1- Salesforce Fundamentals – 10%

1.4 – Extending an Application's Capabilities using the AppExchange

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AppExchange
• AppExchange is the Business App Store

• AppExchange is the official Salesforce app store.

Think of AppExchange as a gadget in your
problem-solving utility belt, just like
Process Builder

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AppExchange
• Short on time and don’t want to build a solution
from scratch? There’s probably an app that
meets your needs.

• That third-party service your users have been

asking you to integrate? Good chance that it’s
available on AppExchange.

• And because it’s Salesforce’s official app store,

everything is secure and trustworthy

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AppExchange
What’s Available on AppExchange?

• App: A group of tabs that work together to provide standalone

functionality

• Component: A building block for a Lightning app, page, or

community

• Consulting Service: A team of Salesforce experts who deliver

specialized solutions for one or more clouds or industries

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AppExchange Strategy
• Offering type: Are you looking for an app, component, or consulting service?

• Functionality: If you’re seeking an app or component, what does it need to do? Which of these
features are “musthaves” and which are “nice-to-haves”?

• Budget: Are you looking for something free, or are you open to paying for the right solution?

• Stakeholder needs: Who will be using the offering? Make sure that you meet with these stakeholders to
understand their needs, expectations, and timelines

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AppExchange Strategy
• Testing: For apps and components, do you have an environment where you can test everything first?
Before installing an offering in a production org, we always recommend testing in a Developer Edition org
or a sandbox.

• Technical considerations: Does the offering need to be compatible with a particular Salesforce edition or
feature? What about Lightning Experience or the Salesforce1 app? Think about what’s unique to your
org, and take note of those items

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AppExchange – View Listing
• Summary banner (1): Summarizes key offering
details. For apps and components, this includes
technical information like supported editions. For
consulting services, this includes metrics like
customer satisfaction scores.

• Overview tab (2): Briefly describes the offering,

including functionality and pricing. Because seeing is
elieving, you can also view screenshots and watch
videos that show the offering in action.

• Details tab (3): Provides a full description of the

offering and links to documentation, like case studies.
For apps and components, you can also view details
about the package, including type and contents. 7
AppExchange – View Listing
• Reviews tab (4): Displays ratings and feedback from
Salesforce community members. If you try or buy the
offering, you can add your voice to the conversation
by posting a new review or responding to an existing
one.

• Provider tab (5): Tells you who built the offering and
how to contact them if you have questions or need
assistance.

• Save button (6): Adds the offering to the favorites list

in your AppExchange profile. Perfect for when you’re
reviewing a listing and are suddenly called to perform
acts of heroism in your org.

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AppExchange – Try or Purchase
• An App can be Free or Paid

• In the case of a paid App, the App Developer has the

option to offer the below trials:

• Test Drive: A test drive lets you experience the

offering in a read-only Developer Edition org
configured by the provider. To check if a test drive is av
ailable, go to the Overview tab and look for Take a Test
Drive

• Free Trial: A free trial lets you experience the offering • Remember, it’s up to the provider to configure a test
in a writable Developer Edition org for a limited time drive or free trial, so you might not be able to try
period. every AppExchange offering

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When to use an App from AppExchange?
• Always revert to the AppExchange when required to implement a new functionality within Salesforce

• The Application that you are looking for may be already in the AppExchange, and may also be Free

• For example, if you are required to implement an Advanced Quoting Tool, instead of starting from scratch, check
the AppExchange!

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Packages
• A Package is bundle of metadata components that make up an App or piece of functionality

• Typically a package would contain Objects, Fields, Apex Code, Page Layouts, Reports, email template, etc…

• Packages can contain one component (e.g. an Apex Class) or hundreds of components

• Packages are primarily used for distributing across Salesforce Orgs

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Packages
• Packages are private, however, can be shared via a URL

• To make a package publicly accessible, it must be published to the AppExchange

• Packages can be uninstalled at any point – causing all components installed as part of the package to be
deleted from the org

• Packages are of 2 types – Managed & Unmanaged

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Packages – Unmanaged
• Can be used for onetime distribution of code and configuration

• Can be used for code migration between unrelated environments

• Can be used to distribute to other companies via the AppExchange

• The installer gets a copy of the components, and then can further customize as required

• Once an unmanaged package is distributed, the author of the code / package, will no longer have control over it

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Packages – Managed
• Source code is not available and is protected

• The creator can offer upgrades to the package

• Managed packages are typically for sale on the AppExchange and can be licensed

• The only requirement to create a managed package is that you’re using a Developer Edition organization

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Packages – Differences
Unmanaged Packages Managed Packages

Used to distribute Freeware, Open-Source projects, Used to sell Applications to customers

Application Templates

Once the Package components are installed, the Once the Package components are installed, editing the
components can be freely edited without any restriction components is not possible

Cannot be Upgraded Can be Upgraded

Package components will count toward the Org. Limit Package components will not count toward the Org. Limit

Namespace is not used Namespace is a must

Should not be used if the code being shared is intended Will preserve intellectual Property as it cannot be edited,
to be protected intellectual property or redistributed

Can be distributed via a link, but the distribution can’t be Distribution is controlled as package cannot be
controlled redistributed

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Summary
In this chapter, you learned:

• AppExchange is the official Salesforce app store

• Applications, Components and Consulting Services are all available at the AppExchange

• Always check the AppExchange whenever you have a new Requirement within your Org.

• Always plan before searching for an App

• You can Try an App before purchase

• A Package can be Managed or Unmanaged

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AppExchange

Thanks for Watching! 

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