MapsAndLocationSettings in SFDX

Architectural Overview#

MapsAndLocationSettings controls native geolocation, mapping services, and address autocomplete features across Salesforce. In sales and field service operations, accurate geospatial coordinates are essential for calculating territory boundaries, optimizing field rep travel routes, and rendering map visuals on record layouts.

Architecturally, MapsAndLocationSettings powers two primary capabilities:

1. Address Autocomplete: Provides real-time predictive address entry in standard address compound fields across Account, Contact, and Lead records in Lightning Experience.
2. Automated Geocoding Data Integration: Interacts with Salesforce geocoding clean rules to convert street addresses into precise geographic coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) upon record creation and updates.

Directory and File Conventions#

MapsAndLocationSettings is a singleton Settings metadata asset stored in the settings directory:

Key Metadata Fields#

The MapsAndLocationSettings schema configures geocoding and location behaviors:

Declarative XML and Package Manifest Examples#

Below is an enterprise MapsAndLocation.settings-meta.xml configuration:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<MapsAndLocationSettings xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <enableAddressAutocomplete>true</enableAddressAutocomplete>
    <enableMapsAndLocation>true</enableMapsAndLocation>
</MapsAndLocationSettings>

Manifest Definition (package.xml)#

Include the setting in package.xml:

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

CLI Retrieval and Deployment Commands#

Use the Salesforce CLI to deploy maps and location settings:

# Retrieve MapsAndLocation settings
sf project retrieve start --metadata Settings:MapsAndLocation

# Deploy settings to scratch org or sandbox
sf project deploy start --source-dir force-app/main/default/settings/MapsAndLocation.settings-meta.xml

Senior Architect Deployment Best Practices and Gotchas#

• Address Autocomplete User Experience: Enabling enableAddressAutocomplete drastically improves data hygiene by standardizing city names, postal codes, and country codes at the point of user entry, reducing downstream CRM deduplication overhead.
• Geocoding Data Integration Rules: Deploying MapsAndLocationSettings enables the platform capability, but administrators must also verify that the corresponding Clean Rules (such as Geocodes for Account Billing Address) are set to Active in the target org.
• Data Privacy and Third-Party Providers: The predictive autocomplete engine queries trusted mapping providers. Ensure your enterprise data governance and security compliance teams approve external address resolution requests.

Frequently asked questions

Where is MapsAndLocationSettings stored in an SFDX repo?

It is stored in the settings directory under the filename MapsAndLocation.settings-meta.xml.

What does enableAddressAutocomplete do for end users?

It displays predictive address suggestions in standard address fields as users type in Lightning Experience.

How does geocoding work when enabled through this setting?

Salesforce populates standard Latitude and Longitude fields on accounts, contacts, and leads using automated geocoding clean rules.

Are there additional costs for native geocoding services?

Basic address geocoding clean rules are included in standard Salesforce editions without requiring third-party API keys.