# WaveAnalyticAssetCollection in SFDX

> WaveAnalyticAssetCollection packages curated collections of CRM Analytics dashboards, lenses, and datasets for cross-workspace distribution and executive reporting.

- Source: https://sfdxtalk.com/docs/metadata/wave-analytic-asset-collection-metadata-type/
- Category: Metadata
- Applies to: Salesforce Winter '27 (API version 68.0)
- Level: advanced
- Published: 2026-11-12
- Last updated: 2026-11-12
- Publisher: SFDX Talk Editorial (unofficial; not affiliated with or endorsed by Salesforce)
- License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

## Architectural Overview

The `WaveAnalyticAssetCollection` metadata type manages Collections within Salesforce CRM Analytics (formerly Tableau CRM / Einstein Analytics). In complex enterprises, analytics assets are naturally dispersed across multiple departmental Wave applications—such as Sales Performance, Service Operations, and Marketing Attribution. Executives and cross-functional leaders require a unified pane of glass without navigating across disparate analytics folders.

`WaveAnalyticAssetCollection` allows architects and analytics developers to curate related dashboards, lenses, and datasets into logical collections without duplicating underlying assets or altering existing application security boundaries. By storing these curated collections as version-controlled metadata, teams can automate their deployment through CI/CD pipelines alongside core CRM dashboards.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    A["WaveAnalyticAssetCollection: Executive_Cockpit"] --> B["Dashboard: Pipeline Summary (Sales App)"]
    A --> C["Dashboard: CSAT Metrics (Service App)"]
    A --> D["Lens: Campaign ROI (Marketing App)"]
    B --> E["Unified Executive Briefing View"]
    C --> E
    D --> E
```

## Directory and File Conventions

In Salesforce DX project structures, `WaveAnalyticAssetCollection` definitions reside within the `waveAnalyticAssetCollections/` directory.

| Property | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Metadata Type Name** | `WaveAnalyticAssetCollection` |
| **SFDX Folder** | `force-app/main/default/waveAnalyticAssetCollections/` |
| **File Suffix** | `.waveAnalyticAssetCollection-meta.xml` |

## Key Metadata Fields

The XML schema for `WaveAnalyticAssetCollection` defines the following properties:

| Field Name | Field Type | Required | Architectural Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| `masterLabel` | `string` | Yes | Human-readable title displayed in the CRM Analytics Studio Collections tab. |
| `developerName` | `string` | Yes | Programmatic API name referenced across analytics configurations. |
| `description` | `string` | No | Architectural description outlining intended audience and included assets. |
| `accessType` | `string` | Yes | Governs visibility, typically Private, Shared, or Public. |
| `assetList` | `string[]` | No | Array of developer names for included Wave Dashboards, Lenses, and Datasets. |

> [!NOTE]
> All dashboards and lenses referenced within `assetList` must exist in the target org or be included in the same deployment package.

## Declarative XML and Package Manifest Examples

Below is a declarative XML definition assembling an executive operations collection:

```xml title="force-app/main/default/waveAnalyticAssetCollections/Executive_Operations_Collection.waveAnalyticAssetCollection-meta.xml"
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<WaveAnalyticAssetCollection xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <accessType>Shared</accessType>
    <description>Curated operational metrics spanning global revenue and customer escalations.</description>
    <developerName>Executive_Operations_Collection</developerName>
    <masterLabel>Executive Operations Collection</masterLabel>
</WaveAnalyticAssetCollection>
```

### Manifest Definition (`package.xml`)

```xml title="manifest/package.xml"
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <types>
        <members>Executive_Operations_Collection</members>
        <name>WaveAnalyticAssetCollection</name>
    </types>
    <version>68.0</version>
</Package>
```

## CLI Retrieval and Deployment Commands

Retrieve and deploy `WaveAnalyticAssetCollection` using standard Salesforce CLI commands:

```bash
# Retrieve all asset collections
sf project retrieve start --metadata WaveAnalyticAssetCollection

# Retrieve a specific collection definition
sf project retrieve start --metadata WaveAnalyticAssetCollection:Executive_Operations_Collection

# Deploy collection to a staging sandbox
sf project deploy start --metadata WaveAnalyticAssetCollection:Executive_Operations_Collection --target-org analytics-dev
```

## Architect Best Practices and Gotchas

- **Dependency Sequencing in CI/CD:** Deploy all underlying `WaveApplication`, `WaveDashboard`, and `WaveLens` components before or alongside `WaveAnalyticAssetCollection` to prevent broken reference errors.
- **Granular Sharing Strategies:** Set collection `accessType` according to target role hierarchies so confidential revenue metrics are restricted to executive stakeholders.
- **Governance Across Release Branches:** Maintain collection definitions in source control to ensure curated home screens remain consistent when refreshing developer sandboxes from production.

> [!TIP]
> Pin critical collections to the CRM Analytics home screen to drive executive adoption and eliminate manual dashboard searching.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a WaveAnalyticAssetCollection in CRM Analytics?

It is a metadata entity that curates and groups related dashboards, lenses, and datasets from different analytics apps into a unified collection view for business users.

### How do you retrieve WaveAnalyticAssetCollection using Salesforce CLI?

Run sf project retrieve start with the metadata flag set to WaveAnalyticAssetCollection to download all collection definitions into your local project.

### Do asset collections duplicate the underlying analytics files?

No, asset collections store metadata references to existing dashboards and datasets, preserving single copies of underlying data while providing flexible grouping.

### Can access to a WaveAnalyticAssetCollection be managed independently?

Yes, collections support independent sharing settings allowing administrators to share curated views with specific users, roles, or public groups.

## Official References

- https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-metadata/references/meta-types/metadata-waveanalyticassetcollection.md