EACSettings Metadata Type in SFDX & Metadata API

Architectural Overview#

The EACSettings metadata type represents the org-wide configuration for Einstein Activity Capture (EAC) (Setup > Einstein > Einstein Activity Capture > Settings).

Einstein Activity Capture automatically synchronizes emails, calendar events, and contacts between external productivity suites (Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace) and Salesforce CRM records. Unlike legacy email logging systems that create physical Task and EmailMessage records in the relational transactional database, EAC captures and stores communication streams in high-scale, off-core AWS/Hyperforce microservices. Captured events and emails are dynamically streamed and virtualized directly into the Lightning Activity Timeline.

Architecturally, EACSettings acts as the gatekeeper for:

• Org-wide activation of Einstein Activity Capture synchronization engines.
• Enabling Activity Metrics, which computes real-time aggregation fields (such as LastActivityDate, LastEmailDate, and InactiveDays) on Account, Contact, Lead, and Opportunity records.
• Enforcing org-level email and event sharing guardrails to ensure compliance with enterprise privacy and data loss prevention (DLP) standards.

Directory and File Suffix Reference#

In Salesforce DX source format, EACSettings is deployed as a singleton setting file.

Key Metadata Fields#

The EACSettings metadata type extends Metadata and exposes the following org-level properties:

Declarative XML, Scratch Org, and Package.xml Examples#

1. Settings Metadata File (EAC.settings-meta.xml)#

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<EACSettings xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <enableActivityMetrics>true</enableActivityMetrics>
    <enableDefaultEmailSharing>false</enableDefaultEmailSharing>
    <enableEAC>true</enableEAC>
    <enableInsightsInTimeline>true</enableInsightsInTimeline>
</EACSettings>

2. Scratch Org Definition (config/project-scratch-def.json)#

To enable Einstein Activity Capture and Activity Metrics in CI/CD scratch orgs, configure the eacSettings block:

{
  "orgName": "Sales Cloud EAC Validation Scratch Org",
  "edition": "Enterprise",
  "features": ["SalesUser"],
  "settings": {
    "eacSettings": {
      "enableEAC": true,
      "enableActivityMetrics": true,
      "enableInsightsInTimeline": true
    }
  }
}

3. Package Manifest (manifest/package.xml)#

To retrieve or deploy EAC settings using manifest-driven pipelines:

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

Retrieval and Deployment Commands#

Manage EACSettings via modern Salesforce CLI commands:

# Retrieve EAC settings from the target org
sf project retrieve start --metadata Settings:EAC

# Deploy EAC settings to the target org
sf project deploy start --metadata Settings:EAC --target-org staging-sandbox

# Preview deployment changes with dry run
sf project deploy validate --metadata Settings:EAC --target-org prod-ci

Senior Architect Deployment Best Practices and Gotchas#

• SOQL Reporting and Data Residency: Because EAC emails and calendar events are stored in off-core data stores, standard SOQL queries on Task or EmailMessage objects will not return activities captured solely by EAC. Enterprise reporting on sales interactions requires configuring Activity Metrics or using CRM Analytics EAC reporting templates rather than standard relational SOQL joins.
• Activity Metrics Field Triggers: Activity Metrics fields (such as LastActivityDateTime) are updated asynchronously by EAC backend workers. Do not design real-time Apex triggers or synchronous record-triggered Flows expecting instantaneous updates immediately upon an external email send.
• Privacy and Sensitive Email Exclusions: Architects working in healthcare, banking, or legal domains must configure org-wide sensitive domain exclusions (such as internal HR, legal counsel, or payroll domains) to prevent confidential email threads from being unintentionally captured into CRM timelines.
• Connected App and OAuth Prerequisites: Deploying EACSettings activates the platform framework, but full calendar and inbox synchronization requires authorizing the Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace connected service via OAuth 2.0 or service-account certificate credentials before end-user data flows.

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary role of EACSettings in Salesforce?

EACSettings configures org-wide policies for Einstein Activity Capture, controlling email and calendar synchronization, Activity Metrics rollups, and timeline visibility.

How are captured emails stored by Einstein Activity Capture?

Unlike standard Task records, EAC emails are stored off-core in Hyperforce AWS microservice storage and rendered virtualized in the Salesforce Activity Timeline.

What does enableActivityMetrics do when enabled via EACSettings?

It enables automated rollups such as Last Activity Date and Inactive Days on standard objects like Account, Contact, and Opportunity without requiring custom triggers.

How is EACSettings referenced in package.xml?

EACSettings is deployed under the Settings metadata type using the member name EAC, referencing the EAC.settings-meta.xml file in your project settings directory.