| name | experience-ui-bundle-file-upload-generate |
| description | MUST activate when the project contains a uiBundles/*/src/ directory and the task involves uploading, attaching, or dropping files. Use this skill when adding file upload functionality to a UI bundle app. Provides progress tracking and Salesforce ContentVersion integration. This feature provides programmatic APIs ONLY — build custom UI using the upload() API. ALWAYS use this instead of building file upload from scratch with FormData or XHR. |
| metadata | {"version":"1.0"} |
File Upload API (workflow)
When the user wants file upload functionality in a React UI bundle, follow this workflow. This feature provides APIs only — you must build the UI components yourself using the provided APIs.
CRITICAL: This is an API-only package
The package exports programmatic APIs, not React components or hooks. You will:
- Use the
upload() function to handle file uploads with progress tracking
- Build your own custom UI (file input, dropzone, progress bars, etc.)
- Track upload progress through the
onProgress callback
Do NOT:
- Expect pre-built components like
<FileUpload /> — they are not exported
- Try to import React hooks like
useFileUpload — they are not exported
- Look for dropzone components — they are not exported
The source code contains reference components for demonstration, but they are not available as imports. Use them as examples to build your own UI.
1. Install the package
npm install @salesforce/ui-bundle-template-feature-react-file-upload
Dependencies are automatically installed:
@salesforce/ui-bundle (API client)
@salesforce/platform-sdk (data SDK; the old @salesforce/sdk-data name is dead — see the experience-ui-bundle-salesforce-data-access skill)
2. Understand the three upload patterns
Pattern A: Basic upload (no record linking)
Upload files to Salesforce and get back contentBodyId for each file. No ContentVersion record is created.
When to use:
- User wants to upload files first, then create/link them to a record later
- Building a multi-step form where the record doesn't exist yet
- Deferred record linking scenarios
import { upload } from "@salesforce/ui-bundle-template-feature-react-file-upload";
const results = await upload({
files: [file1, file2],
onProgress: (progress) => {
console.log(`${progress.fileName}: ${progress.status} - ${progress.progress}%`);
},
});
Pattern B: Upload with immediate record linking
Upload files and immediately link them to an existing Salesforce record by creating ContentVersion records.
When to use:
- Record already exists (Account, Opportunity, Case, etc.)
- User wants files immediately attached to the record
- Direct upload-and-attach scenarios
import { upload } from "@salesforce/ui-bundle-template-feature-react-file-upload";
const results = await upload({
files: [file1, file2],
recordId: "001xx000000yyyy",
onProgress: (progress) => {
console.log(`${progress.fileName}: ${progress.status} - ${progress.progress}%`);
},
});
Pattern C: Deferred record linking (record creation flow)
Upload files without a record, then link them after the record is created.
When to use:
- Building a "create record with attachments" form
- Record doesn't exist until form submission
- Need to upload files before knowing the final record ID
import {
upload,
createContentVersion,
} from "@salesforce/ui-bundle-template-feature-react-file-upload";
const uploadResults = await upload({
files: [file1, file2],
onProgress: (progress) => console.log(progress),
});
const newRecordId = await createRecord(formData);
for (const file of uploadResults) {
const contentVersionId = await createContentVersion(
new File([""], file.fileName),
file.contentBodyId,
newRecordId,
);
}
3. Build your custom UI
The package provides the backend — you build the frontend. Here's a minimal example:
import {
upload,
type FileUploadProgress,
} from "@salesforce/ui-bundle-template-feature-react-file-upload";
import { useState } from "react";
function CustomFileUpload({ recordId }: { recordId?: string }) {
const [progress, setProgress] = useState<Map<string, FileUploadProgress>>(new Map());
const handleFileSelect = async (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
const files = Array.from(event.target.files || []);
await upload({
files,
recordId,
onProgress: (fileProgress) => {
setProgress((prev) => new Map(prev).set(fileProgress.fileName, fileProgress));
},
});
};
return (
<div>
<input type="file" multiple onChange={handleFileSelect} />
{Array.from(progress.entries()).map(([fileName, fileProgress]) => (
<div key={fileName}>
{fileName}: {fileProgress.status} - {fileProgress.progress}%
{fileProgress.error && <span>Error: {fileProgress.error}</span>}
</div>
))}
</div>
);
}
4. Track upload progress
The onProgress callback fires multiple times for each file as it moves through stages:
| Status | When | Progress Value |
|---|
"pending" | File queued for upload | 0 |
"uploading" | Upload in progress (XHR) | 0-100 (percentage) |
"processing" | Creating ContentVersion (if recordId provided) | 0 |
"success" | Upload complete | 100 |
"error" | Upload failed | 0 |
Always provide visual feedback:
- Show file name
- Display current status
- Render progress bar for "uploading" status
- Show error message if status is "error"
5. Cancel uploads (optional)
Use an AbortController to allow users to cancel uploads:
const abortController = new AbortController();
const handleUpload = async (files: File[]) => {
try {
await upload({
files,
signal: abortController.signal,
onProgress: (progress) => console.log(progress),
});
} catch (error) {
console.error("Upload cancelled or failed:", error);
}
};
const cancelUpload = () => {
abortController.abort();
};
6. Link to current user (special case)
If the user wants to upload files to their own profile or personal library:
import {
upload,
getCurrentUserId,
} from "@salesforce/ui-bundle-template-feature-react-file-upload";
const userId = await getCurrentUserId();
await upload({ files, recordId: userId });
API Reference
upload(options)
Main upload API that handles complete flow with progress tracking.
interface UploadOptions {
files: File[];
recordId?: string | null;
onProgress?: (progress: FileUploadProgress) => void;
signal?: AbortSignal;
}
interface FileUploadProgress {
fileName: string;
status: "pending" | "uploading" | "processing" | "success" | "error";
progress: number;
error?: string;
}
interface FileUploadResult {
fileName: string;
size: number;
contentBodyId: string;
contentVersionId?: string;
}
Returns: Promise<FileUploadResult[]>
createContentVersion(file, contentBodyId, recordId)
Manually create a ContentVersion record from a previously uploaded file.
async function createContentVersion(
file: File,
contentBodyId: string,
recordId: string,
): Promise<string | undefined>;
Parameters:
file — File object (used for metadata like name)
contentBodyId — ContentBody ID from previous upload
recordId — Record ID for FirstPublishLocationId
Returns: ContentVersion ID if successful
getCurrentUserId()
Get the current user's Salesforce ID.
async function getCurrentUserId(): Promise<string>;
Returns: Current user ID
Common UI patterns
File input with button
<input type="file" multiple accept=".pdf,.doc,.docx,.jpg,.png" onChange={handleFileSelect} />
Drag-and-drop zone
Build your own dropzone using native events:
function DropZone({ onDrop }: { onDrop: (files: File[]) => void }) {
const handleDrop = (e: React.DragEvent) => {
e.preventDefault();
const files = Array.from(e.dataTransfer.files);
onDrop(files);
};
return (
<div
onDrop={handleDrop}
onDragOver={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
style={{ border: "2px dashed #ccc", padding: "2rem" }}
>
Drop files here
</div>
);
}
Progress bar
{
progress.status === "uploading" && (
<div style={{ width: "100%", background: "#eee" }}>
<div
style={{
width: `${progress.progress}%`,
background: "#0176d3",
height: "8px",
}}
/>
</div>
);
}
Decision tree for agents
User asks for file upload functionality:
-
Ask about record context:
- "Do you want to link uploaded files to a specific record, or upload them first and link later?"
-
Based on response:
- Link to existing record → Use Pattern B with
recordId
- Upload first, link later → Use Pattern A (no recordId), then Pattern C for linking
- Link to current user → Use Pattern B with
getCurrentUserId()
-
Build the UI:
- Create file input or dropzone (not provided by package)
- Add progress display for each file (status + progress bar)
- Handle errors in the UI
-
Test the implementation:
- Verify progress callbacks fire correctly
- Check that
contentBodyId is returned
- If
recordId was provided, verify contentVersionId is returned
Reference implementation
The package includes a reference implementation in src/features/fileupload/ with:
FileUpload.tsx — Complete component with dropzone and dialog
FileUploadDialog.tsx — Progress tracking dialog
FileUploadDropZone.tsx — Drag-and-drop zone
useFileUpload.ts — React hook for state management
These are NOT exported but can be viewed as examples. Read the source files to understand patterns for building your own UI.
Troubleshooting
Upload fails with CORS error:
- Ensure the UI bundle is properly deployed to Salesforce or running on
localhost
- Check that the org allows the origin in CORS settings
No progress updates:
- Verify
onProgress callback is provided
- Check that the callback function updates React state correctly
ContentVersion not created:
- Verify
recordId is provided to upload() function
- Check that the record ID is valid and exists in the org
- Ensure user has permissions to create ContentVersion records
Files upload but don't appear in record:
- Verify
recordId is correct
- Check that ContentVersion was created (look for
contentVersionId in results)
- Confirm user has access to view files on the record
DO NOT do these things
- ❌ Build XHR/fetch upload logic from scratch — use the
upload() API
- ❌ Try to import
<FileUpload /> component — it's not exported
- ❌ Try to import
useFileUpload hook — it's not exported
- ❌ Use third-party file upload libraries when this feature exists
- ❌ Skip progress tracking — always provide user feedback
- ❌ Ignore errors — always handle and display error messages