Metadata Type: DigitalExperienceBundle

Introduction

The DigitalExperienceBundle is a metadata type introduced by Salesforce to provide a text-based code structure for organizing and managing digital experience workspaces. This metadata type is specifically designed for enhanced Lightning Web Runtime (LWR) sites created in Winter '23 (API version 56.0) or later. DigitalExperienceBundle, along with its companion type DigitalExperienceConfig, offers Salesforce administrators and developers a powerful tool for programmatically creating, updating, publishing, and deploying digital experience sites.

Key Features and Components

DigitalExperienceBundle uses workspaces and content types to organize data in a content-focused structure. The main components of this metadata type include:

• Workspace: A collection of related content items that form the site when combined with data from the DigitalExperienceConfig metadata type.
• Workspace Type: A categorization of different kinds of workspaces. For enhanced LWR sites, the workspace type is 'site'.
• Content Types: Categories of different kinds of content within a workspace. For example, 'sfdc_cms__route' for all routes in an enhanced LWR site.

File Structure and Organization

DigitalExperienceBundle components have the suffix .digitalExperience and are stored in the digitalExperiences folder. The folder structure is organized by workspace type, with all workspaces of a given type grouped together. This organization allows for easy management and retrieval of specific content items within a digital experience site.

Deployment Considerations and Best Practices

While DigitalExperienceBundle offers significant advantages for managing digital experiences, Salesforce administrators should be aware of potential deployment issues and follow best practices to ensure smooth implementation:

1. Version Compatibility

DigitalExperienceBundle is available in API version 56.0 and later. Ensure that both the source and target orgs are running compatible Salesforce versions to avoid deployment errors.

2. Enabling Digital Experiences

Before deploying DigitalExperienceBundle, make sure that Digital Experiences are enabled in both the source and target orgs. This includes checking the "Enable Digital Experiences" box and the "Enable ExperienceBundle Metadata API" option in the Experience Management Settings.

3. Partial Deployments

One of the advantages of DigitalExperienceBundle is the ability to perform partial deployments. Administrators can deploy specific changes to a digital experience site without deploying the entire site. This feature allows for more granular control and faster iterations.

4. Backup and Version Control

Before making changes or deploying DigitalExperienceBundle components, it's crucial to create backups of the existing site folder. Utilizing version control systems can help track changes and facilitate collaboration among team members.

5. Metadata Composition

When deploying a digital experience site, ensure that all required metadata types are included in the deployment package. This typically includes Network, CustomSite, DigitalExperienceBundle, and DigitalExperienceConfig components.

6. Handling Dependencies

Be mindful of dependencies between components. Examine the XML files, especially for CustomSite, to ensure all necessary dependencies are included in the deployment.

7. Unique Names and URL Prefixes

Each digital experience site has a unique name and URL path prefix. When retrieving or deploying network components, be aware that file names are based on the network name. Changing site names in sandboxes can lead to deployment errors if not properly managed.

Common Deployment Issues and Solutions

Despite best practices, administrators may encounter deployment issues with DigitalExperienceBundle. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

1. Validation Errors

Errors related to invalid urlPathPrefix or missing components can occur. To resolve these, ensure that all required components are included in the deployment package and that URL prefixes are correctly specified.

2. ID Reference Issues

Sometimes, ID values can become invalid when deployed to a destination org. To mitigate this, verify that ID values are correct in the destination org and consider using the "Treat warnings as errors" deployment setting.

3. Navigation Menu Errors

Errors related to missing navigation menus can occur due to differences in the number of Experience Sites between orgs. Updating the Developer Names of standard Navigation Menus in the target org can resolve this issue.

4. Component Attribute Validation Errors

Errors in validating component attributes, such as missing QuickActionName values, may occur. Resolve these by ensuring all required attributes are properly set and that necessary permissions and configurations are in place in the target org.

Conclusion

DigitalExperienceBundle represents a significant advancement in managing and deploying Salesforce digital experiences. By providing a text-based, content-focused structure, it offers administrators and developers greater flexibility and control over their digital experience sites. While deployment can present challenges, following best practices and understanding common issues can lead to successful implementations. As Salesforce continues to evolve its digital experience capabilities, mastering DigitalExperienceBundle becomes increasingly valuable for organizations looking to create and manage sophisticated, customized digital experiences.