Tool Guide · Metadata Review

WHAT SALESFORCE METADATA REVIEW COVERS BEFORE ORG CLEANUP BEGINS.

Salesforce metadata is the structure your org is built on: fields, objects, layouts, permissions, and automation. Reviewing it before cleanup gives you a defensible baseline — and reduces the risk of breaking things that are quietly doing their job.

Read-only diagnostics · Review-ready workbooks · No package install · No Connected App

01 — What Metadata Means

METADATA IS WHAT YOUR ORG IS MADE OF — NOT THE DATA INSIDE IT.

When Salesforce admins talk about cleaning up an org, they usually mean one of two things: cleaning up the configuration (fields, layouts, automation, permissions) or cleaning up the data (duplicate records, stale records, bad values). These are different jobs with different risks.

A metadata audit covers configuration. It asks: which fields exist on which objects, how are they laid out and secured, what automation is running, and what has accumulated that is no longer clearly tied to an active business process? It is the structural review that makes cleanup decisions traceable.

KeelCadence diagnostics are metadata-focused by design. They review org structure — not customer records — so the audit stays within a bounded, reviewable scope.

02 — What This Helps You Review

WHAT A METADATA AUDIT COVERS ACROSS FOUR DIAGNOSTIC AREAS.

Fields & Objects

  • Custom field inventory by object with fill rates and field types
  • Hidden populated fields — data that exists but is invisible to most users
  • Layout presence and required-field status

Permissions & FLS

  • Object and field-level security across profiles and permission sets
  • Permission set count and assignment patterns as sprawl reference signals
  • System permission exposure including Modify All Data and View All Data

Automation Inventory

  • Flows, Apex, validation rules, workflow rules, and approval processes by object
  • Active vs. inactive status and automation count as a change-risk signal

Record Readiness

  • Required fields, required lookups, and restricted picklists for selected objects
  • Validation rule and record type configuration affecting record creation

Relevant Workbook

Field & Object Audit

The Field & Object Audit is the primary metadata review tool for field-level diagnostics — field inventory, fill rates, hidden populated fields, layout coverage, and FLS visibility across selected objects.

Learn more →Run diagnostic →View sample workbook →
03 — Scope Boundaries

WHAT THIS METADATA REVIEW DOES NOT COVER.

What this does not cover

  • Customer record data — the review is metadata-only by design
  • Managed package internals or AppExchange component metadata
  • Custom labels, static resources, and Experience Cloud configuration
  • Connected App OAuth settings and integration authentication review
  • Full dependency mapping — runtime references may not be visible in metadata alone
04 — Related Resources

RELATED GUIDES.

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

What does a Salesforce metadata audit cover?
A Salesforce metadata audit reviews the structural elements of your org that are separate from customer record data: custom fields, objects, page layouts, profiles, permission sets, Flows, Apex, validation rules, and related configuration. The goal is to understand what exists, how it is configured, and what may have accumulated beyond its useful life.
What is the difference between a metadata audit and a data audit?
A metadata audit reviews org configuration and structure — fields, layouts, automation, permissions — not customer records. A data audit reviews the quality, completeness, and accuracy of the data stored in those fields. KeelCadence focuses on metadata-first diagnostics: reviewing structure before making change decisions.
Why is metadata review important before cleaning up a Salesforce org?
Metadata is the skeleton of your Salesforce org. Fields, layouts, permissions, and automation are all interconnected. Removing a field without understanding its FLS exposure or automation references can break record-save behavior. Changing permissions without understanding the profile structure can grant unintended access. Reviewing metadata before cleanup reduces the risk of downstream breaks.
Does KeelCadence surface all Salesforce metadata?
No. KeelCadence surfaces metadata across four focused diagnostic areas: fields and objects, permissions and FLS, automation inventory, and selected-object record-readiness. It does not cover every Salesforce metadata type — areas like custom labels, static resources, connected apps, managed packages, and Experience Cloud are outside its current scope.
Do I need to install anything in Salesforce to run a metadata audit with KeelCadence?
No. KeelCadence does not require a Salesforce package install, Connected App, or persistent OAuth token. The diagnostic runs read-only for the session against your org metadata and does not export customer record data.
Start with Metadata Review

REVIEW FIELD AND OBJECT METADATA BEFORE YOUR NEXT CHANGE PROJECT.

KeelCadence Field & Object Audit surfaces field inventory, fill rates, hidden populated fields, layout coverage, and FLS visibility — the first diagnostic for any metadata-intensive Salesforce project.

Run Field & Object AuditView sample workbook
See what Field & Object Audit covers →

Read-only · No package install · No Connected App setup · No Salesforce writes

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