DataDotComSettings Metadata Type in SFDX

Architectural Overview#

The DataDotComSettings metadata type represents the declarative configuration for legacy Data.com (originally Jigsaw) services within a Salesforce organization. Historically, Data.com supplied native B2B company and contact directories, automated data assessment, and record enrichment through Data.com Clean and Prospector.

From an enterprise metadata and DevOps perspective, DataDotComSettings governs tenant-wide preferences including Clean job automation on standard CustomObject records (Account, Contact, and Lead), monthly record addition quotas, and Prospector user permissions. While Data.com commercial products were retired, this metadata type persists across legacy org definitions and schema migration projects.

Directory and File Conventions#

In SFDX source format, DataDotComSettings is managed under the settings/ directory as part of the unified Settings metadata family:

Key Metadata Fields#

Declarative XML and Manifest Examples#

Source Format XML (DataDotCom.settings-meta.xml)#

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DataDotComSettings xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <enableDataDotComClean>false</enableDataDotComClean>
    <enableAccountClean>false</enableAccountClean>
    <enableContactClean>false</enableContactClean>
    <enableLeadClean>false</enableLeadClean>
    <dataDotComExportLimit>300</dataDotComExportLimit>
</DataDotComSettings>

Manifest (package.xml)#

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <types>
        <members>DataDotCom</members>
        <name>Settings</name>
    </types>
    <version>68.0</version>
</Package>

Retrieval and Deployment Commands#

Use the Salesforce CLI to retrieve and deploy DataDotComSettings:

# Retrieve DataDotCom settings via the Settings type
sf project retrieve start --metadata Settings:DataDotCom

# Deploy DataDotCom settings to an environment
sf project deploy start --metadata Settings:DataDotCom

Senior Architect Best Practices and Gotchas#

• Legacy Product Retirement: Salesforce formally retired Data.com Clean and Prospector. Modern enterprise architectures should migrate to Salesforce Data Cloud, AppExchange partner enrichment (such as ZoomInfo or Dun & Bradstreet), or external Ingest APIs.
• Scratch Org Definitions: If maintaining older DX scratch org definitions with "dataDotComSettings", remove the feature unless working in an active legacy org that holds grandfathered licenses to avoid org creation failures.
• Decommissioning Clean Fields: When deprecating Data.com, review page layouts and permission sets to remove legacy Clean status fields and action buttons.

Frequently asked questions

What features are controlled by DataDotComSettings?

It controls Data.com Clean, Prospector search capabilities, automated account and contact enrichment, and user monthly export limits.

Where are DataDotComSettings stored in SFDX format?

They are stored in force-app/main/default/settings/ under the file name DataDotCom.settings-meta.xml.

How do you retrieve DataDotComSettings using the CLI?

Run sf project retrieve start with the metadata flag set to Settings:DataDotCom.

Is Data.com still active in modern Salesforce releases?

Data.com legacy services were retired, but settings metadata remains in legacy orgs and metadata packages for backward compatibility.