Why are data extensions in Salesforce Data Extension folder/sub-folder not available to be added in the contact builder data model? Is this a very specific design restriction? To the best of my understanding having data extensions in the Salesforce data extension folder only serves as a directory that can enable tracking to be sent back to Salesforce when sends are made through Email/Automation studio. Why is this folder not available when building contact builder data model? Am I missing something?
Thanks!
[SalesForce] Salesforce Data Extensions not available for Contact Builder Data Model
Related Solutions
Are you using Marketing Cloud Connect ? If yes all you need is 18 digit contact / lead id. When you configure email send in journeys you will have a option "Send Tracking Data to Sales Cloud" and emails gets logged under IER in sales cloud.
Your DE has to be in Data Extensions folder, even if it's a Salesforce Data Extension. Just move them manually.
The problem was that I didn't link my custom Data Extension with Contact on Contact Builder.
Solution:
I entered on Contact Builder, created a new Attribute Group. After that I clicked on "Link Data Extensions".
So I select my Data Extension (DE) and linked my Primary Key of my DE (Salesforce Contact ID) with Marketing Cloud Contact Key.
At the end I clicked on Save and executed my Journey with my DE as Entry Source. After about 1 hour I received tracking data records on Salesforce.
Best Answer
Salesforce Data Extensions are indeed not available in Contact Builder - only in Email Studio. This is a limitation of the application, you are not missing anything. I normally set up the entire contact model in Data Designer using regular data extensions, and only use the Salesforce Data Extensions for e.g. Guided Sends. Remember, the contact model is mainly utilised in Journey Builder, which always will push tracking back to Sales Cloud, regardless what type of Data Extension is being used as entry event.