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Backstory in Salesforce Install Instructions

Installing Backstory inside of Salesforce

This article outlines the installation and configuration steps for setting up Backstory within Salesforce.

Configuring the Backstory experience in Salesforce requires four steps.

  1. Upgrading to the latest managed package

  2. Setting up Salesforce as an Identity Provider

  3. Configuring Backstory as a Connect App within Salesforce

  4. Updating the Salesforce user interface with Backstory components for the pilot users

Managed Packaged Installation Instructions

There are no installation prerequisites required; however, the installation must be performed by a System Administrator User.

  1. Install the application using the following link:

  2. Install for all Users

  3. Wait for the installation to complete

Identity Provider-Initiated Single Sign-On Configuration

The following steps are mandatory to complete the Identity Provider-Initiated (IdP) Single Sign-On (SSO) configuration within the Salesforce environment. This approach is used by default.

IdP-initiated SSO enables users to log in to Backstory apps and widgets automatically without manually initiating the flow.

Set up Salesforce as an Identity Provider

  • Navigate to Setup > Identity > Identity Provider

    1. If the Identity Provider is already enabled, skip this step

    2. Click the Enable Identity Provider button
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    3. If you are asked to select a certificate, please select one from the list and click the Save button

Configure Backstory Salesforce Connected App

  • Navigate to Setup > Apps > App Manager

    • Open the menu for the Backstory Canvas App and click the Manage button
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      1. Click the Edit Policies button

      2. Change the Permitted Users field to “Admin approved users are pre-authorized”

      3. Click the Save button

    • Scroll down to the Profiles section and click the Manage Profiles button

      1. Tick any profile that users should be able to access embedded applications, and click the Save button
        ​
        ​Note: Users without access to Connected App but with access to Backstory app components within Lightning Pages / Tabs will receive the following error popup, or may be redirected to the Insufficient Privileges error.
        ​We recommend enabling all the profiles and drive access through the app itself, or access to the components.
        ​

        image003.png

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        ​

    • Scroll down to the SAML Login Information section

      1. Locate the Subject Type and update it to “Username”

      2. Locate the Metadata Discovery Endpoint (Metadata URL) and Issuer (Entity ID) values

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      3. Register a new Provider in the PeopleAI App

        1. In a new window, navigate to PeopleAI app > Settings > Integrations > Single Sign On

        2. Click on the Add Provider button

        3. Enter a name (e.g., 'Salesforce Production Organization')

        4. Paste the Metadata URL and Entity ID values

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        5. Click the Next button.

        6. Check the Backstory is Integrated checkbox.

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        7. Click the Save button

        8. Publish the new provider

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          ​Note: The components will not load properly until the Backstory team confirms that the IDP configuration setup is complete on the Backstory side.

Additional Steps for Sandbox Configuration (Optional)

Sandboxes have affixed usernames by sandbox name by default, which will prevent user authentication.

  • Change SAML Subject Type:

    1. Navigate to: Setup > Apps > App Manager

    2. Open the menu for Backstory Canvas App and click Manage and then Edit Policies

    3. Change the Subject Type field value from “Username” to “Federation ID”

    4. Click the Save button

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      ​NOTE: You can also use the “Custom Attribute” value. Once selected, you must choose the correct field in the Custom Attribute field. If no selection is available, please create a new Custom Field (Text,255) on the User Object and refresh this page.
      ​

Note: Users with access to package components but without a Federation ID set will receive a permission-related error displayed in Salesforce Classic.

  • Update User Federation IDs:
    The Federation ID (or Custom Attribute) must be populated with the original Username from the Production SFDC instance for every user who should have access to Backstory embedded apps.

    • Update Users

      • Manual Update:

        1. Navigate to Setup > Users > Users

        2. Click the Edit button for every user who should be enabled.

          1. Copy Username without sandbox name affix (user@company.com.sbname)

          2. Paste the value into the Federation ID field

          3. Click the Save button

      • Or you can execute this script in Developer Console to update all the users at once:
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      string affix = '.'+UserInfo.getUserName().substringAfterLast('.'); User[] us = [SELECT Username FROM User WHERE FederationIdentifier = '' AND UserType='Standard']; for(User u : us){ u.FederationIdentifier = u.Username.replace(affix,''); } update us;

Service Provider-Initiated Single Sign-On Configuration

As an alternative to the IdP-initiated flow, the application can be configured to use the SP-initiated flow, which requires users to log in manually to use the app. This method does not involve any Identity Provider configuration and requires only administrative intervention by the Backstory team using the Subscriber’s Granted Login Access.

Salesforce User Interface Configuration

The application includes several components that can be embedded into your pages to provide different views.

Embed Full Backstory App [Required]

This tab provides access to the entire Backstory web application and must be added to the ‘App’ of any user who will be using the Backstory Salesforce experience.

It is required because it ensures that any hyperlinks clicked on inside the Backstory Lightning components open a tab to the Backstory web application within Salesforce, rather than outside of Salesforce.

  • Navigate to Setup > Apps > App Manager

  • Choose any app to which you want to include the Backstory application, click the caret on the right side, and then click the Edit button

  • Open the Navigation Items tab in the left narrow column

  • Find the Backstory item and add it to Selected Items

  • Click the Save button
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Need a hand? Have a question? Drop us a line at support@backstory.ai.

Related Articles
Validating Backstory Data
Comply with New Salesforce Policies for Connected App Access
Backstory in Salesforce Integration & Setup
Connecting Backstory and Slack
Backstory Salesforce Managed Package Overview
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