Salesforce Drivers

Q: How is the Simba Salesforce driver different from native exports, tool-specific connectors, direct APIs, etc.?

Simba turns Salesforce into a more standards-based analytics source with direct SQL-92 access to data without extraction. This enables more effective and efficient real-time analytics and reporting, which means less dependence on file pulls and a more consistent connection layer. Simba easily supports mainstream BI tools and allows teams to work in standard ODBC/JDBC environments instead of building around one app or API logic.

Q: Can Simba pass through SOQL if our application is already SOQL-aware?

Yes. If your application is already SOQL-aware, our Simba Salesforce drivers are configurable to pass the query through. This means that if you’ve already built your workflows around SOQL and want to preserve that behavior, Simba can still support your real-time data connectivity.

Q: Can Simba handle joins and aggregations that are difficult with standard Salesforce querying?

Yes. Our Salesforce drivers perform necessary joins and aggregations before passing supported operations to Salesforce via our Collaborative Query Execution. This is especially valuable because Bulk API 2.0 doesn’t support GROUP BY, nor does it support aggregate functions like COUNT(). Simba bridges this gap by providing your existing BI and reporting tools with a more analytics-friendly query experience for Salesforce.

Salesforce ODBC & JDBC Driver

Analyze and report on your Salesforce data – in real time.

OEM & Distribution

Connect to Salesforce From Your BI Tools

Simba ODBC/JDBC drivers for Salesforce enable standardized SQL-92 access directly to source data without extraction, via Salesforce’s native web services API. This allows your team to deliver scalability, full application functionality, and real-time analytic capabilities to users. Perform necessary joins and aggregations that pass down supported operations to Salesforce for improved performance via Simba’s built-in Collaborative Query Execution (CQE) feature. The result is that Salesforce can collaborate dynamically on the execution of SQL queries, eliminating redundant processing and passing on the performance gains to users. If an application is Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) aware, Simba’s Salesforce ODBC and JDBC drivers are configurable to pass the query through. The ODBC connector for Salesforce complies with the latest ODBC 3.8 data standard and adds functionality like Unicode and 32- and 64-bit support for high-performance, cloud computing environments. The JDBC version of the Salesforce driver includes support for JDBC 4.1 & 4.2.

Why Download Simba & Its Drivers?

Simba by insightsoftware provides trusted, high-quality connectivity, backed by reliable support, making it easier to use Salesforce with the tools you already rely on.

Get Pricing

Salesforce ODBC & JDBC Driver Features

Direct BI Connectivity to Data: Connect BI and reporting tools directly to Salesforce Marketing Cloud data in real time, eliminating separate extraction steps and reducing the lag between campaign activity and analysis.
Full Compatibility with Leading Analytic/Reporting Apps: Works with Microsoft Excel & Access, Tableau, Power BI, and Qlik to analyze Salesforce data in the tools you already use.
Full Connector & Query Metadata: Exposes the metadata needed by BI and reporting tools to understand available objects, fields, and query structure, which helps simplify setup and schema discovery.
Aggregation & Join Capabilities: Extends Salesforce querying with join and aggregation support so users can build more analytics-ready datasets for reporting and dashboarding.
Enhanced Performance: Uses Simba’s built-in Collaborative Query Execution to push supported operations down to Salesforce, reducing redundant processing and improving query efficiency.
Support for ODBC 3.8: Complies with the ODBC 3.8 data standard for broad interoperability with modern ODBC-compatible analytics and reporting environments.
Support for JDBC 4.1 & 4.2: Supports JDBC 4.1 and 4.2 so Java-based applications can integrate with Salesforce using current JDBC standards.

Salesforce ODBC & JDBC Driver Specs

Supports Salesforce API: ODBC Version 45 and JDBC Version 52
Supports 32- and 64-bit Applications: Gives teams flexibility across older and newer BI deployments.
Supports TLS 1.1/1.2: Encrypted communication between client applications and Salesforce.
Uses OpenSSL 1.0.2: Part of our connector’s secure communication stack.
Complies with ODBC 3.8: Meets the latest ODBC 3.8 specification to maximize standards-based compatibility with ODBC-enabled applications.
Supports Unicode: Salesforce data containing multilingual text and special characters is handled accurately across reporting workflows.
Supports Multiple Platforms: Can be deployed across Windows, Linux, and macOS environments for mixed enterprise analytics stacks.
Supports ANSI SQL-92: Users can query Salesforce with familiar SQL syntax instead of depending entirely on native Salesforce query patterns.

Overcome Salesforce Data Challenges With Simba Drivers

API-Based Access Isn’t BI-Friendly

Salesforce data access comes from its APIs instead of native SQL. This means that teams often end up still relying on manual exports, custom integration code, and tool-specific connectors just to get CRM data into reporting workflows. Simba’s Salesforce drivers provide direct SQL-92 access to Salesforce through ODBC and JDBC, eliminating the need for extraction and making Salesforce feel like a standard relational source.

SOQL Isn’t the Same as Full SQL

Salesforce Object Query Language relationship queries are not the same as SQL joins, and certain query paths are restricted by the API path you use. For example, Bulk API 2.0 doesn’t support GROUP BY, aggregate functions like COUNT(), OFFSET, or TYPEOF in bulk queries. Simba’s Salesforce connectors ease this friction by adding aggregation and join capabilities, as well as Collaborative Query Execution to improve performance.

Object Model Complexity

Salesforce’s object model is complex, especially when it comes to custom objects and fields. Most organizations mix standard objects with custom fields, custom objects, and more, which can make reporting setup harder — especially for heavily customized orgs. Simba’s drivers for Salesforce provide full connector and query metadata for easier structure discovery, field understanding, and more with less manual work.

Salesforce ODBC & JDBC Driver FAQs

How is the Simba Salesforce driver different from native exports, tool-specific connectors, direct APIs, etc.?

Simba turns Salesforce into a more standards-based analytics source with direct SQL-92 access to data without extraction. This enables more effective and efficient real-time analytics and reporting, which means less dependence on file pulls and a more consistent connection layer. Simba easily supports mainstream BI tools and allows teams to work in standard ODBC/JDBC environments instead of building around one app or API logic.

Can Simba pass through SOQL if our application is already SOQL-aware?

Yes. If your application is already SOQL-aware, our Simba Salesforce drivers are configurable to pass the query through. This means that if you’ve already built your workflows around SOQL and want to preserve that behavior, Simba can still support your real-time data connectivity.

Can Simba handle joins and aggregations that are difficult with standard Salesforce querying?

Yes. Our Salesforce drivers perform necessary joins and aggregations before passing supported operations to Salesforce via our Collaborative Query Execution. This is especially valuable because Bulk API 2.0 doesn’t support GROUP BY, nor does it support aggregate functions like COUNT(). Simba bridges this gap by providing your existing BI and reporting tools with a more analytics-friendly query experience for Salesforce.