Database.com Metadata API Developer's Guide - Salesforce.com

GETTING STARTEDChapter 1Understanding Metadata APIIn this chapter ...Use Metadata API to retrieve, deploy, create, update or delete customizationinformation, such as custom object definitions and page layouts, for your• Development Platformsorganization. This API is intended for managing customizations and for building• Standards Compliance tools that can manage the metadata model, not the data itself. To create, retrieve,• Metadata API Support Policy update or delete records, such as accounts or leads, use data SOAP API or• Related ResourcesREST API.The easiest way to access the functionality in Metadata API is to use theForce.com IDE or Force.com Migration Tool. These tools are built on top ofMetadata API and use the standard Eclipse and Ant tools respectively to simplifythe task of working with Metadata API. Built on the Eclipse platform, theForce.com IDE provides a comfortable environment for programmers familiarwith integrated development environments, allowing you to code, compile, test,and deploy all from within the IDE itself. The Force.com Migration Tool isideal if you want to use a script or a command-line utility for moving metadatabetween a local directory and a Database.com organization. For moreinformation about the Force.com IDE or Force.com Migration Tool, seedeveloper.force.com.The underlying calls of Metadata API have been exposed for you to use directly,if you prefer to build your own client applications. This guide gives you moreinformation about working directly with Metadata API.You can use the Metadata API to manage setup and customization information(metadata) for your organizations. For example:• Export the customizations in your organization as XML metadata files. SeeWorking with the Zip File and retrieve().• Migrate configuration changes between organizations. See deploy() andretrieve().• Modify existing customizations in your organization using XML metadatafiles. See deploy() and retrieve().• Manage customizations in your organization programmatically. SeeCRUD-Based Metadata Development.1