Naming conventions in Salesforce OmniStudio (formerly known as Vlocity) are crucial for maintaining clarity, consistency, and scalability, especially as your configuration becomes more complex. Below, I provide a detailed analysis of best practices for naming conventions in various OmniStudio components such as DataRaptors, FlexCards, Integration Procedures, OmniScripts, and more.
1. General Principles
- Consistency: Ensure names follow the same pattern across all components to make them predictable and easier to understand.
- Clarity: Names should be descriptive enough to convey the component’s purpose or function without needing to look inside.
- Brevity: Keep names as short as possible while still being informative.
- Standardization: Adopt a common pattern that includes prefixes, suffixes, and versioning where applicable.
2. Component-Specific Naming Conventions
DataRaptors
- Prefixes: Use “DR” to denote DataRaptors.
- Functionality: Include a verb that clearly states what the DataRaptor does (e.g., Extract, Load, Transform).
- Subject: Specify the object or data entity being manipulated.
- Example: DR_Load_Account_Details_v1
FlexCards
- Prefixes: Use “FC” for FlexCards.
- Purpose: State the intended use or the main entity displayed.
- Versioning: Include versioning if multiple iterations are expected.
- Example: FC_Customer_Overview_v2
Integration Procedures
- Prefixes: Use “IP” for Integration Procedures.
- Action: Describe the process or integration flow clearly.
- System: Indicate any external systems if the procedure involves external integration.
- Example: IP_Update_OrderStatus_In_ERP
OmniScripts
- Prefixes: Use “OS” for OmniScripts.
- Type: Indicate the type (e.g., Service, Sales).
- Process: Briefly describe the business process or workflow.
- Example: OS_Service_CreateCase
Calculation Matrices and Decision Matrices
- Prefixes: Use “CM” for Calculation Matrix and “DM” for Decision Matrix.
- Purpose: Describe what decision or calculation the matrix aids.
- Example: CM_Discount_Calculation, DM_Eligibility_Check
Calculation Procedures
- Prefixes: Use “CP” for Calculation Procedures.
- Description: Clearly state what calculation is being performed.
- Example: CP_Calculate_Total_Cost
3. Environment and Versioning
- Suffixes for Environments: If components are specific to certain environments (e.g., development, testing, production), consider appending an environment identifier.
- Version Numbers: Append version numbers to track revisions and updates effectively. This is especially useful for maintaining historical context and rollback capabilities.
4. Special Considerations
- Avoid Special Characters: Use only alphanumeric characters and underscores; avoid spaces and special characters to prevent issues with URLs or integration points.
- Locale and Language: For global implementations, consider including locale or language identifiers if components are language or region-specific.
5. Documentation and Metadata
- Documentation: Maintain a document or a centralized repository that maps these naming conventions and provides examples.
- Metadata: Use descriptions and metadata fields to add more context to what the name conveys, especially for complex integrations or processes.
Implementing these naming convention best practices in Salesforce OmniStudio will help you manage components more effectively, enhance team communication, and streamline your development and maintenance processes. These conventions should be adapted and enforced according to your organization’s specific needs and standards.