Salesforce Models API connection
Salesforce Models API lets AI features generate text through a Salesforce connection using a configured application or operator identity.
What it is
Salesforce Models API lets INSIDE AI features request text generation through Salesforce. The selected connection and identity policy determine whose Salesforce credentials the request uses. This is separate from running a Salesforce Agentforce agent.
Who uses it and why
Administrators and developers agree the Salesforce model, connection and identity policy with Powerfront. Operators use the configured AI feature; where Context User applies, their verified Salesforce identity can be used for execution.
Where to find it
Powerfront manages the account options in Settings › AI › Accounts and dedicated connections in Settings › AI › Connections. Powerfront also manages the website integration in Settings › General Settings › Salesforce.
You select the prepared AI account on the relevant feature in Settings › AI › Features, using the Settings role with AI access or the Developer role.
How it works
- The AI account selects Salesforce Connection and a Salesforce model.
- Before sending a request, INSIDE resolves the configured identity. Context User uses a suitable verified operator identity when available. Otherwise, its configured fallback supplies the identity before execution.
- Chat Generations preserves message roles. Generations combines the instructions and messages into one text prompt.
- Salesforce returns generated text, which INSIDE converts into the feature's result.
When Enable AiFlow tools is on, INSIDE can ask the model for a single structured function request. It checks the function name, arguments and expected format before executing the tool. A malformed required tool request fails rather than being treated as a valid action.
Contradictory conversation or operator identities are rejected. Eligible application or configured-user credentials can be refreshed once after an authentication rejection. A rejected operator request does not automatically switch to another user's identity.
Configure it
Ask Powerfront to prepare the Salesforce model and either the website integration or a dedicated AI connection. Agree Salesforce Identity and Context User Fallback, including what should happen when no operator identity is available.
New account forms start with Context User and an App Credentials fallback. When no identity policy is saved on the account, the website integration uses Configured User; a dedicated connection supplies its own identity policy, which defaults to App Credentials. An account that selects Context User without saving a fallback uses App Credentials. Accounts with no identity policy inherit the connection's fallback. Confirm the effective policy with Powerfront before relying on it.
Ask Powerfront to choose Models Capability to match the selected model and confirm Enable AiFlow tools if the feature uses functions or rich content. New account forms select it, but saved configurations without that option leave emulation off.
Settings
| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce Identity | Settings › AI › Accounts | website | Context User in new account forms; when not saved, Configured User for the website integration or the dedicated connection's identity policy, which defaults to App Credentials | Powerfront | Selects whether execution uses the available operator Salesforce identity or configured connection credentials. |
| Context User Fallback | Settings › AI › Accounts | website | App Credentials in new account forms and when the account selects Context User without a saved fallback; inherits the connection policy when the account has no identity policy | Powerfront | Chooses the configured identity used before a request when no usable operator identity is available. |
| Models Capability | Settings › AI › Accounts | website | Chat Generations | Powerfront | Uses role-based chat messages or a single flattened generation prompt. |
| Enable AiFlow tools | Settings › AI › Accounts | website | On in new account forms; Off when absent from saved configuration | Powerfront | Allows validated tool-call emulation for AiFlow functions and supported rich-content handling. |
| Salesforce Connection | Settings › AI › Accounts | website | Not set: a connection must be selected before execution | Powerfront | Selects the website Salesforce integration or a dedicated Salesforce AI connection. |
Permissions
| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| AI | With the Settings role, allows selection of a prepared account in Features; the Developer role can also access Features. |
Limits and good to know
- This integration accepts text. Images and files are rejected.
- Tool calls are emulated through validated text output. They are not native Salesforce Models tool calls.
- Structured replies must match the requested format. Extra prose or invalid structured values can cause a failure.
- Bypass User does not bypass Salesforce user access in the Models path; it resolves to application authentication.
- The default Models request timeout is 120 seconds. Powerfront can change it within supported bounds.
- This path returns model text after generation finishes; do not assume native streaming of generated tokens.
Depends on and works with
View all connections as a list
This feature uses
- AI functions and required inputsEnhances
Explicit tool emulation lets supported model responses request configured functions.
- AI agent service connectionsRelated
Salesforce Models generates text with a selected model, while Agentforce runs a configured Salesforce agent.
- Rich content in AI repliesEnhances
Enabled rich replies can use validated Salesforce structured output when tool emulation supports the requested format.
- AI accounts and shared defaultsRequires
An AI account must select the Salesforce model, connection and execution identity policy.
- AI model catalogueConfigured by
Model configuration selects the Salesforce Models provider and model.
- Shared AI service connectionsConfigured by
A dedicated Salesforce AI connection supplies authentication configuration.
- Salesforce connection and operator setupConfigured by
When the website Salesforce connection is selected, its authentication and verified operator sessions determine the available execution identity.
Used by
- AI model provider selectionEnhances
Salesforce Models API is another provider choice.
- Shared AI service connectionsEnhances
Salesforce AI Connection supplies reusable credentials for Salesforce AI accounts.
FAQ and troubleshooting
Why does a feature work for one operator but not another?
It may use Context User. Ask Powerfront to check each operator's verified Salesforce session and the configured fallback.
Why do tool-enabled requests fail?
Check Enable AiFlow tools with Powerfront. The model must also return a valid request for an allowed function. Text-only generation does not supply native tool calling.
Why is an uploaded image rejected?
This Salesforce Models integration supports text only. Use a separately configured feature with verified support for the required content type.
Does Context User Fallback take over after any Salesforce error?
No. It is an identity choice before execution when the operator identity is unavailable. It is not a general retry policy for failed requests.
Is Salesforce Models the same as Salesforce Agentforce?
No. Models provides text generation. Agentforce runs a configured Salesforce agent through a separate execution option, although both can share connection and identity support.