How to execute Anonymous Apex via the API/Web Service?

Question

I am trying to connect from my c# client side app and execute some apex code.

Here is what I've done so far (which maybe wrong):

1. Went to Setup/Develop/API.
2. Clicked Generate Apex WSDL
3. Consumed the WSDL in my c# app.

Let's say I want to run the following:

private String IdToObject(Id someId) {
    Schema.SObjectType objectType = someId.getSObjectType();
    return String.valueOf(objectType);
}

How would I get the return value of IdToObject('001L000000kbReV')?

Answer 1

It looks like you want something along the lines of eval() support for running Apex code from .NET and then getting the result back.

I've covered this from the perspective of Apex-to-Apex, but the principal is the same. Kevin also has an alternative approach with a similar goal.

The trick in both approaches is that executing anonymous apex doesn't have a direct mechanism for returning a result. You either need to deliberately throw an exception with the value you want back or return it in the debug log that gets generated. Then you do a bit of parsing to pull your result out.

---

To your specific example, you have an Id and you want to know metadata about the associated sObject?

There are much easier ways to do this than executing anonymous apex and parsing the result out and all the associated problems.

The Partner API provides a large amount of metadata about the sObjects that are accessible by the current user.

General steps:

1. Extract the key prefix from the first 3 characters of the ID you have. See What are Salesforce ID's composed of?
2. Call describeGlobal() to figure out which sObjects you can access.
3. Scan through the returned DescribeGlobalSObjectResult collection looking at the keyPrefix field. When you find a match you will have some basic initial metadata, such as the sObject label and API name.
4. Call describeSObjects() is you want some richer DescribeSObjectResult metadata.

Answer 2

Here is a link which describes the process in detail. You have already done most of the parts. The below code describes how to call a method. ApexSample.ApexSoapWebservice.Account[] accounts = apex.getMyAccounts(null);

// Define the variables that will be used.
SFDCEnterpriseAPI.SforceService sfdc = new SFDCEnterpriseAPI.SforceService();
ApexSoapWebservice.ApexSoapWebserviceService apex = new ApexSoapWebservice.ApexSoapWebserviceService();
SFDCEnterpriseAPI.LoginResult lr = null;

// Login
try {
    lr = sfdc.login(tbUN.Text, tbPWD.Text);
} catch (System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException ex) {
    MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());
    return;
}

// If it reached here, the connection was succesful, but the password may have expired.
if (!lr.passwordExpired) {
    // Set connection details for Enterprise WS
    sfdc.Url = lr.serverUrl;
    sfdc.SessionHeaderValue = new ApexSample.SFDCEnterpriseAPI.SessionHeader();
    sfdc.SessionHeaderValue.sessionId = lr.sessionId;

    // Set connection details for Apex WS
    // DO NOT SET THE apex.url, or you will get this error:
    // SoapHeaderException: No operation available for request. {http://soap.sforce.com/schemas/class/...
    apex.SessionHeaderValue = new ApexSoapWebservice.SessionHeader();
    apex.SessionHeaderValue.sessionId = lr.sessionId;

    // Now make the call to your methods
    ApexSample.ApexSoapWebservice.Account[] accounts = apex.getMyAccounts(null);
} else {
    Console.WriteLine("Your password is expired.");
    return;
}