generating-mermaid-diagrams

---

name: generating-mermaid-diagrams description: "Salesforce architecture diagrams using Mermaid with ASCII fallback. Use this skill when generating text-based diagrams for Salesforce architecture, OAuth flows, ERDs, integration sequences, or Agentforce structure. TRIGGER when: user says "diagram", "visualize", "ERD", or asks for sequence diagrams, flowcharts, class diagrams, or architecture visualizations in Mermaid. DO NOT TRIGGER when: user wants PNG/SVG image output (use generating-visual-diagrams), or asks about non-Salesforce systems." compatibility: "Requires Mermaid-capable renderer for diagram previews" metadata: version: "1.0"

generating-mermaid-diagrams: Salesforce Diagram Generation

Use this skill when the user needs text-based diagrams: Mermaid diagrams for architecture, OAuth, integration flows, ERDs, or Agentforce structure, plus ASCII fallback when plain-text compatibility matters.

Scope

In Scope

Use generating-mermaid-diagrams when the user wants:

• Mermaid output
• ASCII fallback diagrams
• architecture, sequence, flowchart, or ERD views in markdown-friendly form
• diagrams that can live directly in docs, READMEs, or issues

Out of Scope — Delegate elsewhere when the user wants:

• rendered PNG/SVG images or polished mockups → generating-visual-diagrams
• non-Salesforce systems only → use a more general diagramming skill
• object discovery before an ERD → generating-custom-object or generating-custom-field

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Supported Diagram Families

Type	Preferred Mermaid form	Typical use
OAuth / auth flows	sequenceDiagram	Authorization Code, JWT, PKCE, Device Flow
ERD / data model	flowchart LR	object relationships and sharing context
integration sequence	sequenceDiagram	request/response or event choreography
system landscape	flowchart	high-level architecture
role / access hierarchy	flowchart	users, profiles, permissions
Agentforce behavior map	flowchart	agent → topic → action relationships

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Required Context to Gather First

Ask for or infer:

• diagram type
• scope and entities / systems involved
• output preference: Mermaid only, ASCII only, or both
• whether styling should be minimal, documentation-first, or presentation-friendly
• for ERDs: whether org metadata is available for grounding

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Recommended Workflow

1. Pick the right diagram structure

• use sequenceDiagram for time-ordered interactions
• use flowchart LR for ERDs and capability maps
• keep a single primary story per diagram when possible

2. Gather data

For ERDs and grounded diagrams:

• use generating-custom-object or generating-custom-field when real schema discovery is needed
• optionally use the local metadata helper script for counts / relationship context when appropriate

3. Generate Mermaid first

Apply:

• accurate labels
• simple readable node text
• consistent relationship notation
• restrained styling that renders cleanly in markdown viewers

4. Add ASCII fallback when useful

Provide an ASCII version when the user wants terminal compatibility or plaintext documentation.

5. Explain the diagram briefly

Call out the key relationships, flow direction, and any assumptions.

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High-Signal Rules

For sequence diagrams

• use autonumber when step order matters
• distinguish requests vs responses clearly
• use notes sparingly for protocol detail

For ERDs

• prefer flowchart LR
• keep object cards simple
• use clear relationship arrows
• avoid field overload unless the user explicitly asks for field-level detail
• color-code object types only when it improves readability

For ASCII output

• keep width reasonable
• align arrows and boxes consistently
• optimize for readability over decoration

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Output Format

## <Diagram Title>

### Mermaid Diagram
```mermaid
<diagram>
```

### ASCII Fallback
```text
<ascii>
```

### Notes
- <key point>
- <assumption or limitation>

---

Cross-Skill Integration

Need	Delegate to	Reason
real object / field definitions	generating-custom-object / generating-custom-field	grounded ERD generation
rendered diagram / image output	generating-visual-diagrams	visual polish beyond Mermaid
connected-app auth setup context	configuring-connected-apps	accurate OAuth flows
Agentforce logic visualization	developing-agentforce	source-of-truth behavior details
Flow behavior diagrams	generating-flow	actual Flow logic grounding

---

Gotchas

Issue	Resolution
Mermaid renderer not available	Provide ASCII fallback automatically; note that the Mermaid block still carries the diagram for copy-paste into a renderer
ERD becomes unreadable with too many objects	Split into sub-diagrams by domain (Sales, Service, etc.) and link them in prose
Sequence diagram step order unclear	Use autonumber directive to make step ordering explicit
OAuth flow actors differ by grant type	Read the relevant asset template first before generating to avoid actor mismatch

---

Reference File Index

Conventions & rules — read before generating

• references/diagram-conventions.md — consistency rules for all diagram types
• references/mermaid-reference.md — Mermaid syntax quick reference
• references/usage-examples.md — worked examples per diagram type

Styling

• references/mermaid-styling.md — theming and annotation patterns
• references/color-palette.md — color-blind-friendly palette with hex values
• references/erd-conventions.md — ERD-specific layout and notation rules

Preview

• references/preview-guide.md — how to render Mermaid locally
• scripts/README.md — setup and usage instructions for all scripts in this skill
• scripts/mermaid_preview.py — live-reload preview server; run to preview diagrams in browser
• scripts/query-org-metadata.py — queries org schema to ground ERD generation

OAuth flow templates — load the matching template when generating OAuth diagrams

• assets/oauth/authorization-code.md — Authorization Code grant
• assets/oauth/authorization-code-pkce.md — PKCE variant for mobile/SPA
• assets/oauth/jwt-bearer.md — JWT Bearer server-to-server
• assets/oauth/client-credentials.md — Client Credentials service accounts
• assets/oauth/device-authorization.md — Device Flow for CLI/IoT
• assets/oauth/refresh-token.md — Refresh Token renewal flow
• assets/oauth/user-agent-social-sign-on.md — User-Agent / Social Sign-On

Data model ERD templates — load the matching template when generating ERDs

• assets/datamodel/salesforce-erd.md — core Salesforce objects
• assets/datamodel/sales-cloud-erd.md — Sales Cloud objects
• assets/datamodel/service-cloud-erd.md — Service Cloud objects
• assets/datamodel/b2b-commerce-erd.md — B2B Commerce objects
• assets/datamodel/campaigns-erd.md — Campaigns and campaign member model
• assets/datamodel/consent-erd.md — Consent and privacy objects
• assets/datamodel/files-erd.md — Files and ContentDocument model
• assets/datamodel/forecasting-erd.md — Forecasting objects
• assets/datamodel/fsl-erd.md — Field Service Lightning objects
• assets/datamodel/party-model-erd.md — Party model objects
• assets/datamodel/quote-order-erd.md — Quote and Order objects
• assets/datamodel/revenue-cloud-erd.md — Revenue Cloud objects
• assets/datamodel/scheduler-erd.md — Scheduler objects
• assets/datamodel/territory-management-erd.md — Territory Management objects

Other diagram templates

• assets/architecture/system-landscape.md — system landscape overview template
• assets/integration/api-sequence.md — API callout sequence template
• assets/agentforce/agent-flow.md — Agentforce agent → topic → action flow
• assets/role-hierarchy/user-hierarchy.md — role and permission hierarchy template

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Output Expectations

Deliverables produced by this skill for each request:

• Mermaid code block — fenced ```mermaid block ready to paste into GitHub, Confluence, or any Mermaid-capable renderer
• ASCII fallback (when requested or when Mermaid renderer is unavailable) — text-only diagram using box/arrow characters
• Brief explanation — 2-5 bullet points calling out key relationships, flow direction, and any assumptions or limitations in the diagram
• For ERDs: object cards with field labels and relationship type annotations
• For sequence diagrams: numbered steps (autonumber) with clear actor labels

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Score Guide

Score	Meaning
72–80	production-ready diagram
60–71	clear and useful with minor polish left
48–59	functional but could be clearer
35–47	needs structural improvement
< 35	inaccurate or incomplete