Systems and methods for exporting, publishing, browsing and installing on-demand applications in a multi-tenant database environment

• US 8,635,232 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Brooks, David, Tucker, Lewis Wiley, Jasik, Benji, Mason, Timothy, Bezar, Eric David, Wong, Simon, Chasman, Douglas, Tzuo, Tien, Hansma, Scott, Gross, Adam, Tamm, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Phuong Thao
• Application Number:
  US13/088,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 707/756, 707/805, 707/809
• US Class Current: 707/756
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/214 Database migration support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2329 using versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/50 Circuit switching systems, i.e. systems in which the path is physically permanent during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1433 Vulnerability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for creating, exporting, viewing and testing, and importing custom applications in a multi-tenant database environment. These mechanisms and methods can enable embodiments to provide a vehicle for sharing applications across organizational boundaries. The ability to share applications across organizational boundaries can enable tenants in a multi-tenant database system, for example, to easily and efficiently import and export, and thus share, applications with other tenants in the multi-tenant environment.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of sharing an application in a multi-tenant database environment, including a multi-tenant database that stores data and objects for a plurality of organizations, the method comprising:

creating an instance of an application for a source organization responsive to selections received from a user interface, the application comprising a metadata object and a set of one or more dependent metadata objects that are dependent upon said metadata object;

assembling the metadata object and the set of one or more dependent metadata objects to create a deployment package; and

exporting the deployment package for use by a target organization by storing a reference to the deployment package as a URL to be accessed by the target organization.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a flag that indicates whether a particular dependent object can be altered by a user in the target organization.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising requiring a password before allowing access to the deployment package.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising prohibiting changes to the deployment package while a user in the target organization is allowed access to the deployment package.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that a user in the target organization has been granted permission to import the deployment-package.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining mappings from at least some objects and reference values defined for the source organization to corresponding target organization objects and reference values and instantiating the application using the target organization objects and reference values.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deployment package is stored in a database separate from the multi-tenant database.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the source organization hosting a demonstration organization for review of the deployment package by the target organization.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing code executable by a processor in a client device to share an application in a multi-tenant database environment that stores data and objects for multiple organizations, the code including instructions to:

create an instance of an application for a source organization responsive to selections received from a user interface, the application comprising a metadata object and a set of one or more dependent metadata objects that are dependent upon said metadata object;

assemble the metadata object and the set of one or more dependent metadata objects to create a deployment package; and

export the deployment package for use by a target organization by storing a reference to the deployment package as a URL to be accessed by the target organization.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the code further includes instructions to store a flag that indicates whether a particular dependent object can be altered by a user in the target organization.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the code further includes instructions to prohibit changes to the deployment package while a user in the target organization is allowed access to the deployment package.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the code further includes instructions to determine that a user in the target organization has been granted permission to import the deployment package.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the code further includes instructions to define mappings from at least some objects and reference values defined for the source organization to corresponding target organization objects and reference values and instantiating the application using the target organization objects and reference values.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the code further includes instructions to store the deployment package in a database separate from the multi-tenant database.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the code further includes instructions for the source organization to host a demonstration organization for review of the deployment package by the target organization.

16. A computer system, comprising:

a database system that stores data and objects for multiple organizations; and

a client device coupled in communication with the database system, the client device including a processor that executes logic that is configured to control the database system to;

create an instance of an application for a source organization responsive to selections received from a user interface, the application comprising a metadata object and a set of one or more dependent metadata objects that are dependent upon said metadata object;

assemble the metadata object and the set of one or more dependent metadata objects to create a deployment package; and

export the deployment package for use by a target organization by storing a reference to the deployment package as a URL to be accessed by the target organization.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the logic is further configured to control the database system to allow access to the deployment package to a user in the target organization.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the logic is further configured to control the database system to store a flag that indicates whether a particular dependent object can be altered by the user in the target organization.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the logic is further configured to control the database system to require a password before allowing access to the deployment package.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the logic is further configured to control the database system to prohibit changes to the deployment package while the user in the target organization is allowed access to the deployment package.

21. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the logic is further configured to control the database system to determine that the user in the target organization has been granted permission to import the deployment package.

22. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the logic is further configured to control the database system to define mappings from at least some objects and reference values defined for the source organization to corresponding target organization objects and reference values and instantiating the application using the target organization objects and reference values.

23. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the logic is further configured to control the database system of the source organization to host a demonstration organization for review of the deployment package by the target organization.