service-digital-engagement-deployment-configure
forcedotcom/sf-skills
Configure Embedded Messaging Deployments for Salesforce MIAW with Connect API and Metadata API.
What is service-digital-engagement-deployment-configure?
This skill configures EmbeddedServiceConfig metadata for Salesforce Messaging for In-App and Web (MIAW). Use it when creating new embedded messaging deployments from scratch or updating existing deployment settings like forms, branding, and channel configuration. It generates Connect API payloads for new Web deployments and Metadata API XML for API/Mobile types and updates.
- Create new Embedded Service Deployments (API, Mobile, Web types) with sensible defaults
- Generate EmbeddedServiceConfig XML metadata for deployment creation and updates
- Configure messaging channel settings, pre-chat forms, and business hours
- Apply branding customization and proactive chat invitations for Web deployments
- Retrieve and modify existing deployments via Metadata API
How to install service-digital-engagement-deployment-configure
npx skills add https://github.com/forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill service-digital-engagement-deployment-configure- Salesforce org with API version 67.0 or higher
- sf CLI version 2.0.0 or higher
- Python 3.8 or higher
- Existing messaging channel (created via service-digital-engagement-channel-configure)
- For Web deployments: existing Experience Site
How to use service-digital-engagement-deployment-configure
- 1.Verify your org's API version is 67.0+ by running the provided check script
- 2.Determine whether you are creating a new deployment or updating an existing one
- 3.Gather required inputs: deployment name, type (API/Mobile/Web), and associated channel name
- 4.For create operations: generate EmbeddedServiceConfig XML or Connect API payload based on deployment type
- 5.For update operations: retrieve the current deployment metadata, then apply configuration changes (forms, branding, invitations)
- 6.Review generated output and deploy using Metadata API or Connect API as appropriate
- 7.Publish the deployment to make it live, then generate the JavaScript code snippet for website integration
Use cases
- Set up a new embedded chat widget for a website using Web deployment type
- Configure pre-chat forms and business hours for an existing in-app messaging deployment
- Update branding colors and invitation conditions on a live Web deployment
- Create a headless API deployment for custom messaging integrations
- Add delivery receipts, typing indicators, and read receipts to an existing channel configuration
- Salesforce Service Cloud administrators
- Digital engagement specialists
- Messaging platform implementers
- Developers integrating MIAW into custom applications
service-digital-engagement-deployment-configure FAQ
Create generates a new EmbeddedServiceConfig from scratch with defaults; update modifies an existing deployment's settings like forms, branding, and channel features. Web deployments require Connect API for initial creation due to circular dependencies with Experience Sites.
Use this skill to configure the deployment (widget setup, forms, branding). Use service-digital-engagement-channel-configure to create the underlying messaging channel that the deployment references.
Deploy the XML via Metadata API (for API/Mobile) or follow Connect API instructions (for Web), then publish the deployment to make it live, and finally generate the JavaScript code snippet for website embedding.
Yes. For branding overrides beyond defaults, use the Tooling API to update individual BrandingSet properties. See references/branding_and_tooling.md for detailed steps.
Enable invitations in the messaging channel settings, define invitation conditions with sequence numbers and formulas, then update the deployment metadata with the condition rules.
Full instructions (SKILL.md)
Source of truth, from forcedotcom/sf-skills.
name: service-digital-engagement-deployment-configure description: "Configures Embedded Messaging Deployments for Messaging for In-App and Web (MIAW). Use when the user needs to create a new embedded messaging deployment from scratch using Connect API with defaults, or update an existing deployment's settings using Metadata API. Produces Connect API request payloads for new deployments and EmbeddedServiceConfig metadata XML for updates. TRIGGER when the user mentions embedded messaging deployment, embedded service deployment, MIAW deployment, messaging widget setup, chat widget configuration, embedded chat deployment, or references a .EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xml file. DO NOT TRIGGER when the user is creating a messaging channel (use service-digital-engagement-channel-configure), configuring legacy Live Agent embedded service, or generating the JavaScript code snippet for website embedding." metadata: version: "1.0" domains: ["Service"] minApiVersion: "67.0" relatedSkills: - "automation-flow-generate" - "platform-permission-set-generate" - "service-digital-engagement-channel-configure" cliTools: - tool: ["python3"] semver: ">=3.8" - tool: ["sf"] semver: ">=2.0.0"
Configuring Embedded Messaging Deployment
Configures EmbeddedServiceConfig metadata for Salesforce Messaging for In-App and Web (MIAW). Supports two distinct workflows: creating new deployments via Connect API and updating existing deployments via Metadata API.
Scope
- In scope: Creating new Embedded Service Deployments (API, Mobile, Web types) via Connect API; updating existing deployments with forms, branding, channel settings, and features via Metadata API; generating
EmbeddedServiceConfigXML for updates - Out of scope: Creating the messaging channel itself (use
service-digital-engagement-channel-configure), publishing deployments (Connect API post-step), creating Experience Sites (Connect API prerequisite for Web type)
Clarifying Questions
Before generating, ask the user if not already clear:
- Create or update? Are you creating a new deployment or updating an existing one?
- Deployment type? API (headless), Mobile (native apps), or Web (browser widget)?
- Channel name? What is the
channelPlatformKeyof the messaging channel to associate? - For create: What should the deployment be named?
- For update: What features to configure? (pre-chat forms, business hours, T&C, UI toggles)
- For update (Web): What is the Experience Site name? Branding overrides needed?
Required Inputs
Gather or infer before proceeding:
- Operation:
createorupdate - Deployment type:
API,Mobile, orWeb - Deployment name: Used for
masterLabeland the API name - Channel name: The
channelPlatformKeyof the associated messaging channel
For update operations additionally:
- Site name (Web only): The Experience Site name (format
ESW_<name>_<timestamp>) - Branding name (optional): Reference to existing
BrandingSet - Pre-chat form fields (optional): Field names and required status
- Business hours (optional): Name of existing
BusinessHoursrecord
Defaults unless specified:
isEnabled:truedeploymentFeature:EmbeddedMessaging
Workflow
All steps are sequential. Do not skip or reorder. Branch based on the operation type.
Phase 1 — Gather Context
-
Verify org API version — run
scripts/check-api-version.sh 67.0 <org-alias>and report any errors it returns. If the script fails, generate asfdx-project.jsonin the metadata output folder with"sourceApiVersion": "67.0". -
Determine operation — ask whether the user wants to create a new deployment or update an existing one.
-
Collect inputs — gather deployment name, type, and channel name per Clarifying Questions above.
-
Read deployment settings reference — load
references/deployment_settings.mdto understand all available configuration options.
Phase 2A — Create New Deployment
Use this path when the operation is create.
-
Determine API method by type:
Deployment Type Creation Method Prerequisites API Metadata API deploy Channel must exist Mobile Metadata API deploy Channel must exist Web Connect API Channel must exist + Experience Site required -
For API/Mobile types — read the template
assets/esd_api_mobile_template.xmland generate theEmbeddedServiceConfigXML with:deploymentTypeset toAPIorMobiledeploymentFeatureset toEmbeddedMessaging- All defaults applied
-
For Web type — inform the user that Web deployments require Connect API for initial creation because of a circular dependency between Network and CustomSite. Read
references/connect_api_creation.mdfor the Connect API payload and instructions. -
Generate output — produce the
.EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xmlfile (for API/Mobile) or Connect API instructions (for Web). -
Present output and next steps — show the generated file and summarize what was configured. Recommend as next steps:
- Publish the deployment via Connect API to make it live:
To obtain thesf api request rest "/services/data/v67.0/connect/embeddedservice/embeddedserviceconfig/publish/<EMBEDDED_SERVICE_CONFIG_ID>" -X POST -o <org-alias>EMBEDDED_SERVICE_CONFIG_ID:sf data query --query "SELECT Id FROM EmbeddedServiceConfig WHERE DeveloperName = '<DEPLOYMENT_NAME>'" --target-org <org-alias> - Generate code snippet for integration — see
references/code_snippet.md
- Publish the deployment via Connect API to make it live:
Phase 2B — Update Existing Deployment (Metadata API)
Use this path when the operation is update.
-
Retrieve the existing deployment — retrieve the current
EmbeddedServiceConfigmetadata from the org before making changes:sf project retrieve start --metadata EmbeddedServiceConfig:<DEPLOYMENT_NAME> --target-org <org-alias>Use the retrieved file as the starting structure. If retrieval is not possible, load
assets/esd_web_update_template.xmlas a fallback reference. -
Apply messaging channel settings — configure
<embeddedServiceMessagingChannel>with:messagingChannel— the channel'schannelPlatformKeyshouldShowAgentforceTagline— Agentforce brandingshouldShowDeliveryReceipts— delivery receiptsshouldShowEmojiSelection— emoji pickershouldShowReadReceipts— read receiptsshouldShowTypingIndicators— typing indicatorsshouldStartNewLineOnEnter— Enter key behaviorisChatInvitationCustomizable/isInvitationEnabled— chat invitation settings
-
Apply pre-chat forms — if the user needs pre-chat data collection, generate
<embeddedServiceForms>with<embeddedServiceFormFields>elements containingembeddedServiceFormFieldNameandisRequired. -
Apply branding customization (Web only) — a BrandingSet is automatically created with defaults when the deployment is created via Connect API. If the user wants to override specific branding properties (colors, fonts, dimensions), read
references/branding_and_tooling.mdfor the Tooling API steps to update individual properties. -
Apply invitation (Web only) — if the user wants the widget to proactively invite visitors based on conditions:
- Set
isInvitationEnabledtotruein<embeddedServiceMessagingChannel> - Generate repeatable
<embdMsgChannelInvitationConditions>elements withsequence,conditionType,operand,value, and optionallycustomVariableName - Update the
formulafield in<embeddedServiceMessagingChannel>to reference the condition sequences (e.g.,1 AND 2,1 OR 2). The formula must be updated whenever conditions are added or removed to stay in sync with thesequencenumbers - See
references/deployment_settings.mdfor available condition types and operators
- Set
-
Apply additional settings:
isTermsAndConditionsEnabled/isTermsAndConditionsRequired— T&C in pre-chat- Do NOT update
site— the site name is auto-generated during creation and must never be modified
-
Generate the file — produce the
.EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xmlfile at the path the user specifies, or default toEmbeddedServiceConfig/in the project's metadata source path. -
Present output and next steps — show the generated file and summarize what was configured. Recommend as next steps:
- Publish the deployment via Connect API to make changes live:
To obtain thesf api request rest "/services/data/v67.0/connect/embeddedservice/embeddedserviceconfig/publish/<EMBEDDED_SERVICE_CONFIG_ID>" -X POST -o <org-alias>EMBEDDED_SERVICE_CONFIG_ID:sf data query --query "SELECT Id FROM EmbeddedServiceConfig WHERE DeveloperName = '<DEPLOYMENT_NAME>'" --target-org <org-alias> - Generate code snippet for integration — see
references/code_snippet.md
- Publish the deployment via Connect API to make changes live:
Phase 3 — Validate
- Verify against checklist — confirm all items in the Verification Checklist below pass.
Rules / Constraints
| Constraint | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Always retrieve existing deployment before updating | Ensures current settings are preserved and only intended changes are applied |
deploymentType must be API, Mobile, or Web | Platform rejects other values |
Never update the site field on a Web deployment | Site name is auto-generated at creation and must not be changed |
| Web deployments cannot be created via Metadata API | Circular dependency between Network and CustomSite — use Connect API |
embeddedServiceMessagingChannelName must reference an existing channel | Deployment fails if channel doesn't exist |
site field required for Web type updates | Web widget must be associated with an Experience Site |
| BrandingSet is auto-created with defaults by Connect API | To override branding properties, use Tooling API — see references/branding_and_tooling.md |
| Pre-chat form fields must reference valid channel custom parameters | ChoiceList fields need the parameter deployed on the channel first |
File extension is .EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xml | Metadata API uses this specific extension |
Do not hardcode file paths — respect sfdx-project.json package directories | Customer orgs customize source paths |
| Never include deploy/push commands in generated output | This skill produces artifacts only |
| Publish step (Connect API) required after Web ESD updates | Changes are not live until published |
Gotchas
| Issue | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Web ESD creation fails via Metadata API | Web type requires Connect API for initial creation; use Metadata API only for updates |
| Site name not found | Site must exist before Web ESD update; format is ESW_<name>_<timestamp> |
| Branding overrides not applied | Use Tooling API to update individual BrandingSet properties after the deployment is created |
| Pre-chat ChoiceList not showing | ChoiceList requires two-step deploy: create ChoiceList first, then assign to form field |
| Changes not appearing in widget | Web ESDs must be published via Connect API after any update |
embeddedServiceFlowConfig.enabled error | Set to false unless you specifically need embedded flows (not routing flows) |
| reCAPTCHA configuration rejected | reCAPTCHA is @HideInWsdl — must use Tooling API |
| Business hours not taking effect | Only updating existing business hours works; creation is managed separately |
| Deploy fails with "required field missing" or "upsert failed null" | All attributes are mandatory: boolean fields in embeddedServiceMessagingChannel (include all even with default false), and all form field attributes (formField, formFieldType, isHidden, isRequired, displayOrder, messagingChannelParameterType) |
| Standard pre-chat field not found | Use _ prefix for standard fields in formField: _FirstName, _LastName, _Email, _Subject |
Verification Checklist
Universal Checks
- Is
deploymentTypeone ofAPI,Mobile, orWeb? - Is
masterLabelpopulated and unique? - Does
messagingChannelreference an existing channel? - Is
deploymentFeatureset toEmbeddedMessaging? - Is
isEnabledset totrue?
Web Type Checks
- Is
sitepopulated with the Experience Site name? - If branding is configured, does
embeddedServiceBrandingNamereference an existing BrandingSet? - Are pre-chat form field names valid (match channel custom parameters)?
- If
isInvitationEnabledistrue, isformulapopulated and consistent with allsequencenumbers in<embdMsgChannelInvitationConditions>?
API/Mobile Type Checks
- Is
siteUrlempty (no site needed)? - Is
deploymentTypecorrectly set toAPIorMobile?
Post-Deploy Checks
- Is user reminded to publish (Connect API) for Web deployments?
- Is user reminded to activate components (Tooling API) if messaging components were deployed?
Output Expectations
Deliverables:
- For API/Mobile create:
<source-path>/EmbeddedServiceConfig/<DeploymentName>.EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xml - For Web create: Connect API payload and instructions (no XML file)
- For update:
<source-path>/EmbeddedServiceConfig/<DeploymentName>.EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xml
File structure follows the templates in assets/.
Cross-Skill Integration
| Need | Delegate to |
|---|---|
| Creating the messaging channel | service-digital-engagement-channel-configure skill |
| Creating Omni-Channel routing flows | automation-flow-generate skill |
| Creating permission sets for agents | platform-permission-set-generate skill |
Reference File Index
| File | When to read |
|---|---|
assets/esd_api_mobile_template.xml | Before generating API or Mobile type deployments |
assets/esd_web_update_template.xml | Before generating Web type updates |
references/deployment_settings.md | When configuring deployment options beyond defaults |
references/connect_api_creation.md | When creating Web type deployments (Connect API required) |
references/branding_and_tooling.md | When user asks about branding configuration |
references/code_snippet.md | When user wants the JavaScript embed code snippet for their website |
scripts/check-api-version.sh | Phase 1 — verify org API version meets the passed minimum (67.0) |
examples/esd_api.xml | To verify output for API type deployment |
examples/esd_mobile.xml | To verify output for Mobile type deployment |
examples/esd_web_full.xml | To verify output for fully configured Web deployment |
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