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 EmbeddedServiceConfig XML for updates
• Out of scope: Creating the messaging channel itself (use service-digital-engagement-channel-configure), generating the website code snippet (offered only as a next step, see references/code_snippet.md), creating Experience Sites (Connect API prerequisite for Web type)

---

Entry points and transport

• Delegated (context.calledFrom == "service-onboarding"): use the approved values, ask nothing, and return failed naming any missing required key. Standalone (no context): run Clarifying Questions.
• Transport A (primary): headless-360 MCP dispatch / dispatch_readonly on /services/data/vXX.0/headless/metadata. Transport B: the sf commands below, only where a probe shows Transport A unavailable. Exception: Web create always uses the sf CLI (step 17a).

Details: references/onboarding_contract.md (§1 entry points, §2 transport, §3 pre-scan, §5 result).

---

Clarifying Questions

Before generating, ask the user if not already clear (standalone only):

• 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 channelPlatformKey of 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 pre-chat (if requested): the questions in references/prechat_forms.md §Inputs to Gather
• For update (Web): What is the Experience Site name? Branding overrides needed?

---

Required Inputs

Gather or infer before proceeding:

• Operation: create or update
• Deployment type: API, Mobile, or Web
• Deployment name: Used as masterLabel. Derive the API name (fullName / DeveloperName, Connect name) from it: replace each run of characters other than letters and digits with _, then trim leading/trailing _ (Acme Support Chat → Acme_Support_Chat). The result must match ^[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]*$. Use the API name for every lookup and write
• Channel name: The channelPlatformKey of 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): see references/prechat_forms.md §Inputs to Gather
• Business hours (optional): Name of existing BusinessHours record

Defaults unless specified:

• isEnabled: true
• deploymentFeature: EmbeddedMessaging

---

Workflow

All steps are sequential. Do not skip or reorder. Branch based on the operation type.

Phase 1 — Gather Context

1. 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 a sfdx-project.json in the metadata output folder with "sourceApiVersion": "67.0".

2. Determine operation — standalone: ask whether the user wants to create a new deployment or update an existing one. Delegated: taken from values.operation, then confirmed by the pre-scan (step 4a).

3. Collect inputs — standalone: per Clarifying Questions. Delegated: from values (deploymentName, deploymentType, channelName required).

3a. Probe transport — read-only GET of EmbeddedServiceConfig (contract §2).

4. Read deployment settings reference — load references/deployment_settings.md to understand all available configuration options.

4a. Pre-scan — look up the deployment by its derived API name (contract §3): none → create (Phase 2A); matches → no write, already-configured, skip to Phase 3; differs → update (Phase 2B), announce each change (standalone: ask first); linked to a different channel → standalone: ask before repointing, delegated: failed. Standalone, deployment exists: offer exactly three choices — no change / override / add to existing.

Phase 2A — Create New Deployment

Use this path when the operation is create.

5. Determine API method by type — API/Mobile: Metadata API deploy. Web: Connect API (creates the Experience Site). All types need the channel to exist.

6. For API/Mobile types — read the template assets/esd_api_mobile_template.xml and generate the EmbeddedServiceConfig XML with:

   • deploymentType set to API or Mobile
   • deploymentFeature set to EmbeddedMessaging
   • All defaults applied

7. 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.md for the Connect API payload and instructions.

8. Generate output — produce the .EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xml file (for API/Mobile) or Connect API instructions (for Web).

9. Present output and next steps — as in step 17.

Phase 2B — Update Existing Deployment (Metadata API)

Use this path when the operation is update.

10. Retrieve the existing deployment — take the current EmbeddedServiceConfig from the org before making changes. Transport A: the xmlRep from the step 3a/4a GET. Transport B:

    sf project retrieve start --metadata EmbeddedServiceConfig:<DEPLOYMENT_NAME> --target-org <org-alias>
    

    Copy

    Use it as the starting structure — the update is always a full document (see Rules). If retrieval is not possible, load assets/esd_web_update_template.xml as a fallback reference.

11. Apply messaging channel settings — in <embeddedServiceMessagingChannel> set messagingChannel (the channel's channelPlatformKey) and the UI toggles (shouldShow*, shouldStartNewLineOnEnter, invitation flags). Include every boolean, even when false; full list in references/deployment_settings.md. Leave each shouldShow* / shouldStartNewLineOnEnter at its retrieved value (default false if nothing was retrieved); set one to true only when the user explicitly asks for that feature — never infer it from an example.

12. Apply pre-chat forms — pre-chat is OFF by default: omit <embeddedServiceForms> unless the user asks to collect data before the conversation. If they do, read references/prechat_forms.md first and follow it (field attributes, hidden fields, ChoiceList, displayNameFormat, deactivate vs. remove).

    • Before generating, run the checks in its §Validating and Remediating Prerequisites against the retrieved channel. Channel fixes go through service-digital-engagement-channel-configure; never hand-edit the channel here.
    • Delta to graft onto a base deployment: examples/esd_web_prechat_fields.xml.

13. 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.md for the Tooling API steps to update individual properties.

14. Apply invitation (Web only) — set isInvitationEnabled to true, add <embdMsgChannelInvitationConditions> (fields and operators in references/deployment_settings.md), and keep formula (e.g. 1 AND 2) in sync with the condition sequence numbers whenever conditions change.

15. Apply additional settings:

    • isTermsAndConditionsEnabled / isTermsAndConditionsRequired — T&C in pre-chat
    • site — Web: the retrieved value, unchanged (see Rules); omit for API/Mobile

16. Generate the file — produce the .EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xml file at the path the user specifies, or default to EmbeddedServiceConfig/ in the project's metadata source path.

17. Present output and next steps — show the generated file and summarize what was configured. Recommend as next steps:

    • Publish (Web) — only after the user approves, per step 17c
    • Generate code snippet for integration — see references/code_snippet.md

Phase 2C — Apply to the org

Runs for both Phase 2A and 2B, except when the pre-scan returned already-configured. Standalone: confirm before writing. Delegated: the plan approval is the confirmation; still announce each write.

17a. Write the deployment — - Web create: Connect API (see references/connect_api_creation.md) via sf api request rest — always, not dispatch (MCP dispatch fails with INTERNAL_ERROR during site creation). - API/Mobile create: Transport A POST EmbeddedServiceConfig (body carries type, fullName, xmlRep); Transport B sf project deploy start. - Update: Transport A PUT of the full document; Transport B sf project deploy start. Check results[].success, not just HTTP status. On failure stop and report the step — no silent retry.

17b. Re-read and diff — GET the component again and confirm every intended field landed and no inline block (embeddedServiceMessagingChannel, forms) was dropped.

17c. Publish (Web only) — never automatic. Publishing makes the changes live to customers; the deploy only saves a draft. After 17b, stop: summarize what changed, give the plain Setup link <instanceUrl>/lightning/setup/EmbeddedServiceDeployments/<EmbeddedServiceConfigId>/view so the user can review the draft, and ask whether to publish now. Publish only on an explicit yes in that turn (a "publish" in the original request does not count). Then dispatch POST on the fully-qualified publish path; if it returns a path/route error, or on Transport B, run the sf publish command from references/connect_api_creation.md. Delegated: do not publish; return published: false. Note: a Web create via Connect API publishes by itself (isPublishSuccess: true); say so in the plan before creating.

Phase 3 — Validate

18. Verify against checklist — confirm all items in the Verification Checklist below pass.

19. Report — delegated: return the contract §5 result. Standalone: the same outcome in plain language.

---

Rules / Constraints

---

Gotchas

---

Verification Checklist

Universal Checks

• Is deploymentType one of API, Mobile, or Web?
• Is masterLabel populated and unique?
• Does messagingChannel reference an existing channel?
• Is deploymentFeature set to EmbeddedMessaging?
• Is isEnabled set to true?

Web Type Checks

• Is site populated with the Experience Site name?
• If branding is configured, does embeddedServiceBrandingName reference an existing BrandingSet?
• Pre-chat (if configured): does every item in the references/prechat_forms.md Verification Checklist pass?
• If isInvitationEnabled is true, is formula populated and consistent with all sequence numbers in <embdMsgChannelInvitationConditions>?

API/Mobile Type Checks

• Is siteUrl empty (no site needed)?
• Is deploymentType correctly set to API or Mobile?

Post-Deploy Checks

• Web: did you stop before publishing, give the review link, and publish only after the user's explicit yes? Is the user reminded to activate any deployed messaging components (Tooling API)?

---

Output Expectations

Deliverables:

• API/Mobile create, and any update: <source-path>/EmbeddedServiceConfig/<DeploymentName>.EmbeddedServiceConfig-meta.xml
• Web create: Connect API payload and instructions (no XML file)

File structure follows the templates in assets/.

---

Cross-Skill Integration

---

Reference File Index