Fix ConnectApi.ConnectApiException When Posting Polls With Questions In Salesforce

Jul 17, 2025 by ADMIN 83 views

How to Avoid ConnectApi.ConnectApiException When Posting Polls with Questions and Answers in Salesforce Chatter

Are you encountering the dreaded ConnectApi.ConnectApiException: Cannot provide both 'Poll' and 'QuestionAndAnswers' capability values at the same time error when trying to create poll chatter posts with questions using Apex in Salesforce? This can be a tricky issue, but don't worry, guys! This article breaks down the problem, why it happens, and provides a clear solution to get your polls working smoothly.

Understanding the ConnectApi.ConnectApiException Error

So, understanding ConnectApi.ConnectApiException is the first step to solving the issue. This error message, ConnectApi.ConnectApiException: Cannot provide both 'Poll' and 'QuestionAndAnswers' capability values at the same time, arises when you're attempting to create a Chatter post that's both a poll and a question-and-answer type simultaneously. Salesforce's ConnectApi, which is used to programmatically interact with Chatter, has specific rules about post types. A single post can't inherently be both a standard poll with options to vote on and a Q&A where users post questions and receive answers. These are treated as distinct capabilities within the Chatter framework. The error essentially tells you that you're trying to mix two incompatible functionalities in one go. This often happens when you're setting up the capabilities for a Chatter post in your Apex code, particularly when dealing with collaboration groups and trying to engage users through polls that also invite discussion. Debugging this kind of exception requires a careful review of how you're setting the capabilities in your ConnectApi.FeedItemInput object, ensuring that you're aligning with the intended behavior of either a poll or a Q&A, but not both at once. Let's dive deeper into the code and see how we can fix this!

Diving into the Code Snippet

The code snippet you're using is a great starting point, but let's dissect it to pinpoint the problem. You're likely grabbing a collaboration group and then attempting to create a poll within that group. The issue arises when you inadvertently set both 'Poll' and 'QuestionAndAnswers' capabilities. To illustrate, let's look at a common scenario:

CollaborationGroup g = [SELECT Id FROM CollaborationGroup WHERE Name='Your Group Name'];

ConnectApi.FeedItemInput feedItemInput = new ConnectApi.FeedItemInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities = new ConnectApi.FeedItemCapabilitiesInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities.poll = new ConnectApi.FeedItemPollInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities.poll.question = 'Your Poll Question';
// ... other poll configurations

//Problematic Section - Causing the Error
feedItemInput.capabilities.questionAndAnswers = new ConnectApi.FeedItemQuestionAndAnswersInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities.questionAndAnswers.questionTitle = 'Your Question Title';

feedItemInput.feedElementType = ConnectApi.FeedElementType.FeedItem;
feedItemInput.subjectId = g.Id;
feedItemInput.body = new ConnectApi.MessageBodyInput();
feedItemInput.body.messageSegments = new List<ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput>();
ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput messageSegmentInput = new ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput();
messageSegmentInput.type = ConnectApi.MessageSegmentType.Text;
messageSegmentInput.text = 'Check out this poll!';
feedItemInput.body.messageSegments.add(messageSegmentInput);

ConnectApi.ChatterFeeds.postFeedElement(feedItemInput);

In this example, the critical part causing the error is the simultaneous setting of both feedItemInput.capabilities.poll and feedItemInput.capabilities.questionAndAnswers. You're essentially telling Salesforce, “Hey, make this a poll and a question-and-answer post,” which isn't allowed. The system gets confused, throws the ConnectApi.ConnectApiException, and your poll doesn't get posted. To avoid ConnectApi.ConnectApiException, you must choose one capability or the other.

The Root Cause: Conflicting Capabilities

The core reason for this error is the inherent conflict between a poll and a Q&A post in Chatter. A poll is designed for gathering votes on predefined options, while a Q&A is structured for asking questions and receiving answers. While both encourage interaction, they serve different purposes and have distinct structures within Chatter. Conflicting capabilities are the problem, and Salesforce's API enforces this separation to maintain the integrity of these features. When you try to define both capabilities for a single post, the system can't reconcile the conflicting requirements, leading to the exception. Think of it like trying to make a car that's both a sedan and a truck simultaneously – the functionalities clash. To fix this, you need to decide whether your post's primary purpose is to conduct a poll or to host a question-and-answer session, and then configure the ConnectApi.FeedItemInput accordingly.

Solution: Choose Either Poll or QuestionAndAnswers

The solution is straightforward: decide whether you want a poll or a Q&A post. You can't have both in a single Chatter post. If you intend to create a poll, focus solely on the poll-related configurations. If you need a question-and-answer post, set only the question-and-answer properties. Let’s explore how to do this in practice.

Creating a Poll-Only Post

To create a simple poll, you would remove the questionAndAnswers section from your code. Here’s how:

CollaborationGroup g = [SELECT Id FROM CollaborationGroup WHERE Name='Your Group Name'];

ConnectApi.FeedItemInput feedItemInput = new ConnectApi.FeedItemInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities = new ConnectApi.FeedItemCapabilitiesInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities.poll = new ConnectApi.FeedItemPollInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities.poll.question = 'Your Poll Question';
feedItemInput.capabilities.poll.choices = new List<String>{'Choice 1', 'Choice 2', 'Choice 3'}; // Add your poll choices
feedItemInput.capabilities.poll.isMultipleChoice = false; // Set to true if multiple selections are allowed
feedItemInput.capabilities.poll.endDate = System.today().addDays(7); // Poll end date

feedItemInput.feedElementType = ConnectApi.FeedElementType.FeedItem;
feedItemInput.subjectId = g.Id;
feedItemInput.body = new ConnectApi.MessageBodyInput();
feedItemInput.body.messageSegments = new List<ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput>();
ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput messageSegmentInput = new ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput();
messageSegmentInput.type = ConnectApi.MessageSegmentType.Text;
messageSegmentInput.text = 'Vote on this poll!';
feedItemInput.body.messageSegments.add(messageSegmentInput);

ConnectApi.ChatterFeeds.postFeedElement(feedItemInput);

In this code, we've focused solely on setting up the poll capability. We define the question, choices, whether multiple selections are allowed, and the poll's end date. By omitting the questionAndAnswers configuration, we avoid the conflict and successfully create a poll post.

Creating a Question-and-Answer Post

Alternatively, if your goal is to create a question-and-answer post, you'll configure only the questionAndAnswers capability. Here’s how:

CollaborationGroup g = [SELECT Id FROM CollaborationGroup WHERE Name='Your Group Name'];

ConnectApi.FeedItemInput feedItemInput = new ConnectApi.FeedItemInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities = new ConnectApi.FeedItemCapabilitiesInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities.questionAndAnswers = new ConnectApi.FeedItemQuestionAndAnswersInput();
feedItemInput.capabilities.questionAndAnswers.questionTitle = 'Your Question Title';

feedItemInput.feedElementType = ConnectApi.FeedElementType.FeedItem;
feedItemInput.subjectId = g.Id;
feedItemInput.body = new ConnectApi.MessageBodyInput();
feedItemInput.body.messageSegments = new List<ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput>();
ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput messageSegmentInput = new ConnectApi.MessageSegmentInput();
messageSegmentInput.type = ConnectApi.MessageSegmentType.Text;
messageSegmentInput.text = 'Ask away!';
feedItemInput.body.messageSegments.add(messageSegmentInput);

ConnectApi.ChatterFeeds.postFeedElement(feedItemInput);

Here, we've set only the questionAndAnswers capability, defining the question title for the post. By excluding the poll configuration, we ensure that the post is treated as a Q&A session, avoiding the conflicting capabilities error. This approach allows users to post questions and receive answers, fostering a different kind of engagement compared to a poll.

Best Practices for Chatter Post Capabilities

To ensure smooth interactions with the ConnectApi and avoid similar issues in the future, consider these best practices for Chatter post capabilities:

Plan Your Post Type: Before writing any code, decide what kind of engagement you want. Is it a poll, a Q&A, or a simple announcement? This will guide your capability selection.
Choose One Primary Capability: Stick to a single primary capability for each post. If you need both poll and Q&A functionalities, consider creating separate posts.
Review Your Code Carefully: Double-check your code to ensure you're not setting conflicting capabilities. Pay close attention to the ConnectApi.FeedItemInput object and its properties.
Use Descriptive Comments: Add comments to your code explaining why you've chosen specific capabilities. This helps other developers (and your future self) understand your intentions.
Test Thoroughly: After making changes, test your code to ensure it behaves as expected. Create sample posts and verify their functionality in Chatter.

By following these best practices, you'll streamline your Chatter post creation process and minimize the risk of encountering unexpected errors. Remember, clarity in your intent and careful implementation are key to leveraging the full power of the ConnectApi.

Alternative Approaches: Combining Engagement Types

While you can't create a single post that's both a poll and a Q&A, there are alternative approaches to combining engagement types in Chatter. One effective method is to create a poll post followed by a separate question-and-answer post. This allows you to first gather opinions through the poll and then delve deeper into the topic with a Q&A session. For example, you could post a poll asking, “What features would you like to see in our next product update?” and then follow up with a Q&A post titled, “Let’s Discuss Your Feature Ideas!” This sequential approach enables you to leverage the strengths of both formats without running into the ConnectApi.ConnectApiException. Another strategy is to use comments within a poll post to facilitate discussion. After creating your poll, encourage users to share their thoughts and justifications for their votes in the comments section. This can naturally lead to a Q&A dynamic, where you or other community members can respond to comments and answer questions. By strategically structuring your posts and interactions, you can create a richer and more engaging experience for your users.

Debugging Tips: Identifying Capability Conflicts

When you encounter a ConnectApi.ConnectApiException, debugging tips can save you a lot of time and frustration. The first step is to carefully examine your code and identify the section where you're setting the capabilities for your Chatter post. Look for instances where you're assigning values to both feedItemInput.capabilities.poll and feedItemInput.capabilities.questionAndAnswers. If you find both, you've likely pinpointed the source of the error. Use System.debug() statements to print out the values of your ConnectApi.FeedItemInput object and its properties. This will give you a clear view of what capabilities you're setting and whether there are any unexpected conflicts. Pay special attention to the capabilities property and its nested objects, such as poll and questionAndAnswers. Another useful technique is to comment out sections of your code temporarily to isolate the problem. For example, if you suspect the questionAndAnswers section is causing the issue, comment it out and run your code again. If the error disappears, you've confirmed that this section is the culprit. Similarly, you can comment out the poll section to see if the error persists. By systematically isolating and testing different parts of your code, you can quickly identify the conflicting capabilities and implement the necessary corrections.

Conclusion: Mastering Chatter Post Creation

Mastering Chatter post creation using the ConnectApi in Salesforce involves understanding the nuances of post capabilities. By avoiding the common pitfall of setting conflicting capabilities like 'Poll' and 'QuestionAndAnswers' simultaneously, you can ensure your Chatter posts are created successfully and engage your users effectively. Remember to choose a single primary capability for each post, carefully review your code, and test your implementations thoroughly. With these strategies, you'll be well-equipped to leverage the full potential of Chatter and create engaging experiences for your users. Happy coding, guys!