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Data Cloud Preparation

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Streamline your data ingestion and lake preparation.

by forcedotcom808 stars on forcedotcom/sf-skills
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Updated Aug 10, 2026
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What Data Cloud Preparation does

The data360-prepare skill is designed specifically for managing the ingestion and preparation of data streams within Salesforce Data Cloud. This skill is essential for users who are creating or managing Data Cloud data streams, Data Lake Objects (DLOs), transformations, or Document AI configurations. It provides a structured approach to handling data entry into the Data Cloud, ensuring that data is properly categorized and prepared for further processing.

When using this skill, users can execute commands related to data streams and DLOs, allowing for the creation, updating, and running of these assets. The skill also supports rerunning ingestion processes after a source update, making it a powerful tool for maintaining data integrity and freshness. By leveraging this skill, users can effectively manage their data pipelines, ensuring that all necessary configurations are in place before moving on to the next phases of data processing.

The skill is particularly useful for data engineers and architects who work with Salesforce Data Cloud, as it provides clear guidelines and commands for preparing data streams. It helps to ensure that users are following best practices when it comes to data categorization and stream management, which is crucial for maintaining a well-organized data environment.

However, it is important to note that this skill should only be triggered when the user is focused on ingestion and lake preparation tasks. For tasks related to connection setup, identity resolution, or querying ingested data, users should refer to other specialized skills such as data360-connect, data360-harmonize, or data360-query. This focused approach helps to streamline workflows and avoids unnecessary complications in the data management process.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need to create or manage data streams, DLOs, or transformations in Salesforce Data Cloud.

When not to use it

Avoid using this skill for connection setup tasks, identity resolution, or querying ingested data; those tasks should utilize other dedicated skills.

What you can build with it

Creating a New Data Stream

When you need to create a new data stream in Salesforce Data Cloud, use this skill to ensure proper setup and categorization.

Updating Existing DLOs

If you need to update the configuration of existing Data Lake Objects, this skill provides the necessary commands to do so efficiently.

Rerunning Ingestion After Source Changes

After making updates to your data source, use this skill to rerun ingestion processes and keep your Data Cloud up to date.

How to install Data Cloud Preparation

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add forcedotcom/sf-skills/data360-prepare --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by forcedotcom

data360-prepare: Data Cloud Prepare Phase

Use this skill when the user needs ingestion and lake preparation work: data streams, Data Lake Objects (DLOs), transforms, Document AI, unstructured ingestion, or the handoff from connector setup into a live stream.

When This Skill Owns the Task

Use data360-prepare when the work involves:

  • sf data360 data-stream *
  • sf data360 dlo *
  • sf data360 transform *
  • sf data360 docai *
  • choosing how data should enter Data Cloud
  • rerunning or rescanning ingestion after a source update
  • preparing Ingestion API-backed streams after connector setup is complete

Delegate elsewhere when the user is:


Required Context to Gather First

Ask for or infer:

  • target org alias
  • source connection name
  • source object / dataset / document source
  • desired stream type
  • DLO naming expectations
  • whether the user is creating, updating, running, or deleting a stream
  • whether the source is CRM, a database connector, an unstructured file source, or an Ingestion API feed

Core Operating Rules

  • Verify the external plugin runtime before running Data Cloud commands.
  • Run the shared readiness classifier before mutating ingestion assets: node ../data360-orchestrate/scripts/diagnose-org.mjs -o <org> --phase prepare --json.
  • Prefer inspecting existing streams and DLOs before creating new ingestion assets.
  • Suppress linked-plugin warning noise with 2>/dev/null for normal usage.
  • Treat DLO naming and field naming as Data Cloud-specific, not CRM-native.
  • Confirm whether each dataset should be treated as Profile, Engagement, or Other before creating the stream.
  • Distinguish stream-level refresh from connection-level reruns when working with unstructured sources.
  • Use UI setup intentionally when initial stream or unstructured asset creation is platform-gated.
  • Hand off to Harmonize only after ingestion assets are clearly healthy.

Recommended Workflow

1. Classify readiness for prepare work

node ../data360-orchestrate/scripts/diagnose-org.mjs -o <org> --phase prepare --json

2. Inspect existing ingestion assets

sf data360 data-stream list -o <org> 2>/dev/null
sf data360 dlo list -o <org> 2>/dev/null

3. Confirm the stream category before creation

Use these rules when suggesting categories:

CategoryUse forTypical requirement
Profileperson/entity recordsprimary key
Engagementtime-based events or interactionsprimary key + event time field
Otherreference/configuration/supporting datasetsprimary key

When the source is ambiguous, ask the user explicitly whether the dataset should be treated as Profile, Engagement, or Other.

4. Create or inspect streams intentionally

sf data360 data-stream get -o <org> --name <stream> 2>/dev/null
sf data360 data-stream create-from-object -o <org> --object Contact --connection SalesforceDotCom_Home 2>/dev/null
sf data360 data-stream create -o <org> -f stream.json 2>/dev/null
sf data360 data-stream run -o <org> --name <stream> 2>/dev/null

5. Check DLO shape

sf data360 dlo get -o <org> --name Contact_Home__dll 2>/dev/null

6. Choose the right refresh mechanism

Use the smaller refresh scope that matches the user goal:

sf data360 data-stream run -o <org> --name <stream> 2>/dev/null
sf data360 connection run-existing -o <org> --name <connection-id> 2>/dev/null
  • data-stream run is the closest match to a stream-level refresh or re-scan.
  • connection run-existing runs at the connection level and can be useful for some connector workflows, but it is not a reliable replacement for stream refresh on unstructured sources.
  • For unstructured document connectors, prefer data-stream run when the goal is to re-scan newly added or changed files.

7. Handle unstructured sources deliberately

For SharePoint-style document ingestion, a minimal unstructured DLO payload can look like:

{
  "name": "my_udlo",
  "label": "My UDLO",
  "category": "Directory_Table",
  "dataSource": {
    "sourceType": "SF_DRIVE",
    "directoryAndFilesDetails": [
      {
        "dirName": "SPUnstructuredDocument/<CONNECTION_ID>/<SITE_ID>",
        "fileName": "*"
      }
    ],
    "sourceConfig": {
      "reservedPrefix": "$dcf_content$"
    }
  }
}

Use the UI for the first-time unstructured setup when the user needs the richer end-to-end pipeline. The UI path can seed additional document metadata fields and downstream assets that a bare CLI DLO create flow may not provision automatically.

8. Use the local Ingestion API example for send-data workflows

For external systems pushing records into Data Cloud:

  1. create the connector in data360-connect
  2. upload the schema with sf data360 connection schema-upsert
  3. create the stream in the UI when required
  4. send records with the local example in examples/ingestion-api/
cd examples/ingestion-api
cp .env.example .env
python3 send-data.py

Key details:

  • auth is a staged flow: JWT → Salesforce token → Data Cloud token
  • the ingestion endpoint uses the tenant URL, not the Salesforce instance URL
  • 202 means the payload was accepted for processing, not that records are queryable immediately
  • validation failures often surface in the Problem Records DLO family

9. Only then move into harmonization

Once the stream and DLO are healthy, hand off to data360-harmonize.


High-Signal Gotchas

  • CRM-backed stream behavior is not the same as fully custom connector-framework ingestion.
  • sf data360 data-stream run and sf data360 connection run-existing are not interchangeable; prefer stream-level refresh for unstructured rescans.
  • SFDC streams sync on a platform-managed schedule; data-stream run is not the general control path for CRM connector refresh.
  • Some external database connectors can be created via API while stream creation still requires UI flow or org-specific browser automation. Do not promise a pure CLI stream-creation path for every connector type.
  • Initial SharePoint-style unstructured setup can be richer in the UI than in a minimal CLI DLO create flow.
  • Stream deletion can also delete the associated DLO unless the delete mode says otherwise.
  • DLO field naming differs from CRM field naming, including __c_c transformations.
  • Query DLO record counts with Data Cloud SQL instead of assuming list output is sufficient.
  • CdpDataStreams means the stream module is gated for the current org/user; guide the user to provisioning/permissions review instead of retrying blindly.

Output Format

Prepare task: <stream / dlo / transform / docai>
Source: <connection + object>
Target org: <alias>
Artifacts: <stream names / dlo names / json definitions>
Verification: <passed / partial / blocked>
Next step: <harmonize or retrieve>

References

Frequently asked questions about Data Cloud Preparation

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