Supporting Multiple Editions Using an Extension Package

This approach uses a base-managed package that contains core app functionality. The base package only contains features supported in Group and Professional Editions. You then use a second managed package, or extension package, that extends and enhances the base package. The extension package adds more features supported in Enterprise, Unlimited, and Performance Editions. For example, you have a warehouse application that tracks inventory and an extension to this app includes workflow (which isn't available in Group). Your Group and Professional Edition customers can install the base warehouse application, while your other customers install the base package and then the extension package with workflow components.

Using a Base and Extension Package to Support Multiple Editions

Using extension packages enables you to avoid multiple code sets and to upsell your customers. Upgrading a customer only requires installing the extension package.

Since your extension package depends on your base package, it’s important to spend time designing your app and the interfaces between the packages. For example, if the extension package calls an Apex class in the base package, you must make sure that the desired Apex class is made global.