describeSObject()

Syntax

DescribeSObjectResult = connection.describeSObject(string sObjectType);

Usage

Use describeSObject() to obtain metadata for a given object. You can first call describeGlobal() to retrieve a list of all objects for your organization, then iterate through the list and use describeSObject() to obtain metadata about individual objects.

Your client application must be logged in with sufficient access rights to retrieve metadata about your organization’s data. For more information, see Factors that Affect Data Access.

Sample Code—Java

This sample calls describeSObject() to perform describes on the Account sObject. It retrieves some properties of the sObject describe result, such as the sObject name, label, and fields. It then iterates through the fields and gets the field properties. For picklist fields, it gets the picklist values and for reference fields, it gets the referenced object names. The sample writes the retrieved sObject and field properties to the console.

public void describeSObjectSample() {
    try {
        // Make the describe call
        DescribeSObjectResult describeSObjectResult = 
            connection.describeSObject("Account");
        
        // Get sObject metadata 
        if (describeSObjectResult != null) {
          System.out.println("sObject name: " + 
                  describeSObjectResult.getName());
        if (describeSObjectResult.isCreateable()) 
            System.out.println("Createable");              

        // Get the fields
        Field[] fields = describeSObjectResult.getFields();
        System.out.println("Has " + fields.length + " fields");
        
        // Iterate through each field and gets its properties 
        for (int i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
          Field field = fields[i];
          System.out.println("Field name: " + field.getName());
          System.out.println("Field label: " + field.getLabel());
          
          // If this is a picklist field, show the picklist values
          if (field.getType().equals(FieldType.picklist)) {
              PicklistEntry[] picklistValues = 
                  field.getPicklistValues();
              if (picklistValues != null) {
                System.out.println("Picklist values: ");
                for (int j = 0; j < picklistValues.length; j++) {
                  if (picklistValues[j].getLabel() != null) {
                    System.out.println("\tItem: " + 
                        picklistValues[j].getLabel()
                    );
                  }
                }
              }
          }

          // If a reference field, show what it references
          if (field.getType().equals(FieldType.reference)) {
              System.out.println("Field references the " +
                      "following objects:");
              String[] referenceTos = field.getReferenceTo();              
              for (int j = 0; j < referenceTos.length; j++) {
                  System.out.println("\t" + referenceTos[j]);
              }
          }	        
	    }
	  }
	} catch (ConnectionException ce) {
	    ce.printStackTrace();
    }
}

Sample Code—C#

This sample calls describeSObject() to perform describes on the Account sObject. It retrieves some properties of the sObject describe result, such as the sObject name, label, and fields. It then iterates through the fields and gets the field properties. For picklist fields, it gets the picklist values and for reference fields, it gets the referenced object names. The sample writes the retrieved sObject and field properties to the console.

public void describeSObjectSample() {
    try {
        // Make the describe call
        DescribeSObjectResult describeSObjectResult = 
            binding.describeSObject("Account");
            
        // Get sObject metadata 
        if (describeSObjectResult != null) {
            Console.WriteLine("sObject name: " + 
                    describeSObjectResult.name);
        if (describeSObjectResult.createable) 
            Console.WriteLine("Createable");              

        // Get the fields
        Field[] fields = describeSObjectResult.fields;
        Console.WriteLine("Has " + fields.Length + " fields");
            
        // Iterate through each field and gets its properties 
        for (int i = 0; i < fields.Length; i++) {
            Field field = fields[i];
            Console.WriteLine("Field name: " + field.name);
            Console.WriteLine("Field label: " + field.label);
              
            // If this is a picklist field, show the picklist values
            if (field.type.Equals(fieldType.picklist)) {
                PicklistEntry[] picklistValues = 
                    field.picklistValues;
                if (picklistValues != null) {
                    Console.WriteLine("Picklist values: ");
                    for (int j = 0; j < picklistValues.Length; j++) {
                        if (picklistValues[j].label != null) {
                        Console.WriteLine("\tItem: " + 
                            picklistValues[j].label);
                        }
                    }
                }
            }

            // If a reference field, show what it references
            if (field.type.Equals(fieldType.reference)) {
                Console.WriteLine("Field references the " +
                      "following objects:");
                String[] referenceTos = field.referenceTo;              
                for (int j = 0; j < referenceTos.Length; j++) {
                    Console.WriteLine("\t" + referenceTos[j]);
                }
            }            
        }
        }
    } catch (SoapException e) {
        Console.WriteLine("An unexpected error has occurred: " +
            e.Message + "\n" + e.StackTrace);
    }
}

Arguments

Name	Type	Description
sObjectType	string	Object. The specified value must be a valid object for your organization. For a complete list of objects, see Standard Objects.

Response

DescribeSObjectResult

Faults

InvalidSObjectFault

UnexpectedErrorFault