---
name: b2c-metadata
description: Work with B2C Commerce site metadata XML for custom attributes and object types. Use when defining custom attributes on products/orders/customers, creating custom object types, or setting site preferences via XML import. Covers system-objecttype-extensions.xml and custom-objecttype-definitions.xml.
---

# Metadata Skill

This skill guides you through working with site metadata XML for Salesforce B2C Commerce, including custom attributes, custom objects, and site preferences.

## Overview

Metadata defines the structure of your B2C Commerce data:

| Metadata Type | Purpose |
|---------------|---------|
| **System Object Extensions** | Add custom attributes to Products, Orders, Customers, etc. |
| **Custom Objects** | Define entirely new data types |
| **Site Preferences** | Site-specific configuration values |

## Site Archive Structure

Metadata is organized in site archives:

```
/site-archive
    /meta
        system-objecttype-extensions.xml    # Custom attributes on system objects
        custom-objecttype-definitions.xml   # Custom object definitions
    /sites
        /MySite
            preferences.xml                 # Site preferences
```

## System Object Extensions

Add custom attributes to existing system objects.

### Basic Structure

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<metadata xmlns="http://www.demandware.com/xml/impex/metadata/2006-10-31">
    <type-extension type-id="Product">
        <custom-attribute-definitions>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="myCustomAttribute">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">My Custom Attribute</display-name>
                <type>string</type>
                <mandatory-flag>false</mandatory-flag>
                <externally-managed-flag>false</externally-managed-flag>
            </attribute-definition>
        </custom-attribute-definitions>
        <group-definitions>
            <attribute-group group-id="MyCustomGroup">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">My Custom Group</display-name>
                <attribute attribute-id="myCustomAttribute"/>
            </attribute-group>
        </group-definitions>
    </type-extension>
</metadata>
```

### Common System Objects

| Object Type | Use Case |
|-------------|----------|
| `Product` | Product attributes |
| `Order` | Order metadata |
| `Profile` | Customer profile data |
| `Basket` | Cart data |
| `SitePreferences` | Site configuration |
| `Category` | Category attributes |
| `Content` | Content asset attributes |

### Attribute Types

| Type | Description | Example |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `string` | Text (max 4000 chars) | SKU, descriptions |
| `text` | Long text (unlimited) | Rich content |
| `int` | Integer | Quantity, rank |
| `double` | Decimal | Percentage, weight |
| `boolean` | true/false | Flags |
| `date` | Date only | Birth date |
| `datetime` | Date and time | Timestamps |
| `email` | Email address | Contact email |
| `password` | Encrypted | API keys |
| `html` | HTML content | Rich text |
| `enum-of-string` | Single select | Status |
| `enum-of-int` | Numeric enum | Priority level |
| `set-of-string` | Multi-select | Tags |
| `set-of-int` | Numeric multi-select | Categories |
| `image` | Image reference | Thumbnails |

### Enum Value Definitions

Enum types (`enum-of-string`, `enum-of-int`, `set-of-string`, `set-of-int`) require `value-definitions` with **value/display pairs**:

```xml
<attribute-definition attribute-id="warrantyType">
    <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Warranty Type</display-name>
    <type>enum-of-string</type>
    <mandatory-flag>false</mandatory-flag>
    <value-definitions>
        <value-definition>
            <value>none</value>
            <display xml:lang="x-default">No Warranty</display>
        </value-definition>
        <value-definition>
            <value>limited</value>
            <display xml:lang="x-default">Limited Warranty</display>
        </value-definition>
        <value-definition>
            <value>full</value>
            <display xml:lang="x-default">Full Warranty</display>
        </value-definition>
    </value-definitions>
</attribute-definition>
```

| Element | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `<value>` | The stored/API value (use lowercase, no spaces) |
| `<display>` | Human-readable label shown in Business Manager |

## Product Custom Attribute Example

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<metadata xmlns="http://www.demandware.com/xml/impex/metadata/2006-10-31">
    <type-extension type-id="Product">
        <custom-attribute-definitions>
            <!-- Simple string attribute -->
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="vendorSKU">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Vendor SKU</display-name>
                <type>string</type>
                <mandatory-flag>false</mandatory-flag>
                <externally-managed-flag>true</externally-managed-flag>
            </attribute-definition>

            <!-- Enum (dropdown) attribute -->
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="productCondition">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Product Condition</display-name>
                <type>enum-of-string</type>
                <mandatory-flag>false</mandatory-flag>
                <value-definitions>
                    <value-definition>
                        <value>new</value>
                        <display xml:lang="x-default">New</display>
                    </value-definition>
                    <value-definition>
                        <value>refurbished</value>
                        <display xml:lang="x-default">Refurbished</display>
                    </value-definition>
                    <value-definition>
                        <value>used</value>
                        <display xml:lang="x-default">Used</display>
                    </value-definition>
                </value-definitions>
            </attribute-definition>

            <!-- Boolean attribute -->
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="isHazardous">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Hazardous Material</display-name>
                <type>boolean</type>
                <mandatory-flag>false</mandatory-flag>
                <default-value>false</default-value>
            </attribute-definition>

            <!-- Multi-select attribute -->
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="productFeatures">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Product Features</display-name>
                <type>set-of-string</type>
                <mandatory-flag>false</mandatory-flag>
                <value-definitions>
                    <value-definition>
                        <value>waterproof</value>
                        <display xml:lang="x-default">Waterproof</display>
                    </value-definition>
                    <value-definition>
                        <value>recyclable</value>
                        <display xml:lang="x-default">Recyclable</display>
                    </value-definition>
                </value-definitions>
            </attribute-definition>
        </custom-attribute-definitions>

        <group-definitions>
            <attribute-group group-id="CustomProductInfo">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Custom Product Information</display-name>
                <attribute attribute-id="vendorSKU"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="productCondition"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="isHazardous"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="productFeatures"/>
            </attribute-group>
        </group-definitions>
    </type-extension>
</metadata>
```

## Custom Object Definitions

Create entirely new data types.

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<metadata xmlns="http://www.demandware.com/xml/impex/metadata/2006-10-31">
    <custom-type type-id="StoreLocations">
        <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Store Locations</display-name>
        <description xml:lang="x-default">Physical store information</description>
        <staging-mode>source-to-target</staging-mode>
        <storage-scope>site</storage-scope>
        <key-definition attribute-id="storeId">
            <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Store ID</display-name>
            <type>string</type>
            <min-length>1</min-length>
        </key-definition>
        <attribute-definitions>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="storeName">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Store Name</display-name>
                <type>string</type>
                <mandatory-flag>true</mandatory-flag>
            </attribute-definition>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="latitude">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Latitude</display-name>
                <type>double</type>
            </attribute-definition>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="longitude">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Longitude</display-name>
                <type>double</type>
            </attribute-definition>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="phone">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Phone</display-name>
                <type>string</type>
            </attribute-definition>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="isActive">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Active</display-name>
                <type>boolean</type>
                <default-value>true</default-value>
            </attribute-definition>
        </attribute-definitions>
        <group-definitions>
            <attribute-group group-id="StoreInfo">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Store Information</display-name>
                <attribute attribute-id="storeId" system="true"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="storeName"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="latitude"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="longitude"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="phone"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="isActive"/>
            </attribute-group>
        </group-definitions>
    </custom-type>
</metadata>
```

## Site Preferences

Site-specific configuration via custom attributes on SitePreferences.

### Metadata (system-objecttype-extensions.xml)

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<metadata xmlns="http://www.demandware.com/xml/impex/metadata/2006-10-31">
    <type-extension type-id="SitePreferences">
        <custom-attribute-definitions>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="enableFeatureX">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Enable Feature X</display-name>
                <type>boolean</type>
                <default-value>false</default-value>
            </attribute-definition>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="apiEndpoint">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">API Endpoint</display-name>
                <type>string</type>
            </attribute-definition>
            <attribute-definition attribute-id="maxItemsPerPage">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Max Items Per Page</display-name>
                <type>int</type>
                <default-value>20</default-value>
            </attribute-definition>
        </custom-attribute-definitions>
        <group-definitions>
            <attribute-group group-id="CustomSettings">
                <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Custom Settings</display-name>
                <attribute attribute-id="enableFeatureX"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="apiEndpoint"/>
                <attribute attribute-id="maxItemsPerPage"/>
            </attribute-group>
        </group-definitions>
    </type-extension>
</metadata>
```

### Values (sites/MySite/preferences.xml)

Preferences can be set per instance type (development, staging, production) or for all instances:

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<preferences xmlns="http://www.demandware.com/xml/impex/preferences/2007-03-31">
    <custom-preferences>
        <all-instances>
            <!-- Values that apply to all instance types -->
            <preference preference-id="maxItemsPerPage">25</preference>
        </all-instances>
        <development>
            <!-- Development-specific values -->
            <preference preference-id="enableFeatureX">true</preference>
            <preference preference-id="apiEndpoint">https://dev-api.example.com/v1</preference>
        </development>
        <staging>
            <preference preference-id="enableFeatureX">true</preference>
            <preference preference-id="apiEndpoint">https://staging-api.example.com/v1</preference>
        </staging>
        <production>
            <preference preference-id="enableFeatureX">false</preference>
            <preference preference-id="apiEndpoint">https://api.example.com/v1</preference>
        </production>
    </custom-preferences>
</preferences>
```

### Access in Code

```javascript
var Site = require('dw/system/Site');

var enableFeatureX = Site.current.getCustomPreferenceValue('enableFeatureX');
var apiEndpoint = Site.current.getCustomPreferenceValue('apiEndpoint');
var maxItems = Site.current.getCustomPreferenceValue('maxItemsPerPage');
```

## Attribute Definition Options

```xml
<attribute-definition attribute-id="myAttribute">
    <display-name xml:lang="x-default">Display Name</display-name>
    <description xml:lang="x-default">Description for BM tooltip</description>
    <type>string</type>
    <localizable-flag>false</localizable-flag>
    <mandatory-flag>false</mandatory-flag>
    <externally-managed-flag>false</externally-managed-flag>
    <visible-flag>true</visible-flag>
    <site-specific-flag>false</site-specific-flag>
    <order-required-flag>false</order-required-flag>
    <searchable-flag>false</searchable-flag>
    <min-length>0</min-length>
    <max-length>256</max-length>
    <default-value>default</default-value>
    <select-mode>none</select-mode>
    <unit>kg</unit>
</attribute-definition>
```

| Flag | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `localizable-flag` | Can have different values per locale |
| `mandatory-flag` | Required in BM |
| `externally-managed-flag` | Read-only in BM |
| `visible-flag` | Shown in BM |
| `site-specific-flag` | Different value per site |
| `order-required-flag` | Required for order export |
| `searchable-flag` | Indexed for search |

## Best Practices

1. **Use attribute groups** to organize in Business Manager
2. **Prefix custom attributes** with organization name (e.g., `acme_myAttribute`)
3. **Set externally-managed** for data imported from external systems
4. **Use enums over strings** for controlled vocabularies
5. **Document with descriptions** - they appear as tooltips

## Detailed Reference

- [System Objects Reference](references/SYSTEM-OBJECTS.md) - All system object types
- [XML Examples](references/XML-EXAMPLES.md) - Complete import/export examples