Failed to retrieve metadata. Status: FAILED Message: SfError The specified metadata type is unsupported: [expressionsetobjectalias]

[Tony White]

There seems to be an issue with retrieving https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_meta.meta/api_meta/meta_expressionsetobjectalias.htm

Failed to retrieve metadata. Status: FAILED Message: SfError The specified metadata type is unsupported: [expressionsetobjectalias]

Steps to reproduce:

1. Sign up for a BRE Org with Samples -
   https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/advanced-rules-with-business-rules-engine/get-ready-to-create-advanced-business-rules#:~:text=public health portal.-,Sign Up for a Developer Edition Org with Business Rules Engine,-To complete this
2. Connect IC2 to this org and setup a sfdx project

3. Add to the metadata selection

   • decisionMatrixDefinition
   • decisionMatrixVersion
   • expressionSetDefinition
   • expressionSetObjectAlias
   • expressionSetVersion

4. Retrieve
   Result: error

‌

[Tony White]

Here is the Meta retrieve logs

2023-11-30 08:14:38,922 [172938062] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - Creating a metadata package for module BRE_TrailHead.
2023-11-30 08:14:38,922 [172938062] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - Creating a metadata package based on package.xml file manifest/package.xml.
2023-11-30 08:14:40,361 [172939501] INFO - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.RetrieveAction - Retrieving metadata from requested connection BusinessRuleTrailHead into module BRE_TrailHead
2023-11-30 08:14:40,362 [172939502] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.RetrieveAction - Retrieving for connection BusinessRuleTrailHead: { DecisionMatrixDefinition[Additional_Subsidy], DecisionMatrixDefinition[Age_Based_Subsidy], DecisionMatrixDefinition[Applicant_Age_Based_Subsidy], DecisionMatrixDefinition[Base_Premium], DecisionMatrixDefinitionVersion[Additional_Subsidy_V1], DecisionMatrixDefinitionVersion[Age_Based_Subsidy_V1], DecisionMatrixDefinitionVersion[Applicant_Age_Based_Subsidy_V1], DecisionMatrixDefinitionVersion[Base_Premium_V1], ExpressionSetDefinition[Insurance_Payment], ExpressionSetDefinition[Insurance_Subsidy], ExpressionSetDefinition[Insurance_Subsidy_Calculation], ExpressionSetObjectAlias[InsurancePremium], ExpressionSetDefinitionVersion[Insurance_Payment_V1], ExpressionSetDefinitionVersion[Insurance_Payment_V2], ExpressionSetDefinitionVersion[Insurance_Subsidy_V1] }.
2023-11-30 08:14:40,362 [172939502] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComSfdxMetadataRetriever - Retrieving metadata for module BRE_TrailHead
2023-11-30 08:14:40,367 [172939507] INFO - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComSfdxMetadataRetriever - Using the Salesforce CLI to retrieve metadata for project 'BRE_TrailHead' from connection 'BusinessRuleTrailHead'.
2023-11-30 08:14:40,373 [172939513] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.util.VariableLengthPollingInterval - /usr/local/bin/sfdx force:source:retrieve -u [e-mail] -x /Users/tonywhite/Sync/Workspaces/BRE_TrailHead/manifest/package.xml --json: Using polling interval 1000 ms for polling iteration 1.
2023-11-30 08:14:40,418 [172939558] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - Handling file deleted event for filename manifest, file /Users/tonywhite/Library/Caches/JetBrains/WebStorm2023.2/tmp/BRE_TrailHead-BusinessRuleTrailHead-retrieve1/tmp/manifest, parent /Users/tonywhite/Library/Caches/JetBrains/WebStorm2023.2/tmp/BRE_TrailHead-BusinessRuleTrailHead-retrieve1/tmp.
2023-11-30 08:14:40,418 [172939558] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - shouldProcess = false, deleteForMove = false
2023-11-30 08:14:40,418 [172939558] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - Skipping delete handling for this event.
2023-11-30 08:14:40,418 [172939558] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - Handling file deleted event for filename manifest, file /Users/tonywhite/Library/Caches/JetBrains/WebStorm2023.2/tmp/BRE_TrailHead-BusinessRuleTrailHead-retrieve1/tmp/manifest, parent /Users/tonywhite/Library/Caches/JetBrains/WebStorm2023.2/tmp/BRE_TrailHead-BusinessRuleTrailHead-retrieve1/tmp.
2023-11-30 08:14:40,418 [172939558] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - shouldProcess = false, deleteForMove = false
2023-11-30 08:14:40,418 [172939558] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComBuilder - Skipping delete handling for this event.
2023-11-30 08:14:41,378 [172940518] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.util.VariableLengthPollingInterval - /usr/local/bin/sfdx force:source:retrieve -u [e-mail] -x /Users/tonywhite/Sync/Workspaces/BRE_TrailHead/manifest/package.xml --json: Using polling interval 1000 ms for polling iteration 2.
2023-11-30 08:14:42,383 [172941523] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.util.VariableLengthPollingInterval - /usr/local/bin/sfdx force:source:retrieve -u [e-mail] -x /Users/tonywhite/Sync/Workspaces/BRE_TrailHead/manifest/package.xml --json: Using polling interval 1000 ms for polling iteration 3.
2023-11-30 08:14:43,396 [172942536] WARN - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.sfdx.SfdxUtil - Salesforce CLI stderr deprecation contents:
(node:95138) [DEP0040] DeprecationWarning: The punycode module is deprecated. Please use a userland alternative instead.
2023-11-30 08:14:43,409 [172942549] INFO - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComSfdxMetadataRetriever - Retrieve completed in 3 s 42 ms.
2023-11-30 08:14:43,410 [172942550] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComSfdxMetadataRetriever - Received retrieve response:
{
"status": 1,
"exitCode": 1,
"message": "The specified metadata type is unsupported: [expressionsetobjectalias]",
"name": "SfError",
"commandName": "Retrieve",
"stack": "SfError: The specified metadata type is unsupported: [expressionsetobjectalias]\n at ComponentSetBuilder.build (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@salesforce/cli/node_modules/@salesforce/source-deploy-retrieve/lib/src/collections/componentSetBuilder.js:134:23)\n at async Retrieve.retrieve (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@salesforce/cli/node_modules/@salesforce/plugin-source/lib/commands/force/source/retrieve.js:73:29)\n at async Retrieve.run (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@salesforce/cli/node_modules/@salesforce/plugin-source/lib/commands/force/source/retrieve.js:34:9)\n at async Retrieve._run (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@salesforce/cli/node_modules/@salesforce/plugin-source/node_modules/@oclif/core/lib/command.js:117:22)\n at async Config.runCommand (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@salesforce/cli/node_modules/@oclif/core/lib/config/config.js:400:25)\n at async run (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@salesforce/cli/node_modules/@oclif/core/lib/main.js:85:16)",
"actions": [],
"warnings": [
"We plan to deprecate this command in the future. Try using the \"project retrieve start\" command instead.",
"The \"-u\" flag has been deprecated. Use \"--target-org | -o\" instead."
]
}
2023-11-30 08:14:43,410 [172942550] FINE - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComSfdxMetadataRetriever - Retrieve appears to have failed. Adding details.
2023-11-30 08:14:43,410 [172942550] WARN - #com.illuminatedcloud.intellij.builder.ForceComSfdxMetadataRetriever - Failed to retrieve metadata.

Status: FAILED
Message: SfError
The specified metadata type is unsupported: [expressionsetobjectalias]

‌

[Scott Wells]

Thanks for filing, Tony. I'll have to set up an environment to reproduce this. Due to some conflicts late this week, it'll likely be early next week before I can do so. I'll let you know how that goes and whether I have any additional questions about how to reproduce it.

[Tony White]

No problem, IF I am going to need it, will not be until next year ;) but I am sure someone else out there will need it too

[Scott Wells]

Tony, I’ve been following this set of examples to try to reproduce the issue you’re seeing:

https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.task_clone_an_expression_set.htm&type=5

So far I’m able to create and retrieve DecisionMatrixDefinition and ExpresssionSetDefinition metadata (and their own subordinates) but I haven’t yet produced an ExpressionSetObjectAlias. Just for sake of getting to the problem, can you let me know what I need to do to have one of those in my org so I can try to retrieve it?

[Tony White]

This is the link to get an org will full examples - https://trailhead.salesforce.com/promo/orgs/business-rules-engine-

I fully suspect it is actually coming from the sf cli, even though their API seems to indicate is should be supported.

‌

[Scott Wells]

Thanks. Yep, it’s an issue with the CLI. You can reproduce it directly via CLI commands (using the “old” syntax here):

$ sfdx force:source:retrieve -m ExpressionSetDefinition 
Warning: We plan to deprecate this command in the future. Try using the "project retrieve start" command instead.
Retrieving v59.0 metadata from <username> using the v59.0 SOAP API
Preparing retrieve request... done
=== Retrieved Source

 FULL NAME                     TYPE                    PROJECT PATH                                                                                                  STATE   
 ───────────────────────────── ─────────────────────── ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─────── 
 Insurance_Payment             ExpressionSetDefinition force-app\main\default\expressionSetDefinition\Insurance_Payment.expressionSetDefinition-meta.xml             Created
 Insurance_Subsidy             ExpressionSetDefinition force-app\main\default\expressionSetDefinition\Insurance_Subsidy.expressionSetDefinition-meta.xml             Created
 Insurance_Subsidy_Calculation ExpressionSetDefinition force-app\main\default\expressionSetDefinition\Insurance_Subsidy_Calculation.expressionSetDefinition-meta.xml Created

$ sfdx force:source:retrieve -m ExpressionSetObjectAlias
Warning: We plan to deprecate this command in the future. Try using the "project retrieve start" command instead.
Preparing retrieve request... Error
Error (1): The specified metadata type is unsupported: [expressionsetobjectalias]

However, IC2 is able to retrieve all of that metadata without any issues in a metadata format project using the API directly instead of the CLI:

‌

It looks like I do need to add those as XML file type extensions for metadata format projects (they’re fine in source format since they named *-meta.xml), but otherwise you can retrieve and work with those files until/unless the CLI is involved. I’d recommend you log this as an issue in the CLI public issue tracker.

[Tony White]

Thanks Scott, raising bug for the Salesforce CLI team now.

[Scott Wells]

Resolving here as what seems to be a CLI-specific issue. Note that I did update IC2's XML metadata file type extensions to include those for the (known?) BRE types for inclusion in the next build.

[Tony White]

Issue raised on Salesforce CLI GitHub project - https://github.com/forcedotcom/cli/issues/2589