Business Logic and Process Automation32% of the exam
Formula fields: functions, cross-object references and limits
How to build formula fields that meet a requirement: return types, picklist and date functions, blank handling, cross-object references to parent records, the 15-relationship and size limits, and what a formula field can never do.
Given a scenario, demonstrate the use of formula fields to meet stated business requirements.
~8 min read · 13 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Choose a return type and write the expression, including picklist logic with ISPICKVAL or CASE.
- Calculate with Date, Date/Time and Time values: elapsed days or hours, month offsets, weekdays, and TEXT's GMT effect.
- Show a parent's field on a child with a cross-object formula, and fix the 15-reference and size limits.
- Handle blank number fields with blank field handling or BLANKVALUE.
- Recognise what a formula field can't do (detect a change, be edited, render raw HTML) and pick the alternative.
Key terms: formula field, a read-only calculated field; return type, the data type it outputs; cross-object formula, one that reads parent records; spanning relationship, one unique relationship an object's formulas and rules reference; blank field handling, treating blank number inputs as zero or blank.
Key facts
Formula fields are read-only
- Detail
- Not on edit pages; don't update last modified date
Cross-object reach
- Detail
- Up to 10 relationships away; not in default values
Spanning relationship limit
- Detail
- 15 unique relationships per object across formulas, rules and lookup filters
Size limits
- Detail
- 3,900 characters; 1,300 displayed; 15,000 bytes saved and compiled
Date/Time subtraction
- Detail
- Decimal days; multiply by 24 for hours
ADDMONTHS from a month end
- Detail
- Returns the last day of the resulting month
HTML in formulas
- Detail
- Escaped; use IMAGE or HYPERLINK
ISCHANGED in formula fields
- Detail
- Not available; rules and field updates only
Sources for this section (7)
- Build a Formula Fieldhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Cross-Object Formulahelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- 15 Object Referenceshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Formula Field Limits and Restrictionshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Date and Time Formulashelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- ADDMONTHShelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- ISCHANGEDhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Why doesn't a formula field change a record's Last Modified Date when its value changes?
- When does a CASE function return its else_result?
- Why does a Text formula
"Closed " & TEXT(Closed_At__c)show a time that doesn't match the viewer's clock? - Which components count toward an object's 15 spanning relationships?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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