building-omnistudio-flexcard

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name: building-omnistudio-flexcard description: "OmniStudio FlexCard creation and validation with 130-point scoring. Use when building at-a-glance UI cards, configuring data source bindings to Integration Procedures, or reviewing existing FlexCard definitions for accessibility and performance. TRIGGER when: user creates FlexCards, configures data sources, designs card layouts, or asks about OmniUiCard metadata. DO NOT TRIGGER when: building OmniScripts (use building-omnistudio-omniscript), creating Integration Procedures (use building-omnistudio-integration-procedure), or analyzing dependencies (use analyzing-omnistudio-dependencies)." metadata: version: "1.0"

building-omnistudio-flexcard: OmniStudio FlexCard Creation and Validation

Expert OmniStudio engineer specializing in FlexCard UI components for Salesforce Industries. Generate production-ready FlexCard definitions that display at-a-glance information with declarative data binding, Integration Procedure data sources, conditional rendering, and proper SLDS (Salesforce Lightning Design System) styling. All FlexCards are validated against a 130-point scoring rubric across 7 categories.

Scope

• In scope: Creating and validating OmniStudio FlexCard definitions (OmniUiCard); configuring Integration Procedure data sources; designing card layouts, states, and action buttons; scoring against the 130-point rubric; deployment and activation
• Out of scope: Building OmniScripts (use building-omnistudio-omniscript), creating Integration Procedures (use building-omnistudio-integration-procedure), mapping full dependency trees (use analyzing-omnistudio-dependencies), deploying metadata to org (use deploying-metadata)

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Core Responsibilities

1. FlexCard Authoring: Design and build FlexCard definitions with proper layout, states, and field mappings
2. Data Source Binding: Configure Integration Procedure data sources with correct field mapping and error handling
3. Test Generation: Validate cards against multiple data states (populated, empty, error, multi-record)
4. Documentation: Produce deployment-ready documentation with data source lineage and action mappings

Document Map

Need	Document	Description
Best practices	references/best-practices.md	Layout patterns, SLDS, accessibility, performance
Data binding	references/data-binding-guide.md	IP sources, field mapping, conditional rendering

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CRITICAL: Orchestration Order

FlexCards sit at the presentation layer of the OmniStudio stack. Ensure upstream components exist before building a FlexCard that depends on them.

analyzing-omnistudio-dependencies → building-omnistudio-datamapper → building-omnistudio-integration-procedure → building-omnistudio-omniscript → building-omnistudio-flexcard (you are here)

FlexCards consume data from Integration Procedures and can launch OmniScripts. Build the data layer first, then the presentation layer.

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Key Insights

Insight	Detail
Configuration fields	OmniUiCard uses DataSourceConfig for data source bindings and PropertySetConfig for card layout, states, and actions. There is NO Definition field on OmniUiCard in Core namespace.
Data source binding	Data sources bind to Integration Procedures for live data; the IP must be active and deployed before the FlexCard can retrieve data
Child card embedding	FlexCards can embed other FlexCards as child cards, enabling composite layouts with shared or independent data sources
OmniScript launching	FlexCards can launch OmniScripts via action buttons, passing context data from the card's data source into the OmniScript's input
Designer virtual object	The FlexCard Designer uses OmniFlexCardView as a virtual list object (/lightning/o/OmniFlexCardView/home), separate from the OmniUiCard sObject where card records are stored. Cards created via API may not appear in "Recently Viewed" until opened in the Designer.

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Workflow (5-Phase Pattern)

Phase 1: Requirements Gathering

Before building, clarify these with the stakeholder:

Question	Why It Matters
What is the card's purpose?	Determines layout type and data density
Which data sources are needed?	Identifies required Integration Procedures
What object context does it run in?	Determines record-level vs. list-level display
What actions should the card expose?	Drives button/link configuration and OmniScript integration
What layout best fits the use case?	Single card, list, tabbed, or flyout
Are there conditional display rules?	Fields or sections that appear/hide based on data values

Phase 2: Design & Layout

Read references/best-practices.md for layout patterns, SLDS compliance, accessibility requirements, and performance guidance before designing.

Card Layout Options

Layout Type	Use Case	Description
Single Card	Record summary	One card displaying fields from a single record
Card List	Related records	Repeating cards bound to an array data source
Tabbed Card	Multi-context	Multiple states displayed as tabs within one card
Flyout Card	Detail on demand	Expandable detail panel triggered from a summary card

Data Source Configuration

Each FlexCard data source connects to an Integration Procedure (or other source type) and maps response fields to display elements.

FlexCard → Data Source (type: IntegrationProcedure)
         → IP Name + Input Mapping
         → Response Field Mapping → Card Elements

• Map IP response fields to card display elements using {datasource.fieldName} merge syntax
• Configure input parameters to pass record context (e.g., {recordId}) to the IP
• Set data source order when multiple sources feed the same card

Action Button Design

Action Type	Purpose	Configuration
Launch OmniScript	Start a guided process	OmniScript Type + SubType, pass context params
Navigate	Go to record or URL	Record ID or URL template with merge fields
Custom Action	Platform event, LWC, etc.	Custom action handler with payload mapping

Conditional Visibility

• Show/hide fields based on data values using visibility conditions
• Show/hide entire card states based on data source results
• Display empty-state messaging when data source returns no records

Phase 3: Generation & Validation

Read references/data-binding-guide.md for merge field syntax, data source types, and multi-source coordination before generating. Read references/scoring-rubric.md for the full point-by-point breakdown when running the 130-point validation.

1. Generate the FlexCard definition JSON
2. Validate all data source references resolve to active Integration Procedures
3. Run the 130-point scoring rubric (see Scoring section below)
4. Verify merge field syntax matches IP response structure
5. Check accessibility attributes on all interactive elements

Phase 4: Deployment

1. Ensure all upstream Integration Procedures are deployed and active
2. Run a dry-run check: use the deploying-metadata skill with --dry-run before committing
3. Deploy the FlexCard metadata (OmniUiCard) — sf project deploy start is safe to re-run; it upserts existing records
4. Activate the FlexCard in the target org
5. Embed the FlexCard in the target Lightning page, OmniScript, or parent FlexCard
6. If deploy fails: check error output for specific cause — common issues: upstream IP not deployed (Cannot find OmniIntegrationProcedure), missing namespace prefix (Entity not found), or FlexCard still in Draft status (activate before retrieving)

Phase 5: Testing

Test each FlexCard against multiple data scenarios:

Scenario	What to Verify
Populated data	All fields render correctly, merge fields resolve
Empty data	Empty-state message displays, no broken merge fields
Error state	Graceful handling when IP returns an error or times out
Multi-record	Card list renders correct number of items, pagination works
Action buttons	OmniScript launches with correct pre-populated data
Conditional fields	Visibility rules toggle correctly based on data values
Mobile	Card layout adapts to smaller viewport widths

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Generation Guardrails

Avoid these patterns when generating FlexCard definitions:

Anti-Pattern	Why It's Wrong	Correct Approach
Referencing non-existent IP data sources	Card fails to load data at runtime	Verify IP exists and is active before binding
Hardcoded colors in styles	Breaks SLDS theming and dark mode	Use SLDS design tokens and CSS custom properties
Missing accessibility attributes	Fails WCAG compliance	Add aria-label, role, and keyboard handlers
Excessive nested child cards	Performance degrades with deep nesting	Limit to 2 levels of nesting; flatten where possible
Ignoring empty states	Broken UI when data source returns no records	Configure explicit empty-state messaging
Hardcoded record IDs	Card breaks across environments	Use merge fields and context-driven parameters

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Scoring Rubric (130 Points)

All FlexCards are validated against 7 categories. Thresholds: ✅ 90+ (Deploy) | ⚠️ 67-89 (Review) | ❌ <67 (Block - fix required)

Category	Points	Criteria
Design & Layout	25	Appropriate layout type, logical field grouping, responsive design, consistent spacing, clear visual hierarchy
Data Binding	20	Correct IP references, proper merge field syntax, input parameter mapping, multi-source coordination
Actions & Navigation	20	Action buttons configured correctly, OmniScript launch params mapped, navigation targets valid, action labels descriptive
Styling	20	SLDS tokens used (no hardcoded colors), consistent typography, proper use of card/tile patterns, dark mode compatible
Accessibility	15	aria-label on interactive elements, keyboard navigable actions, sufficient color contrast, screen reader friendly field labels
Testing	15	Verified with populated data, empty state, error state, multi-record scenario, and mobile viewport
Performance	15	Data source calls minimized, child card nesting limited (max 2 levels), no redundant IP calls, lazy loading for non-visible states

Read references/scoring-rubric.md for the full per-criterion breakdown of all 7 categories.

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CLI Commands

Read scripts/flexcard-commands.sh for all FlexCard CLI commands (query, retrieve, deploy). Replace <org> with your org alias and <Name> with the FlexCard API name.

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Data Source Binding

FlexCard Data Source Configuration

The DataSourceConfig field on OmniUiCard contains the data source bindings as JSON. The PropertySetConfig field contains the card layout, states, and field definitions.

IMPORTANT: There is NO Definition field on OmniUiCard in Core namespace. Use DataSourceConfig for data sources and PropertySetConfig for layout.

Read assets/omni-ui-card.json for the complete OmniUiCard record template including the DataSourceConfig JSON structure.

Data Source Types

Type	dataSource.type	When to Use
Integration Procedure	IntegrationProcedures (plural, capital P)	Primary pattern; calls an IP for live data
SOQL	SOQL	Direct query (use sparingly; prefer IP for abstraction)
Apex Remote	ApexRemote	Custom Apex class invocation
REST	REST	External API call via Named Credential
Custom	Custom	Custom data provider (pass JSON body directly)

Field Mapping from IP Response

Map IP response fields to card display elements using merge field syntax:

IP Response:                    FlexCard Merge Field:
─────────────                   ─────────────────────
{ "Name": "Acme Corp" }   →    {Name}
{ "Account": {            →    {Account.Name}
    "Name": "Acme Corp"
  }
}
{ "records": [             →    {records[0].Name}  (single)
    { "Name": "Acme" }          or iterate with Card List layout
  ]
}

Input Parameter Mapping

Pass context from the hosting page into the IP data source:

Context Variable	Source	Example
{recordId}	Current record page	Pass to IP to query related data
{userId}	Running user	Filter data by current user
{param.customKey}	URL parameter or parent card	Pass from parent FlexCard or URL

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Cross-Skill Integration

Skill	Relationship to building-omnistudio-flexcard
building-omnistudio-integration-procedure	Build the IP data sources that FlexCards consume
building-omnistudio-omniscript	Build the OmniScripts that FlexCard action buttons launch
building-omnistudio-datamapper	Build DataRaptors/DataMappers that IPs use under the hood
analyzing-omnistudio-dependencies	Analyze dependency chains across FlexCards, IPs, and OmniScripts
deploying-metadata	Deploy FlexCard metadata along with upstream dependencies
generating-lwc-components	Build custom LWC components embedded within FlexCards

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Gotchas

Scenario	Handling
Empty data	Configure an explicit empty-state with a user-friendly message; do not show raw "No data" or blank card
Error states	Display a meaningful error message when the IP data source fails; log the error for debugging
Mobile responsiveness	Use single-column layout for mobile; avoid horizontal scrolling; test at 320px viewport width
Long text values	Truncate with ellipsis and provide a flyout or tooltip for full text
Large record sets	Use card list with pagination; limit initial load to 10-25 records
Null field values	Use conditional visibility to hide fields with null values rather than showing empty labels
Mixed data freshness	When multiple data sources have different refresh rates, display a "last updated" indicator

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FlexCard vs LWC Decision Guide

Factor	FlexCard	LWC
Build method	Declarative (drag-and-drop)	Code (JS, HTML, CSS)
Data binding	Integration Procedure merge fields	Wire service, Apex, GraphQL
Best for	At-a-glance information display	Complex interactive UIs
Testing	Manual + data state verification	Jest unit tests + manual
Customization	Limited to OmniStudio framework	Full platform flexibility
Reuse	Embed as child cards	Import as child components
When to choose	Standard card layouts with IP data	Custom behavior, animations, complex state

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Dependencies

Required: Target org with OmniStudio (Industries Cloud) license, sf CLI authenticated For Data Sources: Active Integration Procedures deployed to the target org For Actions: Active OmniScripts deployed (if action buttons launch OmniScripts) Scoring: Block deployment if score < 67

Idempotency: sf project deploy start upserts metadata — safe to re-run without creating duplicates. Query first to confirm current state: see scripts/flexcard-commands.sh.

Namespace handling: In managed-package orgs, the metadata type may be prefixed (e.g., omnistudio__OmniUiCard). Check sfdx-project.json for the namespace. See scripts/flexcard-commands.sh for the namespaced deploy command.

Creating FlexCards programmatically: Use REST API (sf api request rest --method POST --body @file.json). Required fields: Name, VersionNumber, OmniUiCardType (e.g., Child). Set DataSourceConfig (JSON string) for data source bindings and PropertySetConfig (JSON string) for card layout. The sf data create record --values flag cannot handle JSON in textarea fields. Activate by updating IsActive=true after creation.

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Output Expectations

Deliverables produced by this skill:

• FlexCard JSON definition (assets/omni-ui-card.json template) — OmniUiCard record ready for REST API creation or metadata deployment
• Data source binding block — DataSourceConfig JSON mapping Integration Procedure inputs and response fields to card elements
• Card layout config — PropertySetConfig JSON defining card states, field display, conditional visibility, and action buttons
• Validation report — 130-point score across 7 categories with deploy/review/block threshold result
• Deployment checklist — confirms upstream IPs are active, FlexCard is activated, and embedded in target Lightning page or parent FlexCard

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External References

• OmniStudio FlexCards (Trailhead) — Official learning module for FlexCard fundamentals and guided setup
• OmniStudio Developer Guide — Technical reference for FlexCard metadata, data source configuration, and component properties
• Salesforce Industries Documentation — FlexCard configuration guide covering layout, states, and actions

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Reference File Index

File	When to read
assets/omni-ui-card.json	Phase 3 — Generation: OmniUiCard record template including DataSourceConfig JSON structure
references/best-practices.md	Phase 2 — Layout patterns, SLDS compliance, accessibility requirements, and performance guidance
references/data-binding-guide.md	Phase 2-3 — Data source types, merge field syntax, input parameter mapping, and multi-source coordination
references/scoring-rubric.md	Phase 3 — Full per-criterion breakdown of all 7 scoring categories (130 points)
scripts/flexcard-commands.sh	Phase 4 — All CLI commands for querying, retrieving, and deploying FlexCard metadata