End of JavaScript Sidebar Workarounds in Salesforce Classic?
Question:
With the Summer ’15 release, Salesforce started removing unsupported code from HTML Area home page components. As a result, components containing JavaScript, CSS, iframes, or other unsupported markup may stop functioning correctly. The use of Visualforce Area components is now recommended for including JavaScript or advanced HTML elements in home page components. However, many developers have used sidebars with HTML components for “fancy hacks” and custom functionalities. Since Visualforce pages are hosted in an iframe, and they cannot interact with the page containing them, will these sidebar hacks continue to work after Summer ’15?
Answer:
As Salesforce moves towards removing support for JavaScript and other advanced HTML elements in HTML Area components, the shift to Visualforce pages introduces limitations. Visualforce pages are hosted in an iframe, preventing direct interaction with the main Salesforce page, which includes sidebar functionality. While you can still include JavaScript in Visualforce pages, it cannot modify the main page, making certain sidebar workarounds that rely on direct page manipulation infeasible.
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One possible solution for a controlled internal environment is to use a browser extension to execute JavaScript on specific pages. For example, writing a Chrome extension to execute JavaScript can solve the issue of modifying the main Salesforce page, such as adjusting the iframe height. This method allows you to bypass the limitations of Visualforce hosting and apply custom behavior on the main page. A managed deployment of the extension can roll this solution out across your organization, ensuring that it works for internal users.
This workaround should be seen as a last resort solution. While it avoids relying on potentially unsupported hacks, it requires extra maintenance and a browser-specific solution. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on your organization’s requirements and willingness to manage custom browser extensions.
Summing Up:
The removal of unsupported code in Salesforce’s HTML Area components after Summer ’15 means that JavaScript, CSS, iframes, and other advanced HTML elements will no longer work in home page components. With Visualforce pages hosted in an iframe, JavaScript can no longer interact directly with the main page, limiting the use of existing sidebar hacks.
A potential solution, though not ideal, is to use a browser extension that executes JavaScript on specific pages. This approach allows you to bypass Visualforce’s iframe limitations by modifying the main Salesforce page. While this method solves the problem, it is a last resort solution and requires careful management of custom browser extensions across your organization.
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