RecordPageSettings Metadata in SFDX

Architectural Overview#

RecordPageSettings defines org-level defaults for how standard and custom record pages render in Lightning Experience. When an organization transitions to Lightning or provisions new developer sandboxes, one of the foremost user experience decisions is determining the default page density and layout mode: Full View versus Grouped View.

• Grouped View (Default): Organizes record information across structured tabs (e.g., Details, Related, Activity) in multi-column layouts, optimizing screen real estate for modern high-resolution displays.
• Full View: Recreates a continuous, data-dense scrolling experience reminiscent of Salesforce Classic, positioning record fields and related lists sequentially down a single canvas.

Managing RecordPageSettings via source-tracked metadata ensures that enterprise UI standards and accessibility requirements are uniformly propagated across scratch orgs, staging environments, and production sandboxes without requiring manual Setup navigation.

Directory and File Conventions#

RecordPageSettings is a singleton settings metadata type residing in the settings directory.

Key Metadata Fields#

The settings file exposes boolean switches governing record rendering modes.

Declarative XML and Package Manifest Examples#

The following definition sets the org default to Grouped View while activating standard activity stories:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<RecordPageSettings xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <enableActivityStoriesOnPage>true</enableActivityStoriesOnPage>
    <enableFullRecordView>false</enableFullRecordView>
</RecordPageSettings>

Package Manifest (package.xml)#

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

CLI Retrieval and Deployment Commands#

Retrieve and deploy RecordPageSettings using standard Salesforce CLI commands:

# Retrieve RecordPageSettings
sf project retrieve start --metadata "Settings:RecordPage"

# Deploy RecordPage settings to target org
sf project deploy start --metadata "Settings:RecordPage"

# Deploy via file path
sf project deploy start --source-dir force-app/main/default/settings/RecordPage.settings-meta.xml

Architect Best Practices and Gotchas#

• Scratch Org Definitions: In automated CI/CD pipelines, specify recordPageSettings within the project-scratch-def.json file under settings so newly spun scratch orgs immediately reflect the production layout archetype.
• Custom FlexiPage Precedence: If an object is assigned a custom FlexiPage (Lightning Record Page), the component template defined in the FlexiPage overrides the standard layout format regardless of enableFullRecordView.
• User Preference Conflicts: End users who customize their personal display density under My Settings > Display & Layout > Record Page View will retain their individual preference, which overrides the org-wide setting defined in metadata.

Frequently asked questions

What does RecordPageSettings control in Salesforce?

It controls org-wide defaults for record page layouts in Lightning Experience, specifically toggling between Full View and Grouped View displays.

What is the difference between Full View and Grouped View?

Full View mimics the classic all-in-one scrolling layout with related lists at the bottom, while Grouped View divides information across tabs and columns for denser workspaces.

Can users override the RecordPageSettings org default?

Yes, individual users can override the default record page view in their personal display settings unless restricted by administrative policy.

Where is RecordPageSettings located in SFDX source format?

It is stored as settings/RecordPage.settings-meta.xml within the default package directory.