Productivity and Collaboration · Topic 1 of 1
Activities, Chatter, the Mobile App and AppExchange
Salesforce productivity: tasks and events, Chatter groups and access, the Salesforce mobile app menu and pages, and managed versus unmanaged packages.
- 4 min
- Tasks are to-dos; events have start and end times; both show in the activity timeline.
- Chatter groups: public, private, unlisted; only private and unlisted groups can allow customers (external users).
- The mobile navigation menu, Lightning pages and compact layouts shape the mobile app.
What it is
These features help people work together in Salesforce. Activities track tasks and meetings. Chatter gives feeds and groups for collaboration. The Salesforce mobile app brings the org to phones. AppExchange offers ready-made apps and components that install as packages.
How it works
Activity management
| Activity | What it is |
|---|---|
| Task | A to-do with a due date, status and priority, such as "Call back" |
| Event | A calendar item with a start and end time, such as a meeting |
| Logged call or email | A completed activity recorded on a record |
Activities appear in the activity timeline of related records such as accounts, contacts and opportunities.
Chatter
- Feeds on records and user profiles show updates, posts and @mentions.
- Feed tracking posts field changes on records to the feed.
| Chatter group type | Access |
|---|---|
| Public | Anyone in the company can see posts and join |
| Private | Only members can see posts; others ask to join |
| Unlisted | Only members and those with permission can find and see the group |
Private and unlisted groups (not public ones) can allow customers (external users) when customer invitations are enabled. Customers see only the groups they're invited to, and once a group allows customers its access type can't be changed.
The Salesforce mobile app
- The mobile navigation menu comes from the navigation items of the user's Lightning app, and changes sync between desktop and mobile; the separate Mobile Only navigation menu is a legacy option.
- A Launchpad component on a Lightning page gives one-tap links to items that have tabs, such as objects, Lightning pages and websites; users see only items they can access.
- Lightning app pages and record pages are used on mobile; you can set pages to show only on phone or desktop.
- Compact layouts decide the key fields shown at the top of records.
- Salesforce Branding in Setup sets the brand color and the loading page color and logo for the app.
- Mobile users can also use Salesforce in a mobile browser.
AppExchange
AppExchange is now AgentExchange, Salesforce's single marketplace for apps, agents, components, flows and prompt templates from Salesforce and partners.
| Package type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Managed package | Code and components are protected from editing; the publisher can upgrade it; used by commercial apps |
| Unmanaged package | Components are fully editable after install; no automatic upgrades; used for templates and samples |
Only Salesforce partners can publish public listings, and a listed solution must pass the security review. Before installing, check reviews, the security review status and permissions, and test in a sandbox.
A worked example: a team wants a lightweight project tracker. The administrator finds a free unmanaged package on AppExchange, installs it in a sandbox, customizes the objects as needed, then deploys it to production.
If the requirement is "receive vendor updates automatically", choose a managed package. If it is "freely modify everything after installing", choose an unmanaged package.
How the exam asks about this
- "Only members should see a project group's posts." A private Chatter group.
- "Show a custom page only to mobile users." Set the Lightning page for phone only, and add it to the mobile navigation.
- "Install a vendor app that the vendor can upgrade." A managed package.
What to remember for the exam
- Tasks are to-dos; events have start and end times; both show in the activity timeline.
- Chatter groups: public, private, unlisted; only private and unlisted groups can allow customers (external users).
- The mobile navigation menu, Lightning pages and compact layouts shape the mobile app.
- Managed packages are protected and upgradable; unmanaged packages are editable, no upgrades.
- Test AppExchange installs in a sandbox first.
Components from an unmanaged package become your responsibility. The publisher can't push fixes to them.
Common mistakes
Choosing a public group for confidential discussions. Use private or unlisted.
Expecting unmanaged packages to update. They don't.
Installing straight into production. Use a sandbox first.
Check yourself
What is the difference between a task and an event?
A task is a to-do with a due date; an event is a calendar item with a start and end time.
Who can see posts in a private Chatter group?
Only the group's members.
What is the key difference between managed and unmanaged packages?
Managed packages are protected and can be upgraded by the publisher; unmanaged packages are editable and not upgraded.
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