCity').AsString := 'Chicago';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Phone').AsString := '312-555-9021';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('Website').AsString := 'https://www.globex.com';
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('AccountID').AsString := '0013x00002ZB9aMAAT'; // Replace with valid Account Id
        
  try
    // Execute the query
    UniQuery1.Execute;
    ShowMessage('Account details updated successfully!');
  except
    on E: Exception do
      ShowMessage('Failed to update account details: ' + E.Message);
  end;
end;                
        

Delete data

To remove records, use the DELETE FROM SQL statement along with a WHERE clause to identify the rows you want to delete.

Example code in Delphi:

procedure TForm1.DeleteAccountRecord;
begin
  // Link the TUniQuery component to the Salesforce connection
  UniQuery1.Connection := UniConnection1;
        
  // Write the SQL DELETE statement
  UniQuery1.SQL.Text := 'DELETE FROM Account WHERE Id = :AccountID';
        
  // Set the Account ID to delete
  UniQuery1.ParamByName('AccountID').AsString := '0018b00002abcXYAAY'; // Replace with the actual Account Id
        
  try
    // Execute the DELETE command
    UniQuery1.Execute;
    ShowMessage('Account record deleted successfully!');
  except
    on E: Exception do
      ShowMessage('Failed to delete account: ' + E.Message);
  end;
end;
        

Salesforce-specific options

UniDAC offers a unified interface for working with multiple cloud services, including Salesforce, while supporting detailed configuration tailored to each service. For Salesforce, these settings—called Salesforce-specific options—let you fine-tune connectivity and behavior. You can apply them through the SpecificOptions property, a string list available in components such as TUniConnection, TUniQuery, TUniTable, TUniStoredProc, and TUniSQL.

How to use Salesforce-specific options

The example below shows how Salesforce-specific options can be used in UniDAC components.

UniConnection1.SpecificOptions.Values['Authentication'] := 'atOAuth';
UniQuery1.SpecificOptions.Values['FieldsAsString'] := 'True';  

Benefits of Salesforce-specific options in UniDAC

Salesforce-specific options in UniDAC provide key benefits by streamlining configuration, enhancing performance, and offering greater flexibility. With support for customizable authentication methods (OAuth 2.0 or basic), metadata caching, and proxy configuration, UniDAC enables smooth integration with Salesforce—even in complex enterprise environments.

Support for OAuth 2.0 authentication is one of the key advantages of UniDAC. By setting Authentication=atOAuth, you can securely connect to Salesforce without exposing sensitive login credentials in your code. This method is highly recommended for production environments and aligns with Salesforce's best practices for secure integrations.

Options like FieldsAsString and UseUnicode optimize data processing, ensuring reliable performance across diverse datasets and multilingual applications.

For long-running tasks, performance-oriented settings such as CommandTimeout and ConnectionTimeout increase stability, while UTCDates ensures consistent handling of datetime values across time zones. Together, these options empower developers to create secure, efficient, and scalable Salesforce-connected solutions that meet modern business needs.

Best practices checklist

• Use parameterized queries

  Always use parameters in TUniQuery to avoid SQL injection, ensure type safety, and improve maintainability.

• Choose the appropriate authentication method

  Use OAuth 2.0 for production environments to enhance security. Basic authentication (username, password, security token) is better suited for testing or internal tools.

• Set up SpecificOptions properly

  Make use of the UniDAC's SpecificOptions property to fine-tune behavior:

  • Authentication=atOAuth
  • UTCDates=True for consistent datetime handling
  • FieldsAsString=True to simplify data type conversion
• Handle connection errors gracefully

  Wrap connection and query execution logic in try...except blocks to handle authentication failures, timeouts, or API rate limits.

• Use CommandTimeout and ConnectionTimeout

  Set these values explicitly to avoid application hangs during long-running operations or temporary API latency.

• Use separate TUniConnection instances for background threads

  Ensure thread safety by not sharing TUniConnection across threads. Create a separate connection per thread if your application runs background tasks.

• Avoid unnecessary full-table queries

  Add WHERE clauses and LIMIT filters to minimize API usage and comply with Salesforce governor limits.

• Validate field and object names against Salesforce metadata

  Double-check spelling and casing of field names, especially with custom fields, using Salesforce Object Reference or the Developer Console.

Conclusion

Connecting to Salesforce from Delphi using UniDAC is a simple and efficient process. Whether you're retrieving, inserting, or updating data, UniDAC handles the integration with ease—so you can focus on building powerful, data-driven applications. Try UniDAC for Salesforce today with a free trial and discover how it can accelerate development and elevate your Delphi projects. Build smarter, faster, and more scalable solutions with UniDAC.

FAQ