Category: XM Cloud

XM CLoud Dev – How to set background image using rendering parameters

This is a very common scenario where a background image needs to be set to certain components. Banner’s on any page on your website is a very common place to have a background image.

Note: This is not specific to XM Cloud but for any Headless implementation

Foundation Head already has an example on setting the background image using params. In this blog post will explore how this works and where in Sitecore the image can be applied. Will see how this can applied using Rendering Parameters and using OOTB _Background Image item.

Applying background image using rendering parameters

Background image can be applied to container. If you are using Foundation Head repo you can find this component OOTB.

Thre Container rendering is at following lcoation in Sitecore –

/sitecore/layout/Renderings/Feature/JSS Experience Accelerator/Page Structure/Container

Note Other properties- IsRenderingsWithDynamicPlaceholders and IsRenderingsWithDynamicPlaceholders is set to true

Rendering parameter is located – /sitecore/templates/Feature/JSS Experience Accelerator/Page Structure/Rendering Parameters/Container

Rendering paramter template has the BackgroundImage field. The background image will be set based on the image selected in this field.

How the image is set in Head

Lets see background image set in nextjs (sxastarter) Container.tsx

// image string from the rendering parameters
 let backgroundImage = props.params.BackgroundImage as string;
  let backgroundStyle: { [key: string]: string } = {};
  console.log('backgroundImage1');
  console.log(backgroundImage);
  if (backgroundImage) {
    const prefix = `${sitecoreContext.pageState !== 'normal' ? '/sitecore/shell' : ''}/-/media/`;
    backgroundImage = `${backgroundImage?.match(BACKGROUND_REG_EXP)?.pop()?.replace(/-/gi, '')}`;
    backgroundStyle = {
      backgroundImage: `url('${prefix}${backgroundImage}')`,
    };
  }

  return (
    <div className={`component container-default ${styles}`} id={id ? id : undefined}>

// style applied to <div> having background image
      <div className="component-content" style={backgroundStyle}>
        <div className="row">
          <Placeholder name={phKey} rendering={props.rendering} />
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
};

Lets see this in working in experience editor and rendering host

In the experience editor main section add a container component.

Once the rendering is added, goto “Edit component properties” and add an background image

Now you are able to see the background image applied ot container and I have added RichText in containerto show the image in background-

Rendering Host displays the image in background-

Nested containers to apply differnt background image or component

If you add only one container the image will be applied to the main section.

To resolve this you can add a container within main container. add mutiple containers as per your requirements. To set the background image to specific container in this example contianer-2 select the parent(i.e. container) and set the image by Editing the Component properties

This should apply the different images for various other sections in the sampe page and since the Container rendering has IsRenderingsWithDynamicPlaceholders property set this should create a unique Id for each container.

Here for example container-2 and container-3 is a child of container-1

Rendering Host displays banckgroung images with there respective components-

Isusue- Here you can see there is a white patch when applied to child container and the image is applied to inner div.

To resolev this apply the image to the outer div instead in container.tsx

return (
    <div className={`component container-default ${styles}`} style={backgroundStyle} id={id ? id : undefined}> // backgroundStyle added
      <div className="component-content"> // backgroundStyle removed
        <div className="row">
          <Placeholder name={phKey} rendering={props.rendering} />
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );

Here you can seee a full width background image

Hope these tips helps.

Deploy Headless SXA Site to XM Cloud

In this blog blost lets create Project and Environment to deploy the sxastarter site to XM Cloud. The deployment is based on the existing repository in GitHub and have solution ready to deploy. Please see this blog posts on how to fork Foundation Head Template and setup your local instance along with creating Headless SXA Site(sxastarter) also configure the serliazation of Sitecore items.

To create project and environment you need to have access to XM Cloud either Admin or Contributor.

Login to XM Cloud

https://portal.sitecorecloud.io/

XM Cloud Organization-

Contains organization you are assigned to-

An organization is business unit either company or brand and contains team members and Sitecore Products you are subscribed and can have more than one Sitecore Product as seen in the below screen.

XM Cloud Deploy

As highlighted quick links container XM Cloud Deploy

https://deploy.sitecorecloud.io/

Deploy contanis list of projects and deployments done for each project and environments. It also container connections to GitHub or Vercel if site is hosted their.

The highlighted shows Organization name at the top and list of projects.

Connect to GitHub (Source Control Connections)

Ensure the changes (Sitecore Items) are pushed to GitHub repo.

Recommended – create separate branch for each environment. I have created dev, staging and main(prod)

Connections – should show list of all connections for projects mainly Github and Azure Devop for Source Control, while hosting connections can be mafe to Vercel. In this section we will configure GitHub provider.

Create a new GitHub connection

Should ask to login and provide access to a repository, you may choose all or specific repository-

Since I already had connection you will be shown a different option to Install and Authorize

Create Project

Click on Create project option

This should show the type of project to be created. We want to start from our own Source Code(GitHub) based on the connection made.

Since we configured only GitHub connection defaults to this Source Control-

Your connection name will be displayed here. Choose the connection. This will also show any other connections available.

You may also create a new connection from here.

Provide the project name and the repository where Foundation Head code resides along with any other changes you might have done sa a part of development.

Environment name – provide name – should be able to relate which branch is this pulled from.

Production environment – if this is then choose yes, I have selected this as no since I ma setting dev environment

Linked branch- Select the appropriate branch ensure yuo have all the changes available in this branch which you want to deploy

Trigger deployment on commit to branch – Set if this has to be auto deployed if changes are pushed to selected branch.

Deploy. This should start the deployment. This should take 10 -15 mins. Wait for the post actions.

You should now see the newly created project with dev environment-

New Project Created

New Environment Created

New Site Created (sxastarter)

Select environment and goto Sites tab-

Will see in the next blog hot to setup the Hosting

Select environment and Details tab- You should be able to see hostname, url’s and tokens along with Environment details.

Click on the Dashboard link –> Tools to see if the items are synched-

We now have templates, content and relevant items in layouts and image created

Content Editor with Site Collection, Site and Content

Templates Created

Experience Editor

Lets check the home page in experience editor

In the next bog will configure the Site hosting to Vercel.

Errors-

In connections select Create Connection –> GitHub

Click on Uninstall “Sitecore Deploy Prod”

Follow the process of creating a Connection again and this time you will see option to Install & Authorize

Once this is done an confirmed try creating a project –

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XM Cloud local environment – Configure item serialization to sync Headless SXA instance items

Synchronizing items between environments with Sitecore Serialization. The repository already contains the necessary setup for enabling serialization if you are using an official Sitecore XM Cloud foundation template.

Pre-requisite- Setup Sitecore local instance for XM Cloud development. See this blog << Blog to setup Sitecoer instance>>

You may already see the rendering host module setup in the forked repository.

This should be available in the src folder.

Lets sync the sxastarter site created earlier whilst setting up the SXA Headless Site. << Blog post to setuop SXA headless site>>.

Please note this might not be the method you want to sync the items. Ideally you should create project in XM Cloud and site created in XM Cloud environment. I am doing the other way just to demo.

Create various modules to sync your locally created site to serialize the items

This should help to push the config and items to repository and deploy to XM Cloud later.

Sync templates-

Create a scxmcloud.templates.module.json in src folder.

We are trying to serialise templates to local. These items will be searlised-

{
  "$schema": "../.sitecore/schemas/ModuleFile.schema.json",
  "namespace": "SCXMCloud.Templates",
  "items": {
    "includes": [
      {
        "name": "scxmcloud.project.templates",
        "path": "/sitecore/templates/Project",
        "allowedPushOperations": "CreateUpdateAndDelete"
      }
    ]
  }
}

scope by default is ItemAndDescendants. Hence not defined. Any new templates added here will be auto serialised. allowedPushOperations is set to CreateUpdateAndDelete. Like wise define the same for Feature and Foundation folders.

Define the same for Content (if required) or specific items, Media Library and Layout but this may be site specific.

For media I have configured following – Where scope id Single item and allowedPushOperations is CreateOnly, so these items are created only once.

{
  "$schema": "../.sitecore/schemas/ModuleFile.schema.json",
  "namespace": "SXAStarter.Media",
  "items": {
    "includes": [
      {
        "name": "scxmcloud.project.media",
        "path": "/sitecore/media library/Project/scxmcloud",
        "allowedPushOperations": "CreateOnly",
        "scope": "SingleItem"
      },
      {
        "name": "sxastarter.project.media",
        "path": "/sitecore/media library/Project/scxmcloud/sxastarter",
        "allowedPushOperations": "CreateOnly"
      }
    ]
  }
}

For Palcholder settings and Renderings- Configure same for Feature and Foundation folder.

{
  "$schema": "../.sitecore/schemas/ModuleFile.schema.json",
  "namespace": "SXAStarter.Layout",
  "items": {
    "includes": [
      {
        "name": "sxastarter.project.placeholder",
        "path": "/sitecore/layout/Placeholder Settings/Project/scxmcloud",
        "allowedPushOperations": "CreateUpdateAndDelete"
      },
      {
        "name": "sxastarter.project.renderings",
        "path": "/sitecore/layout/Renderings/Project/scxmcloud",
        "allowedPushOperations": "CreateUpdateAndDelete"
      }
    ]
  }
}

For content- I am searlising the the Site Collection and setting this as CreateOnly with scope defaulting to ItemAndDescendants

{
  "$schema": "../.sitecore/schemas/ModuleFile.schema.json",
  "namespace": "SXAStarter.Content",
  "items": {
    "includes": [
      {
        "name": "sxastarter.content",
        "path": "/sitecore/content/scxmcloud",
        "allowedPushOperations": "CreateOnly"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Finally you should have following modules depending upon the youe site requirements and configuration.

Connect the local environment

After SCS configuration you should connect to local environment. To do so use the following command

This will add the endpoint in user.json file located in .sitecore folder. Alrthough there is a default endpoint which should suffice. Provide your Sitecore instnace host name as appropriate.

dotnet sitecore connect --ref xmcloud --cm https://xmcloudcm.localhost --allow-write true -n local

Local environment should be connected and now can perform sync operations.

An entry will be added in user.json file.

Next pull the items from local Sitecore instance-

dotnet sitecore ser pull -n "local"

If you see this error – ensure the names should be unique. I did a mistake by providing same name in templates module

If you see this error ensure the items to be searialised should be repeated in any other module or any other name. You may also exclude the paths for Feature and Foundation folders – /sitecore/layout/Renderings/Feature/Experience Accelerator

/sitecore/layout/Renderings/Feature/Experience Accelerator

Finally we should have the items seraliased to the items folder-

Items are serliased to support the Home page-

Please note I have synchornised Site Collection, Site and all items of the site.

Managed to have built the home page with some images and texts.

Push these changes to the repo we forked.

Reference-

https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/101/developer-tools/sitecore-content-serialization-configuration-reference.html

https://doc.sitecore.com/xmc/en/developers/xm-cloud/walkthrough–setting-up-your-full-stack-xm-cloud-local-development-environment.html

Next will configure Project, environment and deploy the Site to XM Cloud.

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XM Cloud local environment – Access Sitecore database hosted in Docker

This blog provides details on accessing local Sitecore instance Database hosted on Docker.

If you wish to backup or share Sitecore Database you can connect to Sitecore DB.

Install Sitecore local instance, see th blog post here and run the docker containers for Sitecore.

In .env file see the SQL connection details-

Check the docker container for the DB port.

You may also see the Connection String in CM container-

  • Sitecore_ConnectionStrings_Security
  • Sitecore_ConnectionStrings_Core
  • Sitecore_ConnectionStrings_Master
  • Sitecore_ConnectionStrings_Web

From your local installed SQL server connect to docker hosted DB-

You should not able to see the DB’s configured to support Sitecore XM Cloud local instance-

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XM Cloud local environment – Working with GraphQL

Assuming Sitecore local instnace is setup, lets look how to work on Graphql in local machine. See this blog post to setup the local machine for XM Cloud development.

<<Blog post url to setup local instance>>

The GraphQL playground (also called the GraphQL IDE) helps you test GraphQL queries before you use them in your application.

For local instance use the following to open the GraphQL IDE- Assuming local host name is – xmcloudcm.localhost

https://xmcloudcm.localhost/sitecore/api/graph/edge/ide

By default it points to https://xmcloudcm.localhost/api/graph/v1 which is a wrong URL as this URL looks for published items.

Use this URL in your local instance-

https://xmcloudcm.localhost/sitecore/api/graph/edge

This required Sitecore API key and looks for unpublished content which is valid for local instance.

Lets query the site info- Local instance site name is sxastarter

And the API key should be at this location. This api key is required to query using GraphQL

Sample query-

query {
 site {
  siteInfo(site: "sxastarter") {
   name
   rootPath
  }
 }
}

Add headers-

{
  "sc_apikey":"5797FECE-6C74-4535-88AC-5303752CCC99"
}

Results-

You now are ready to use your local machine to query using GraphQL.

Hope this helps.

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XM Cloud local environment – Setup a separate JSS application for Headless SXA site

In this blog post we wil setup nextjs application i.e. sxastarter assuming your local Sitecore instance is up and running.

We will create a Headless SXA site in Sitecore local instance and then setup the FE application. This is can also moved outside the Foundation Head repo so that FE devs can work on this spearately.

Setup JSS app to work with local Sitecore instance

Ensure you have Sitecore instance up and running see this blog << 2. XM CLoud for local env>> or you can also see this blog

1. Setup your JSS app

Ensure you execute this commands on FE folder i.e. /src/sxastarter

Ensure you have Sitecore JSS CLI installed on local machine

 

Once this is installed Setup the JSS app-

jss setup

Following is required to setup-

jss setup
Is your Sitecore instance on this machine or accessible via network share? [y/n]: n

Sitecore hostname (e.g. http://myapp.local.siteco.re; see /sitecore/config; ensure added to hosts): https://xmcloudcm.localhost
Sitecore import service URL [https://xmcloudcm.localhost/sitecore/api/jss/import]:
Sitecore API Key (ID of API key item): {5797FECE-6C74-4535-88AC-5303752CCC99}
Please enter your deployment secret (32+ random chars; or press enter to generate one): 

Provide the Sitecore hostname and the api secret, in this case xmcloudpreview item id at following location /sitecore/system/Settings/Services/API Keys/xmcloudpreview

Note the deployment secret. This is required to setup Headless Site, in this case it is bz39czqkd47o0n7nvfm11kaoexuouk5dq2z4fhsrl3

Also note the sscjssconfig.json file updated.

2 . Create a Healdess Tenant and Site

In your Sitecore instance create a Healdess Site Collection, you may create a folder Site Collection Folder if required-

Next provide the Site collection name, in this case scxmcloud and select the required modules-

You should see the Site collection created along with the required templates in Project/scxmcloud folder.

Setup should create folders and required items in following location. Note this as this is required whilst setting the item sync using Sitecore SCS (Sitecore Content Serialization)

Layout Placeholder Settings- /sitecore/layout/Placeholder Settings/Project/scxmcloud

Layout Renderings – /sitecore/layout/Renderings/Project/scxmcloud

Media Library – /sitecore/media library/Project/scxmcloud

Templates – /sitecore/templates/Project/scxmcloud

Create a Headless SXA Site

Create headless site under site collection-

Provide the name of the site- sxastarter

Select the modules- Note I selected the basic site module. This should add sample items to home page along with About page. You may choose not to select the basic site module.

Enter the deployment secret created whilst setting up the JSS app

Site should now be created-

Site without Basic Site module-

Open the experience editor and you should see the blank page-

Lets add the Title component to see if the changes are reflecting in Experience Editor and FE.

Testing GraphQL IDE for local environment

Try the graphql ide here on your local instance –

https://xmcloudcm.localhost/sitecore/api/graph/edge/ide

And the request for same should be sent to –

https://xmcloudcm.localhost/api/graphql/v1

We now have site ready to start developing components.

Run the FE site

On your root folder /src/sxastarter folder run following-

npm install
npm run start:connected

npm install – should download all the required dependencies

You may fix any vulnerabilities by running-

npm audit fix
OR
npm audit fix --force

Before starting the jss app ensure the app name in Sitecore matches the app name in package.json file.

If you wish to change the app name you to make changes in Sitecore and package.json file.

To start the sxastarter jss app run-

npm run start:connected

If no errors the app should be available on http://localhost:3000

The newly added title in header should also be displayed-

Managed to add inbuilt components to page-

This conculdes setting up the local environment with having Sitecore CM instance and the jss app (FE) running on localhost. Note JSS app is not runing on containers as we should not force FE devs to work on containers. This scenario is good for Sitecore developers for bulding and testing the components locally.

You may pull out the sxastarter folder outside this repo and FE devs should be good to develop on theri own. Although there is a dependency to have Sitecore instance hosted on local environment.

In next blog post we will how to setup the FE without having Sitecore local instance and connect to XM Cloud.

But before that we need to setup the XM Cloud project and environments, for that we will configure the Sietcore Content Serilization to push the changes made in local to XM Cloud. Coming in next blog.

Connect your local FE app to XM Cloud.

Although not recommended but if you want ot connect the XM Cloud instance to local FE app. Follow these steps.

I need to make changes in 2 places to get this working.

docker-compose.override.ymlrendering

Change environement settings–

SITECORE_API_HOST – The host name of XM instance.

SITECORE_API_KEY- This is the delivery api token

Generate this from XM Cloud if not done before.

    environment:
      SITECORE_API_HOST: "https://your-instance.sitecorecloud.io" #"http://cm""http://${CM_HOST}"
      NEXTJS_DIST_DIR: ".next-container"
      PUBLIC_URL: "https://${RENDERING_HOST}"
      JSS_EDITING_SECRET: ${JSS_EDITING_SECRET}
      SITECORE_API_KEY: "your_delivery_api_token" #"${SITECORE_API_KEY_xmcloudpreview}"
      DISABLE_SSG_FETCH: ${DISABLE_SSG_FETCH}
      NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED: 0

FE (sxastarter) .env file-

GRAPH_QL_ENDPOINT to https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/api/graphql/v1

Spin-up the containers again and shold render the content

Hope this helps.

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XM Cloud local environment – Setup a JSS application – sxastarter for Headless SXA site

In this blog we will create a Headless SXA Site in local instance, setup and resolve any errors while running the rendering app (sxastarter)

We will create a Headless SXA site in Sitecore local instance and then setup the FE application.

With the local Sitecore instance(CM) you should also see the rendering host is configured i.e. https://www.sxastarter.localhost/

While seting up the local instance we haven’t made any changes to docker compose or override files nor to the .env files manually, although while initalizing the app certian key values were updated in .env file.

Check the sxastarter rendering host- https://www.sxastarter.localhost/

At this point you might see the error since we haven;t created a sxastarter app in Sitecore.

This is because the no Site Collection or Headless Site exists in Sitecore. Lets create a Headless Tenant and Site.

2 . Create a Healdess Tenant and Site

In your Sitecore instance create a Healdess Site Collection, you may create a folder Site Collection Folder if required-

Next provide the Site collection name, in this case scxmcloud and select the required modules-

You should see the Site collection created along with the required templates in Project/scxmcloud folder.

Setup should create folders and required items in following location. Note this as this is required whilst setting the item sync using Sitecore SCS (Sitecore Content Serialization)

Layout Placeholder Settings- /sitecore/layout/Placeholder Settings/Project/scxmcloud

Layout Renderings – /sitecore/layout/Renderings/Project/scxmcloud

Media Library – /sitecore/media library/Project/scxmcloud

Templates – /sitecore/templates/Project/scxmcloud

Create a Headless SXA Site

Create headless site under site collection-

Provide the name of the site- sxastarter.

You may choose another name but ensure the package.json file is updated accordingly.

Select the modules- Note I selected the basic site module. This should add sample items to home page along with About page. You may choose not to select the basic site module.

Enter the deployment secret created whilst setting up the JSS app

Site should now be created-

Site without Basic Site module-

Keep the Site Settings as is-

sxastarter site is created along with this the choosen mdoules are installed.

Once this is done ensure the app name in Settings is same as in package.config-

Open the experience editor and you should see the blank page-

Lets add the Title component and images to see if the changes are reflecting in Experience Editor and FE.

Visit the https://www.sxastarter.localhost/ and the images are not loading

This is due to the local instance has relative media url for local instance.

Solution-

Patch the local instance to include – IncludeServerUrlInMediaUrls

<configuration xmlns:patch="http://www.sitecore.net/xmlconfig/" xmlns:set="http://www.sitecore.net/xmlconfig/set/" xmlns:env="http://www.sitecore.net/xmlconfig/env/">
  <sitecore>
    <layoutService env:require="Development">
      <configurations>
        <config name="sxa-jss">
          <rendering>
            <renderingContentsResolver>
              <IncludeServerUrlInMediaUrls>false</IncludeServerUrlInMediaUrls>
            </renderingContentsResolver>
          </rendering>
        </config>
      </configurations>
    </layoutService>
  </sitecore>
</configuration>

I did this in VS, Platform project. Added the config file in App_Config/Include/Feature named z.Plaform.Feature.IncludeServerUrlInMediaUrls.config

Publish the project and this file should be then deployed to CM container.

Now this should display the images-

Testing GraphQL IDE for local environment

Try the graphql ide here on your local instance –

https://xmcloudcm.localhost/sitecore/api/graph/edge/ide

And the request for same should be sent to –

https://xmcloudcm.localhost/api/graphql/v1

We now have site ready to start developing components.

The newly added title in header, images should also be displayed-

This conculdes setting up the local environment with having Sitecore CM instance and the jss app (FE) running in docker. JSS app is runing in container.

In next blog post we will how to setup the FE without having Sitecore local instance and connect to XM Cloud.

But before that we need to setup the XM Cloud project and environments, for that we will configure the Sietcore Content Serilization to push the changes made in local to XM Cloud. Coming in next blog.

Errors-

sxastarter site hosted in docker throws below error.

Solution

See the resolution for this error here

https://sitecore.stackexchange.com/questions/35307/sitecore-xm-cloud-local-setup-error-with-node-js

I updated the rendering Dockerfile –> Entrypoint to clean and install the npm

npm ci && npm run start:connected

This should resolve the issue. Hope this helps.

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Secure Sitecore Webhooks using Microsoft Azure AD B2C

Few months back I was trying to Authorize Sietcore Webhooks using Microsoft Actice Directory B2C and found issue that it wasn’t working.

After creating a support ticket, Sitecore logged this as a bug.

This was resolved and release on 20th Feb 2024.

This blog helps on how to configure MS AD B2C and configure in Sitecore as Client Credential grant to generate an access token so the Event receiver can authorize and process the request.

Note- text highlighted in red is required later to configure in Sitecore.

Reference-

https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/103/sitecore-experience-manager/webhook-authentication-types.html

https://developers.sitecore.com/changelog/xm-cloud/1.5.69-base-image-update%3a-resolved-issues

Pre-requisite

You should have your Azure AD B2c tenant. See this link on how to set this – Tutorial – Create an Azure Active Directory B2C tenant | Microsoft Learn

Once configured you see the options to register your app.

Before registering app note down the highlighted. This should be available as the part of Endpoint-

This is Authority URL in Sitecore Webhook.

Step 1 – Register App

Click on New registration

Provide the App registration name and selected supported account types. In this case I have given name – SCXMCWebhook and selected “Accounts in this organizational directory only (SC XM Org only – Single tenant)

Register App and it should show the registered app-

It should also list your newly created app-

Step 2 – Add an Application URI

Click on Application ID URI “Add”link and then “Add a scope”

This should create a URI –

Step 3 – Add a scope

Now create a scope “Add a scope”. Enter scope name, admin consent and description. Ensure you enable the scope.

A new scope isadded . Copy the scope as highlighted –

Step 4 – Create Secrets

Navigate to Overview tab and you should see all the configured details.

Step 5 – Create a Client Credential Grant Authorization in Sitecore

Sitecore Client CredentialMicrosoft AD B2C
Authority URL Microsoft Entra ID OpenID Connect
metadata document. (Check Endpoints)
Client IDApplication (client) ID
(Check Overview tab)
Client SecretClient Secret Value
(Check Certificates & Secrets tab)
Scope
(Append /.default)
Application ID URI
(Check Overview tab)
Header Prefix
(Bearer)
Additional Endpoint Base Addresses
(See Semicolon seperated values below)
Directory (tenant) ID
(Part of the url- Check Overview tab)
e.g.:- 10d**************1b4c

Additional Endpoint Base Addresses

https://login.microsoftonline.com/10d**************1b4c/discovery/v2.0/keys
https://login.microsoftonline.com/110d**************1b4c/oauth2/v2.0/token
https://graph.microsoft.com/oidc/userinfo
https://login.microsoftonline.com/10d**************1b4c/oauth2/v2.0/authorize
https://login.microsoftonline.com/10d**************1b4c/oauth2/v2.0/devicecode
https://login.microsoftonline.com/10d**************1b4c/oauth2/v2.0/logout
https://login.microsoftonline.com/10d**************1b4c/kerberos

Client Credential Grant Authorization Item should look like this-

Please note Additional Endpoint Base Address are Semicolon seperated.

Step 6 – Create a Webhook Handler in Sitecore

Create Webhook handler at this location- /sitecore/system/Webhooks/

Provide the Description, Select the events the webhook should trigger, Add any rules as per your requirements, Ensure to Enable the Webhook, provide the Url the webhook should send the item data, select the newly created Authorization and Selrialization type (JSON).

Step 7 – Save an Item in Sitecore

Update an Item, in this case I updated Home item

You should see the webhook sends the request to defined Url with Access Token, as highlighted below-

Hope this helps to cionfigure MS AD B2C in your Sitecore instance

More reads-

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XM Cloud Dev Error: Hydration failed – while using XMC with Nextjs

Recently, I started receiving error-

Unhandled Runtime Error

Error: Hydration failed because the initial UI does not match what was rendered on the server.

This error was specifically while using RichText field.

Resolution-

Hyderation is when React converts the pre-rendered HTML from the server into fullly interactive application by attaching event handlers.

The common casue of this issue is incorrect nesting of HTML tags.

RichText is wrapped in div tag and received this error when the RichText was wrapped in <p> tag

Example where React throws error-

Incorrect way of wrapping RichText-
<p className="page-desc text-white mb-0"> 
   <RichText field={props.fields.Description} />
</p>

Remove the <p> tag or wrap RichText in <div> tag

Correct way-
<RichText className="page-desc text-white mb-0" field={props.fields.Description} />

Remvoing <p> might removing spacing between fields/components, this needs to be adjusted using CSS.

Reference-

https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/react-hydration-error

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XM Cloud local environment – Setup local development instance

This blog post will guide you through the local environment setup for XM Cloud. You may refer this documentation to do this your own way. Althoug the documentation covers most of the setup, this blog post provides visual on the steps and errors with the resolution.

https://doc.sitecore.com/xmc/en/developers/xm-cloud/walkthrough–setting-up-your-full-stack-xm-cloud-local-development-environment.html

Once the Foundation Head from Sitecore Labs is forked s(se more details here) clone the copy to the local machine for creating a local instance required for XM Cloud development.

Pre-requisite

You can find the pre-requisite in this documentation. Ensure your machine has this before setting the local development environment. Just noting down here-

https://doc.sitecore.com/xmc/en/developers/xm-cloud/walkthrough–setting-up-your-full-stack-xm-cloud-local-development-environment.html

Also make sure you are using Docker v.2, as explained here.

Access to XM Cloud – This blog post assumes you have admin access to XM Cloud where you should be able to craete/update/delete projects environments and deployment in your organisation.

I have this ready on my machine.

1. Clone the forked Foundation head repo.

I named the folder same as the repo on my local machine i.e. xmcloud-foundation-head. the same will be refered thoruhg this post.

Will see the following folder structure after cloned.

I use Visual Studio Code to make any environment related changes. You may use either Visual Studio 2022 or your choice of editor.

2. Open the .env at the root folder and you will see REPORTING_API_KEY, TELERIK_ENCRYPTION_KEY etc. empty.

3. Start the containers.

Prepare the environment

Before doing so make sure you stop the IIS and check if the port 443 (IIS Website) and 8984 (Solr service)is not used and the docker is running in Windows Containers mode. If not switch to Windows cotainers.

iisreset /stop
Get-Process -Id (Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 443).OwningProcess
Get-Process -Id (Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 8984).OwningProcess

Stop-Service -Name "<the name of your service>"

Copy the license file to c:\license folder. If you wish to have this in other folder you also have to change the HOST_LICENSE_FOLDER in .env(root folder) with the path where the license resides.

To prepare the Sitecore container environment, run the script init.ps1 from the root directory of the project along with the license path and desired passowrd for your instance. this form the root folder from the downloaded the repo.

.\init.ps1 -InitEnv -LicenseXmlPath "C:\license\license.xml" -AdminPassword "b"

Required certificates added.

You may also noticed .env in root folder have added values in REPORTING_API_KEY, TELERIK_ENCRYPTION_KEY and MEDIA_REQUEST_PROTECTION_SHARED_SECRET, which was earlier empty.

Download the Sitecore Docker images, install and configure the containers and client application

Run the up.ps1 to download and install containers and client application

.\up.ps1

This is should download the images and start the containers

Once the containers are started, it should ask to confirm to login to Sitecore with the Device confirmation code. Confirm if this matches. It should also ask to login to XM Cloud isntance and confirm.

One this is done indexes will be rebuilt and the Sitecore instance should be up and running.

Also notice that any items in this case none is pushed to Sitecore instance and an api key is genereated with the name xmcloudpreview-

You may also notice a jss editing secret and SITECORE_API_KEY_xmcloudpreview are updated in .env fiel in root folder along with the Sitecore Admin password which was set whilst initialising the environment.

Your local instance should now be up and running-

https://xmcloudcm.localhost/sitecore/

The highlighted key shoulld match the key while spinning up the containers.

Taking down the containers

To take down the containers run the down.ps1 from the root folder.

.\down.ps1

Errors

Invoke-RestMethod : Unable to connect to the remote server

This should be ideally staright forward but if you see any issues whilst getting CM instance up and runing. take down the container with down.ps1 command and delete any docker network.

docker network prune

Hope this helps to setup local Sitecore instance for XM Cloud development.

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