Before-Save Flow Triggers are a quite different way of thinking than Process Builders which run in the After Save context. You will use far-fewer IsChanged scenarios, you will use Formulas more.

I’m trying to make rules for my scenarios so here’s an attempt

ALWAYS Set the Value

• Before-Create

• Before-Update

Example - Manager Name

• For when the value ALWAYS has to be the latest updated value

  • Eg if the Manager Name changes, the next time the record is updated it will display the correct Manager Name

• Also handles if the Manager is not set

• Formula fManagerName

• Assign to Manager Name field

IF(NOT(ISBLANK({!$Record.Manager__c})),{!$Record.Manager__r.FirstName} & " " & {!$Record.Manager__r.LastName} ,"")

Issues

• Will this set if the Manager is set by Default?

Example - ID

• For when there is an ID on a related record and it needs to be on this record.

  • This is due to maxing out my spanning limits so I can’t do formulas.

• Checks if the Schedule lookup field has been set

• Formula fScheduleID

• Assign to ScheduleID field

IF(NOT(ISBLANK({!$Record.Schedule__c})),
{!$Record.Schedule__r.ID__c},null)

Set Default Value

• Before-Create

• Before-Update

• If the user already enters the value you need to keep that

  • Otherwise set the default based on the related record.

• Formula fManager

• Assign to Manager field

IF(NOT(ISBLANK({!$Record.Manager__c})),{!$Record.Manager__c},{!$Record.Account__r.Manager__c})

Do Not Change if Active

• Before-Create (if a record can be created as Active)

• Before-Update

• Formula fClient

• Assign to Client Field

IF(ISPICKVAL({!$Record.Status__c},"Draft"),{!Record.Account__r.Client__c},{!$Record.Client__c})

Only Change if Updated

• Before-Update

• Eg I have a picklist that is a Preset… depending on that Preset it sets a number of other values. However the user can set the Preset, THEN override the other values manually.

• create variable varAutomaticOption

• set default value on varAutomaticOption to {!$Record.AutomaticOption__c}

• Create a Decision Element

  • Outcome Name SettingA

  • {!$Record.Preset__c} = “Setting A”

  • AND

  • {!$Record__Prior.Preset__c} Not Equal To {!$Record.Preset__c}

• Create an Assignment after the Outcome for SettingA

  • Assign {!varAutomaticOption} to “Automatic” (the default for that preset).

• In the final Assignment

  • Assign {!$Record.AutomaticOption__c} field {!varAutomaticOption}

• That way the varAutomaticOption will be the current value unless the preset is changed, then it will be set to the new value and the AutomaticOption will be saved.

• Note my Presets set 8 fields in this way, so I’m not sure I would do it this way if it was just one field.