Dependencies Explorer¶
Overview¶
The Dependencies Explorer page allows users to analyze Salesforce metadata dependencies. It reveals what a metadata item depends on and what references it, helping with impact analysis, migration planning, and understanding complex relationships across your org.
Key Features¶
- Bidirectional Analysis: View both "Depends On" (what your metadata requires) and "Referenced By" (what uses your metadata) directions.
- Multiple View Modes: Switch between a Quick Summary (deduplicated flat list) and a Dependency Tree (hierarchical parent-child relationships).
- Package.xml Generation: Export dependencies as a
package.xmlfile for deployment. - Text Export: Generate a detailed summary report with type breakdowns and counts.
- Salesforce Links: Navigate directly to metadata items in Salesforce Setup.
- External Package Filtering: Option to exclude managed/external package items from the dropdown.
- JSON Debug View: Inspect raw dependency data in JSON format.
Supported Metadata Types¶
The Dependencies Explorer supports 20 metadata types across several categories:
| Category | Types |
|---|---|
| Code | Apex Classes, Apex Triggers |
| UI (Classic) | Visualforce Pages, Visualforce Components |
| UI (Lightning) | Lightning Components (Aura), Lightning Web Components |
| Pages & Layouts | Page Layouts, Lightning Pages (FlexiPage) |
| Data Model | Custom Objects, Custom Fields, Global Picklists, Validation Rules |
| Automation | Flows, Workflow Alerts (Email Alerts) |
| Resources | Static Resources, Email Templates, Custom Labels, Custom Buttons (WebLinks) |
Usage Instructions¶
- Select a Metadata Type: Choose the type of metadata you want to analyze (e.g., "Apex Classes").
- Select a Metadata Item: Pick a specific item from the searchable dropdown. Use the checkbox to filter out external/managed packages if needed.
- Analyze: Click the Analyze Dependencies button to fetch all dependencies.
- Browse Results: Use the filter badges to switch between Referenced By and Depends On views.
- Change View (Depends On only): Toggle between Quick Summary and Dependency Tree views.
Understanding the Results¶
Referenced By¶
Shows all metadata components that use or rely on the selected item. Results are grouped by the referencing metadata type. This answers: "What will break if I change this?"
Depends On¶
Shows all metadata components that the selected item requires to function. This answers: "What does this item need?"
- Quick Summary: A deduplicated, flat list of distinct metadata items grouped by type.
- Dependency Tree: A hierarchical view showing full parent-child relationships with expand/collapse controls.
Export Options¶
- Generate Package.xml: Creates a
package.xmlfile from the "Depends On" dependencies, useful for deployment planning. You can optionally include managed package items. - Export Summary: Generates a text file with an executive summary including totals, unique item counts, and a type-by-type breakdown.
- JSON Debug: Toggle to view the raw dependency data as syntax-highlighted JSON.
Note: The Dependencies Explorer uses the Salesforce Tooling API to query metadata dependencies. Results depend on the metadata types and relationships tracked by Salesforce.