Flow Triggers - Defaults and Value Changes

Owned by Jodie Miners
Last updated: Feb 15, 2021
2 min read

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

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.