Business Objects and External Connections

Business Objects may be mapped to multiple instances of external data. Major, Supporting, Lookup, and Group Business Objects can all be mapped to external data connections. After a Business Object has external data connections established, it becomes an External Business Object. After establishing the external data connections, use CSM Administrator to import data.

Map external data to a Business Object by:

• Importing external data into CSM: The imported data can be edited within CSM or updated via Automation Processes. When mapping multiple instances of external data to a Business Object, data can only be imported, and not linked.
• Linking to external data: Linking Business Objects to external data allows for data to be manipulated from within the external source. This option keeps track of the external data, which can be viewed in CSM. If updates of the external data are permitted, the Business Object can be configured to enforce the appropriate rules. A Business Object an only be linked to one external data connection.

External data must have a designated place to be stored either by:

• Mapping a pre- existing CSM Business Object to external data, and then importing the external data. No link option is available for existing CSM Business Objects.
• Creating a new External Business Object to import the external data, and then importing the external data.
• Creating an External Business Object (and use it like any other CSM Business Object) to link to the external data. There are a few limitations that might be encountered when the underlying database queries between the CSM Database and the External Database. The advantage of an External Connection is that a User can use the data within CSM without realizing it comes from another database.
  Restriction: A combination of imported and linked data is not possible within the same Business Object.