Salesforce Admin Notes

 

What is cloud computing

Cloud computing is a technology that allows you to access and store data and applications over the internet instead of on your local computer or server. It provides on-demand availability of computing resources, such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and more, without the need for direct active management by the user.

Key Characteristics of Cloud Computing:

  1. On-Demand Self-Service: Users can provision computing resources as needed without human intervention.
  2. Broad Network Access: Resources are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms.
  3. Resource Pooling: Computing resources are pooled to serve multiple users, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to demand.
  4. Rapid Elasticity: Resources can be quickly scaled up or down to meet demand.
  5. Measured Service: Resource usage is monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer.

Types of Cloud Services:

  1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. Examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2 and Microsoft Azure.
  2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with the underlying infrastructure. Examples include Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure App Services.
  3. Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications over the internet, on a subscription basis. Examples include Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, and Salesforce.

Benefits of Cloud Computing:

  • Cost Efficiency: Reduces the need for physical hardware and maintenance.
  • Scalability: Easily scales resources up or down based on demand.
  • Accessibility: Access data and applications from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Reliability: Offers robust disaster recovery and backup solutions.
  • Collaboration: Enhances collaboration by allowing multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously.

 

Salesforce which types of cloud

Salesforce is primarily a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider. It offers a suite of cloud-based applications for customer relationship management (CRM), which includes sales, service, marketing, and more. Salesforce also provides Platform as a Service (PaaS) through its Salesforce Platform (formerly known as Force.com), which allows developers to build and deploy custom applications.

In summary:

·        SaaS: Salesforce offers ready-to-use applications for CRM and other business processes.

·        PaaS: Salesforce provides a platform for developers to create custom applications.

This combination allows businesses to leverage Salesforce's powerful tools and infrastructure while also building custom solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Multi-Tenant Architecture

Multi-tenant architecture is a software architecture where a single instance of a software application serves multiple customers, known as tenants. Each tenant's data is isolated and remains invisible to other tenants. This architecture is commonly used in cloud computing to maximize resource utilization and efficiency.

Key Features of Multi-Tenant Architecture:

1.     Resource Sharing: Multiple tenants share the same infrastructure and resources, such as servers, databases, and applications.

2.     Data Isolation: Each tenant's data is isolated and secure, ensuring privacy and security.

3.     Scalability: The architecture can easily scale to accommodate more tenants without significant changes to the underlying infrastructure.

4.     Cost Efficiency: Shared resources reduce costs for both the provider and the tenants.

5.     Customization: Tenants can customize their experience without affecting others.


Salesforce and Multi-Tenant Architecture

Yes, Salesforce uses a multi-tenant architecture. This means that multiple customers (tenants) share the same instance of Salesforce, but their data is kept separate and secure. Salesforce's multi-tenant architecture allows it to provide a highly scalable, reliable, and cost-effective service to its customers.

Benefits of Salesforce's Multi-Tenant Architecture:

·        Efficiency: Shared resources lead to better utilization and lower costs.

·        Security: Robust data isolation ensures that each tenant's data is secure and private.

·        Scalability: Salesforce can easily scale to accommodate more users and data.

·        Continuous Updates: Salesforce can roll out updates and new features to all tenants simultaneously without downtime.

Salesforce's multi-tenant architecture is a key factor in its ability to deliver a powerful and flexible platform to a wide range of customers.

Editions of salesforce 

      Sales Cloud Editions

1.     Essentials: Designed for small businesses, it includes basic sales and customer support features.

2.     Professional: Offers a complete CRM solution for any size team, with no limits on the number of users.

3.     Enterprise: Provides advanced customization and integration capabilities for larger businesses.

4.     Unlimited: Includes all Enterprise features plus additional support and configuration options.

Service Cloud Editions

1.     Essentials: Basic customer service and support features for small businesses.

2.     Professional: Comprehensive service solution for teams of any size.

3.     Enterprise: Advanced service features with extensive customization and integration options.

4.     Unlimited: All Enterprise features plus additional support and configuration options.

Marketing Cloud Editions

1.     Basic: Entry-level edition with essential marketing tools.

2.     Pro: More advanced features for growing marketing teams.

3.     Corporate: Comprehensive marketing solution for larger teams.

4.     Enterprise: Full suite of marketing tools for large enterprises.

Other Editions

1.     Pardot: Marketing automation solution with different editions like Growth, Plus, Advanced, and Premium.

2.     Commerce Cloud: Editions tailored for B2B and B2C commerce needs.

3.     Community Cloud: Editions for creating branded communities and portals.

4.     Analytics Cloud: Editions powered by Tableau for advanced analytics and business intelligence.

Each edition offers different features and capabilities, allowing businesses to choose the one that best fits their needs and budget.

Salesforce Releases

Click here to read about salesforce release process

What is the clouds salesforce have at present

Salesforce offers a wide range of cloud services tailored to different business needs. Here are some of the key clouds provided by Salesforce:

1.     Sales Cloud: Focuses on sales automation, helping businesses manage leads, opportunities, and sales processes.

2.     Service Cloud: Provides tools for customer service and support, including case management, knowledge base, and customer service automation.

3.     Marketing Cloud: Offers solutions for digital marketing, including email marketing, social media marketing, and customer journey management.

4.     Commerce Cloud: Supports e-commerce businesses with tools for managing online stores, product catalogs, and customer orders.

5.     Experience Cloud: Enables the creation of branded communities, portals, and websites for customers, partners, and employees.

6.     Analytics Cloud: Provides advanced analytics and business intelligence tools, including Salesforce's Tableau.

7.     Integration Cloud: Powered by MuleSoft, it helps integrate various applications, data, and devices.

8.     Health Cloud: Designed for healthcare organizations to manage patient relationships and care coordination.

9.     Financial Services Cloud: Tailored for financial institutions to manage client relationships and financial services.

10.  Nonprofit Cloud: Provides tools for nonprofit organizations to manage fundraising, donor relationships, and program management.

11.  Education Cloud: Supports educational institutions in managing student relationships, recruitment, and alumni engagement.

12.  Manufacturing Cloud: Helps manufacturing companies manage their operations, sales, and customer relationships.

13.  Government Cloud: Provides solutions for government agencies to manage their operations and engage with citizens.

14.  Net Zero Cloud: Focuses on sustainability management, helping organizations track and reduce their carbon footprint.

15.  Data Cloud: Unlocks and unifies data across the organization to create a single source of truth

We will discuss mainly two clouds in this article those are sales and service clouds

Sales Cloud

Sales Cloud is designed to help businesses manage their sales processes and customer relationships. Here are some key features:

1.     Lead Management: Track and manage potential customers from initial contact through to conversion.

2.     Opportunity Management: Manage sales opportunities, track progress, and forecast sales.

3.     Contact Management: Store and manage customer contact information, including communication history and social media insights.

4.     Sales Collaboration: Collaborate with team members using tools like Chatter to share information and insights.

5.     Sales Performance Management: Set sales targets, track performance, and provide coaching to sales reps.

6.     Reports and Dashboards: Create customizable reports and dashboards to gain insights into sales performance and trends.

7.     Mobile Access: Access Sales Cloud features on the go with the Salesforce mobile app.

Service Cloud

Service Cloud is focused on customer service and support, providing tools to help businesses deliver exceptional customer experiences. Here are some key features:

1.     Case Management: Track and manage customer service cases from creation to resolution.

2.     Knowledge Base: Create and manage a repository of articles and FAQs to help customers find answers quickly.

3.     Omni-Channel Routing: Automatically route cases to the right agents based on their skills and availability.

4.     Service Console: A unified interface for agents to manage cases, access customer information, and collaborate with team members.

5.     Field Service: Manage field service operations, including scheduling, dispatching, and tracking field technicians.

6.     Customer Self-Service: Provide customers with self-service options through portals and communities.

7.     Reports and Dashboards: Create customizable reports and dashboards to gain insights into service performance and customer satisfaction.

Both Sales Cloud and Service Cloud are powerful tools that help businesses streamline their operations, improve customer relationships, and drive growth.

Salesforce Order of Execution

Click here to learn the order of Execution in Salesforce

Objects

In Salesforce, an object is a database table that allows you to store data specific to your organization. Objects are fundamental components in Salesforce and are used to manage and organize data.

Types of objects:

Standard Objects

These are pre-defined objects provided by Salesforce. They cover common business entities and processes. Examples include:

·        Account: Represents an individual account, which is an organization or person involved with your business.

·        Contact: Represents an individual associated with an account.

·        Opportunity: Represents a potential revenue-generating event, such as a sales deal.

·        Lead: Represents a prospect or potential opportunity.

·        Case: Represents a customer issue or problem.

Custom Objects

These are objects that you create to store information specific to your business needs. Custom objects allow you to extend Salesforce's functionality to fit your unique requirements. For example, you might create a custom object to track project details or employee information.

Big Objects

Big Objects are designed to store and manage massive amounts of data on the Salesforce platform. They can handle billions of records and are optimized for performance. Big Objects are used for historical data, audit logs, and other large datasets.

External Objects

External Objects are used to integrate data from external systems into Salesforce. They are similar to custom objects but map to data stored outside of Salesforce. External Objects are typically used with Salesforce Connect to access data in external systems without importing it into Salesforce.

Platform Events 

Platform Events are used to deliver secure and scalable custom notifications within Salesforce or from external sources. They are part of the Salesforce Enterprise Messaging Platform and are used for event-driven architecture.

Custom Metadata Types

Custom Metadata Types are similar to custom objects but are used to define application metadata. They allow you to create, update, and manage metadata records declaratively and programmatically.

Standard Objects in Salesforce Sales Cloud

1.     Account: Represents an individual account, which is an organization or person involved with your business (such as customers, competitors, and partners).

2.     Contact: Represents an individual associated with an account.

3.     Opportunity: Represents a potential revenue-generating event, such as a sales deal.

4.     Lead: Represents a prospect or potential opportunity.

5.     Campaign: Represents a marketing campaign that you want to plan, manage, and track.

6.     Case: Represents a customer issue or problem.

7.     Task: Represents a to-do item or action.

8.     Event: Represents a calendar event.

9.     Product: Represents a product that your company sells.

10.  Price Book: Represents a list of products and their associated prices.

11.  Quote: Represents a quote for a potential sale.

12.  Order: Represents an order for products or services.

13.  Asset: Represents an item of commercial value, such as a product sold by the company or a competitor that a customer has purchased and installed.

Standard Objects in Salesforce Service Cloud

1.     Case: Represents a customer issue or problem.

2.     Contact: Represents an individual associated with an account.

3.     Account: Represents an individual account, which is an organization or person involved with your business.

4.     Knowledge: Represents a knowledge article that can be used to solve cases.

5.     Service Contract: Represents a contract that defines the terms of service for a customer.

6.     Entitlement: Represents a customer's right to receive support.

7.     Work Order: Represents a task or job for a customer.

8.     Work Order Line Item: Represents a specific task or job within a work order.

9.     Solution: Represents a solution to a customer issue.

10.  Task: Represents a to-do item or action.

11.  Event: Represents a calendar event.

How to create custom object in salesforce

Steps to Create a Custom Object

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Object Manager:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Object Manager" in the Quick Find box and select "Object Manager."

3.     Create a New Custom Object:

o   Click on the "Create" button and select "Custom Object."

4.     Define the Custom Object:

o   Fill in the required fields for your custom object:

§  Label: The name of the object as it will appear in the user interface.

§  Plural Label: The plural form of the object name.

§  Object Name: The API name for the object (automatically populated based on the label).

§  Record Name: The name field for the records of this object (e.g., "Name" or "Auto Number").

§  Data Type: Choose the data type for the record name (Text or Auto Number).

§  Optional Features: Select optional features like allowing reports, activities, track field history, etc.

5.     Save the Custom Object:

o   Click the "Save" button to create the custom object.

6.     Add Custom Fields:

o   After creating the custom object, you can add custom fields to it. Click on the "Fields & Relationships" tab and then click "New" to add fields.

7.     Set Field-Level Security:

o   Define the field-level security for each field to control which profiles can view or edit the field.

8.     Add to Page Layouts:

o   Customize the page layouts to include the new fields and arrange them as needed.

Example

Let's say you want to create a custom object called "Project" to track project details. You would follow the steps above and define the object with fields like "Project Name," "Start Date," "End Date," and "Status."

By following these steps, you can create custom objects tailored to your specific business needs in Salesforce.

Object Manager

Object Manager in Salesforce is a powerful tool that allows you to manage both standard and custom objects within your Salesforce organization. It provides a centralized interface to create, customize, and manage objects and their fields, relationships, and settings.

Key Features of Object Manager:

1.     Create and Customize Objects: You can create new custom objects and customize existing standard objects to fit your business needs.

2.     Manage Fields: Add, edit, and delete fields for your objects. You can also set field-level security and validation rules.

3.     Relationships: Define relationships between objects, such as lookup and master-detail relationships.

4.     Page Layouts: Customize the layout of your object records, including which fields are displayed and their arrangement.

5.     Record Types: Create and manage record types to offer different business processes, picklist values, and page layouts to different users.

6.     Validation Rules: Define rules to ensure data integrity by specifying criteria that must be met before a record can be saved.

7.     Triggers and Workflows: Set up triggers and workflows to automate business processes based on specific criteria.

How to Access Object Manager:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Object Manager:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Object Manager" in the Quick Find box and select "Object Manager."

3.     Select an Object:

o   In the Object Manager, you can see a list of all standard and custom objects. Click on the object you want to manage.

Object Manager is an essential tool for Salesforce administrators and developers, providing the flexibility to tailor Salesforce to meet specific business requirements.

Fields

In Salesforce, you can create various types of fields for both standard and custom objects to store different kinds of data. Here are the types of fields you can create:

Standard Fields

Standard objects come with predefined fields that you cannot delete but can customize to some extent. Examples include:

·        Account Name: The name of the account.

·        Contact Name: The name of the contact.

·        Opportunity Amount: The amount of the opportunity.

·        Case Number: The unique identifier for a case.

Custom fields 

Custom fields can be added to both standard and custom objects to store additional information specific to your business needs. Here are the types of custom fields you can create:

1.     Text Fields:

o   Text: Stores alphanumeric characters up to 255 characters.

o   Text Area: Stores alphanumeric characters up to 255 characters.

o   Text Area (Long): Stores alphanumeric characters up to 131,072 characters.

o   Text Area (Rich): Stores formatted text, including images and links, up to 131,072 characters.

o   Text (Encrypted): Stores encrypted text up to 175 characters.

2.     Numeric Fields:

o   Number: Stores numeric values.

o   Currency: Stores currency values.

o   Percent: Stores percentage values.

3.     Date/Time Fields:

o   Date: Stores date values.

o   Date/Time: Stores date and time values.

4.     Picklist Fields:

o   Picklist: Stores a single value from a predefined list of values.

o   Multi-Select Picklist: Stores multiple values from a predefined list of values.

5.     Checkbox:

o   Stores a Boolean value (true/false).

6.     Formula Fields:

o   Formula: Stores a value calculated based on a formula.

7.     Lookup Relationship:

o   Creates a relationship between two objects.

8.     Master-Detail Relationship:

o   Creates a parent-child relationship between two objects.

9.     Geolocation:

o   Stores latitude and longitude values.

10.  Email:

o   Stores email addresses.

11.  Phone:

o   Stores phone numbers.

12.  URL:

o   Stores website URLs.

These field types allow you to capture and store a wide range of data in Salesforce, making it a flexible and powerful platform for managing your business information.

How to create a Field in salesforce

Creating a field in Salesforce is a straightforward process. Here are the steps to create a custom field for an object:

Steps to Create a Custom Field

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Object Manager:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Object Manager" in the Quick Find box and select "Object Manager."

3.     Select the Object:

o   In the Object Manager, find and click on the object you want to add the field to (e.g., Account, Contact, or a custom object).

4.     Go to Fields & Relationships:

o   Click on the "Fields & Relationships" tab.

5.     Create a New Field:

o   Click the "New" button to create a new field.

6.     Choose Field Type:

o   Select the type of field you want to create (e.g., Text, Number, Date, Picklist, etc.) and click "Next."

7.     Enter Field Details:

o   Fill in the required details for the field, such as Field Label, Field Name, and any additional settings specific to the field type. Click "Next."

8.     Set Field-Level Security:

o   Define the field-level security to control which profiles can view or edit the field. Click "Next."

9.     Add to Page Layouts:

o   Choose the page layouts where the field should be added. Click "Save."

Example

Let's say you want to create a custom field called "Project Start Date" for the Account object. You would follow the steps above and choose the "Date" field type, then enter "Project Start Date" as the Field Label and set the necessary field-level security and page layout options.

By following these steps, you can create custom fields tailored to your specific business needs in Salesforce.

Object limitations in salesforce

Salesforce has certain limitations for objects to ensure optimal performance and maintain system integrity. Here are some key limitations:

                 Custom Objects

1.     Number of Custom Objects:

o   Enterprise Edition: Up to 200 custom objects.

o   Unlimited Edition: Up to 2,000 custom objects.

o   Developer Edition: Up to 400 custom objects.

2.     Fields per Object:

o   Enterprise Edition: Up to 500 fields per object.

o   Unlimited Edition: Up to 800 fields per object.

o   Developer Edition: Up to 500 fields per object.

3.     Relationships:

o   Lookup Relationships: Up to 40 per object.

o   Master-Detail Relationships: Up to 2 per object.

4.     Record Limits:

o   Big Objects: Can handle billions of records.

o   Standard and Custom Objects: Limited by storage capacity.

Standard Objects

1.     Fields per Object:

o   Similar to custom objects, standard objects also have field limits, typically up to 500 fields per object in Enterprise Edition.

2.     Relationships:

o   Standard objects can have lookup and master-detail relationships, but the limits are the same as for custom objects.

General Limitations

1.     Storage Limits:

o   Data Storage: Varies by edition and number of users. For example, Enterprise Edition provides 10 GB of data storage plus 20 MB per user.

o   File Storage: Varies by edition and number of users. For example, Enterprise Edition provides 10 GB of file storage plus 2 GB per user.

2.     API Limits:

o   API call limits vary by edition and are based on the number of user licenses. For example, Enterprise Edition allows up to 100,000 API calls per 24-hour period.

3.     Governor Limits:

o   Salesforce enforces various governor limits to ensure efficient use of resources, such as limits on the number of SOQL queries, DML statements, and CPU time.

These limitations are designed to ensure that Salesforce remains performant and scalable for all users. It's important to be aware of these limits when designing and implementing your Salesforce solutions.

Tabs

In Salesforce, a tab is a user interface element that allows users to access different objects, records, and features within the Salesforce application. Tabs are a key part of the Salesforce navigation experience and help users quickly find and interact with the data they need.

Types of Tabs in salesforce

1.     Custom Object Tabs:

o   These tabs provide access to custom objects that you create. When you create a custom object, you can also create a custom tab to make it accessible to users.

2.     Standard Object Tabs:

o   These tabs provide access to standard objects provided by Salesforce, such as Accounts, Contacts, Opportunities, and Cases.

3.     Web Tabs:

o   These tabs allow you to embed external web applications or websites within Salesforce. You can create a web tab to display any web page within the Salesforce interface.

4.     Visualforce Tabs:

o   These tabs display Visualforce pages. Visualforce is a framework that allows developers to build custom user interfaces in Salesforce. A Visualforce tab can display any Visualforce page you create.

5.     Lightning Component Tabs:

o   These tabs display Lightning components. Lightning components are reusable building blocks for creating modern user interfaces in Salesforce. A Lightning component tab can display any Lightning component you create.

How to Create a Custom Tab

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Tabs:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Tabs" in the Quick Find box and select "Tabs."

3.     Create a New Tab:

o   Click the "New" button next to the type of tab you want to create (e.g., Custom Object Tabs, Web Tabs, Visualforce Tabs).

4.     Define Tab Properties:

o   Fill in the required details, such as the tab label, tab name, and the object or page the tab will display.

5.     Set Tab Visibility:

o   Define the tab visibility for different profiles to control who can see the tab.

6.     Save the Tab:

o   Click "Save" to create the tab.

Tabs in Salesforce are essential for organizing and accessing data, making it easier for users to navigate and interact with the application.

Page Layouts

Page Layouts in Salesforce are used to control the layout and organization of fields, related lists, and other elements on a record detail page. They help customize the user interface to meet the specific needs of different users and profiles.

Key features of page layouts:

1.     Field Arrangement: Determine the order and grouping of fields on the record detail page.

2.     Related Lists: Control which related lists are displayed and their order.

3.     Buttons and Actions: Customize the buttons and actions available on the record detail page.

4.     Sections: Organize fields into sections to improve readability and usability.

5.     Custom Links: Add custom links to external resources or other Salesforce pages.

Creating and managing page layouts:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Object Manager:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Object Manager" in the Quick Find box and select "Object Manager."

3.     Select the Object:

o   In the Object Manager, find and click on the object you want to customize (e.g., Account, Contact, or a custom object).

4.     Go to Page Layouts:

o   Click on the "Page Layouts" tab.

5.     Create or Edit a Page Layout:

o   Click the "New" button to create a new page layout or click on an existing page layout to edit it.

6.     Customize the Layout:

o   Drag and drop fields, related lists, buttons, and other elements to customize the layout.

o   Use sections to group related fields together.

7.     Assign Page Layouts to Profiles:

o   After customizing the page layout, you can assign it to different profiles to control which users see the layout.

Example

Let's say you want to create a custom page layout for the Account object that includes a section for "Billing Information" and another section for "Shipping Information." You would follow the steps above to create the layout, add the necessary fields, and organize them into the appropriate sections.

Page layouts are a powerful tool in Salesforce that help tailor the user interface to meet the specific needs of different users and profiles, improving usability and efficiency.

Record Types

Record Types in Salesforce allow you to offer different business processes, picklist values, and page layouts to different users based on their profiles. This is useful when you have multiple business processes or types of records within the same object. Here’s a deeper dive into what record types is and how they can be used:

Key features of record types

1.     Business Processes: Record types can be used to define different business processes for different types of records. For example, you might have different sales processes for different product lines.

2.     Picklist Values: You can customize picklist values for different record types. This means that users will see different options in picklist fields based on the record type they are working with.

3.     Page Layouts: Record types allow you to assign different page layouts to different profiles. This means that users will see different fields and layouts based on their role and the record type.

Example use cases:

·        Sales Processes: Different sales processes for different types of opportunities, such as new business, renewal business, and upsell opportunities.

·        Support Processes: Different support processes for different types of cases, such as technical support, billing issues, and product returns.

·        Lead Processes: Different lead processes for different types of leads, such as web leads, trade show leads, and partner leads.

Creating Record Types

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Object Manager:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Object Manager" in the Quick Find box and select "Object Manager."

3.     Select the Object:

o   In the Object Manager, find and click on the object you want to create a record type for (e.g., Account, Contact, or a custom object).

4.     Create a New Record Type:

o   Click on "Record Types" in the sidebar, then click the "New" button.

o   Fill in the required details, such as Record Type Label, Record Type Name, and any additional settings specific to the record type.

o   Assign the record type to profiles and set the default record type for each profile.

5.     Assign Page Layouts:

o   Choose the page layouts that will be used for this record type.

6.     Save the Record Type:

o   Click "Save" to create the record type.

Record types are a powerful feature in Salesforce that can help you tailor the user experience and streamline business processes.

Relationships

In Salesforce, relationships are used to link objects together, allowing you to create complex data models and establish connections between different pieces of information. There are several types of relationships in Salesforce:

Lookup Relationship

1.      Definition: A loose relationship between two objects. Each object maintains its own security and sharing settings.

2.      Use Case: When you need to link two objects but keep them independent.

3.      Example: Linking a Contact to an Account.

Master-Detail Relationship

·        Definition: A strong relationship where the child object's existence is dependent on the parent object. The child object inherits the parent's security and sharing settings.

·        Use Case: When you need to ensure that the child object cannot exist without the parent.

·        Example: Linking an Opportunity Line Item to an Opportunity.

Many to Many Relationship

·        Definition: A relationship that allows each record of one object to be linked to multiple records of another object and vice versa. This is achieved using a junction object.

·        Use Case: When you need to link multiple records of one object to multiple records of another.

·        Example: Linking a Campaign to multiple Leads and a Lead to multiple Campaigns using a Campaign Member junction object.

Hierarchical Relationship

·        Definition: A special type of lookup relationship available only for the User object. It allows you to create a hierarchy among users.

·        Use Case: When you need to establish a reporting structure among users.

·        Example: Linking a user to their manager.

Summary

·        Lookup Relationship: Loose connection, independent objects.

·        Master-Detail Relationship: Strong connection, dependent objects.

·        Many-to-Many Relationship: Complex connection using a junction object.

·        Hierarchical Relationship: Special lookup for user hierarchy.

These relationships help you create a structured and interconnected data model in Salesforce, enabling you to manage and analyze your data more effectively.

Related Lookup Filters

Related Lookup Filters in Salesforce are administrator settings that restrict the valid values and lookup dialog results for lookup, master-detail, and hierarchical relationship fields. These filters help improve user productivity and data quality by ensuring that users can only select valid and relevant records when using lookup fields.

Key Features of Lookup Filters:

1.     Filter Criteria: Administrators can configure filter criteria that compare fields and values on:

o   The current record (source)

o   The lookup object (target)

o   The user's record, permissions, and role

o   Records directly related to the target object

2.     Examples of Lookup Filters:

o   Restrict the Account Name field on opportunities to allow only accounts with a record type of Customer.

o   Restrict the Contact field on cases to allow only contacts associated with the account specified in the Account Name field on the case record.

o   Restrict the Account Name field on cases to allow only users with the International Sales profile to create or edit cases for accounts outside the United States.

3.     Required and Optional Filters:

o   In Salesforce Classic, administrators can make lookup filters required or optional.

o   In Lightning Experience, all lookup filters are required, even if admins specify them as optional in Setup.

4.     Error Messages: For fields with required lookup filters, values that match the lookup filter criteria appear in the lookup dialog. Users cannot save invalid values that they type in the field. If a user tries to save an invalid value, Salesforce displays an error message, which administrators can customize.

How to create lookup Filter:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Object Manager:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Object Manager" in the Quick Find box and select "Object Manager."

3.     Select the Object:

o   In the Object Manager, find and click on the object you want to add the lookup filter to (e.g., Account, Contact, or a custom object).

4.     Go to Fields & Relationships:

o   Click on the "Fields & Relationships" tab.

5.     Edit the Lookup Field:

o   Find the lookup field you want to add the filter to and click "Edit."

6.     Configure the Lookup Filter:

o   In the Lookup Filter section, click "Show Filter Settings."

o   Define the filter criteria by selecting the field, operator, and value.

o   Choose whether the filter is required or optional (Salesforce Classic only).

7.     Save the Lookup Filter:

o   Click "Save" to apply the lookup filter.

Lookup filters are a powerful tool in Salesforce that help ensure data integrity and improve user efficiency by restricting the selection of valid and relevant records.

Validation rules

Validation rules in Salesforce are used to ensure data integrity by verifying that the data entered in records meets specific criteria before the record can be saved. They help enforce business rules and prevent users from entering invalid data.

Key features of validation rules:

1.     Formula-Based: Validation rules use formulas to define the criteria that must be met for the data to be considered valid.

2.     Error Messages: When a validation rule is triggered, an error message is displayed to the user, explaining what needs to be corrected.

3.     Field-Level Validation: Validation rules can be applied to specific fields to ensure that the data entered in those fields meets the required criteria.

4.     Cross-Object Validation: Validation rules can reference fields from related objects to enforce complex business rules.

Example use cases:

·        Required Fields: Ensure that certain fields are not left blank.

·        Data Format: Verify that data entered in a field follows a specific format (e.g., email addresses, phone numbers).

·        Conditional Logic: Enforce rules based on the values of other fields (e.g., if the "Status" field is "Closed," the "Close Date" must be populated).

·        Range Checks: Ensure that numeric values fall within a specified range (e.g., discount percentage must be between 0 and 100).

How to create the validations rules:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Object Manager:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Object Manager" in the Quick Find box and select "Object Manager."

3.     Select the Object:

o   In the Object Manager, find and click on the object you want to create a validation rule for (e.g., Account, Contact, or a custom object).

4.     Go to Validation Rules:

o   Click on the "Validation Rules" tab.

5.     Create a New Validation Rule:

o   Click the "New" button to create a new validation rule.

6.     Define the Rule Criteria:

o   Enter the Rule Name and Description.

o   Define the Error Condition Formula that specifies the criteria for the validation rule.

o   Enter the Error Message that will be displayed when the rule is triggered.

7.     Save the Validation Rule:

o   Click "Save" to create the validation rule.

Example:

Let's say you want to create a validation rule for the Account object to ensure that the "Annual Revenue" field is not left blank. You would follow the steps above and define the Error Condition Formula as ISBLANK(AnnualRevenue). The Error Message could be "Annual Revenue cannot be blank."

Validation rules are a powerful tool in Salesforce that help maintain data quality and enforce business rules.

Security Controls in Salesforce:

Salesforce provides a comprehensive set of security controls to protect your data and ensure that users have appropriate access to the information they need. Here are the key security controls in Salesforce:

User Authentication:

·        Username and Password: Standard login credentials for accessing Salesforce.

·        Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity using a second factor, such as a mobile app or hardware token.

·        Single Sign-On (SSO): Allows users to log in to Salesforce using their organization's identity provider.

Profiles and Permission sets:

·        Profiles: Define the baseline permissions and access settings for users, including object permissions, field-level security, and app settings.

·        Permission Sets: Provide additional permissions to users on top of their profile permissions, allowing for more granular control of user access.

Roles and Sharing Rules:

·        Roles: Determine the visibility of data based on the user's position in the hierarchy. Roles control record-level access.

·        Sharing Rules: Provide additional access to records based on criteria, allowing you to share records with users in specific roles, groups, or territories.

Field-Level Security:

·        Field Visibility: Controls whether users can see specific fields.

·        Field Read-Only: Controls whether users can edit specific fields.

Object-Level Security:

Object Permissions: Control access to objects, including the ability to create, read, edit, and delete records.

Record-Level Security:

Organization-Wide Defaults (OWD): Define the default access level for records within the organization.

Role Hierarchy: Allows users higher in the hierarchy to access records owned by users below them.

Manual Sharing: Allows users to share individual records with other users.

Login access and IP restrictions:

Login Hours: Define the hours during which users can log in to Salesforce.

Login IP Ranges: Define the IP ranges from which users can log in to Salesforce.

Audit and Monitoring:

Field History Tracking: Tracks changes to specified fields and records the history.

Login History: Tracks user login attempts and provides details about successful and failed logins.

Event Monitoring: Provides detailed logs of user activity, such as page views, API calls, and data exports.

Encryption:

Shield Platform Encryption: Provides encryption for data at rest, ensuring that sensitive information is protected.

Data loss Prevention:

Data Masking: Masks sensitive data in sandbox environments to prevent unauthorized access.

Data Export Controls: Restricts the ability to export data from Salesforce.

These security controls help ensure that your Salesforce environment is secure and that users have the appropriate level of access to perform their job functions effectively.

Users

In Salesforce, users are individuals who have login access to the Salesforce organization. Each user has a unique username and password, and their access to data and functionality is controlled by profiles, roles, and permission sets.

Key Features of Users in Salesforce:

1.     User Profiles: Define the permissions and access settings for users, including object permissions, field-level security, and app settings.

2.     Roles: Determine the visibility of data based on the user's position in the hierarchy. Roles control record-level access.

3.     Permission Sets: Provide additional permissions to users on top of their profile permissions. They allow for more granular control of user access.

4.     User Licenses: Define the baseline features and functionality available to users. Different licenses provide different levels of access.

5.     Login Access: Users can log in to Salesforce using their unique username and password. Administrators can set login hours and IP ranges to control when and where users can log in.

6.     User Management: Administrators can create, deactivate, and manage users in Salesforce. They can also reset passwords and assign roles, profiles, and permission sets.

Creating and managing of users:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Users:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Users" in the Quick Find box and select "Users."

3.     Create a New User:

o   Click the "New User" button to create a new user.

o   Fill in the required details, such as First Name, Last Name, Email, Username, and Profile.

o   Assign a Role and User License.

o   Click "Save" to create the user.

4.     Manage Existing Users:

o   To manage existing users, click on the user's name in the Users list.

o   You can edit user details, reset passwords, deactivate users, and assign roles, profiles, and permission sets.

Example:

Let's say you want to create a new user for a Sales Representative. You would follow the steps above, assign the user a Sales Representative profile, and set their role to Sales Rep. You can also assign additional permissions using permission sets if needed.

Users in Salesforce are essential for managing access to data and functionality, ensuring that each user has the appropriate level of access to perform their job functions effectively.

 Roles

In Salesforce, roles are used to control the visibility of data within the organization. They determine what data users can see based on their position in the hierarchy. Roles are essential for managing data access and ensuring that users have the appropriate level of visibility to perform their job functions.

Key features of Roles:

1.     Hierarchy: Roles are organized in a hierarchical structure, allowing users higher in the hierarchy to access data owned by users below them.

2.     Data Access: Roles control record-level access, such as which records a user can view, edit, or delete.

3.     Sharing Rules: Roles work in conjunction with sharing rules to provide additional access to records based on criteria.

4.     Reports and Dashboards: Roles can be used to filter data in reports and dashboards, ensuring that users see only the data relevant to their role.

Example of Role Hierarchy:

·        CEO: Has access to all data in the organization.

o   VP of Sales: Has access to all sales data.

§  Sales Manager: Has access to data for their sales team.

§  Sales Representative: Has access to their own data and the data of their direct reports.

Creating and managing the Roles:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Roles:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Roles" in the Quick Find box and select "Roles."

3.     Create a New Role:

o   Click the "Set Up Roles" button and then click "Add Role" to create a new role.

4.     Define Role Properties:

o   Fill in the required details, such as Role Name, Role Label, and Parent Role (if applicable).

5.     Assign Users to Roles:

o   After creating the role, you can assign users to it by navigating to the "Users" section and editing the user's role.

Roles in Salesforce are crucial for managing data visibility and ensuring that users have the appropriate access to perform their job functions effectively.

Profiles

Profiles in Salesforce are used to define a user's permissions and access settings. They determine what users can do within Salesforce, including what data they can see and what actions they can perform. Profiles are essential for managing user permissions and ensuring that users have the appropriate level of access to perform their job functions.

Key features of Profiles:

1.     Object Permissions: Control access to objects, including the ability to create, read, edit, and delete records.

2.     Field-Level Security: Control access to individual fields within an object, including the ability to view or edit specific fields.

3.     User Permissions: Define permissions for specific actions, such as exporting data, running reports, and managing users.

4.     Page Layout Assignments: Assign different page layouts to users based on their profile.

5.     Record Types: Control access to different record types within an object.

6.     App Settings: Control access to specific apps and tabs within Salesforce.

7.     Login Hours: Define the hours during which users can log in to Salesforce.

8.     Login IP Ranges: Define the IP ranges from which users can log in to Salesforce.

Example Use Cases of Profile:

·        System Administrator: A profile with full access to all objects, fields, and settings in Salesforce.

·        Sales Representative: A profile with access to sales-related objects, such as Accounts, Contacts, and Opportunities, with permissions to create, read, edit, and delete records.

·        Support Agent: A profile with access to support-related objects, such as Cases and Solutions, with permissions to create, read, edit, and delete records.

Creating and managing the profiles:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Profiles:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Profiles" in the Quick Find box and select "Profiles."

3.     Create a New Profile:

o   Click the "New Profile" button to create a new profile.

o   Choose an existing profile to clone and enter the required details, such as Profile Name.

4.     Customize Profile Settings:

o   Customize the profile settings, including object permissions, field-level security, user permissions, and app settings.

5.     Save the Profile:

Click "Save" to create the profile.

Profiles in Salesforce are crucial for managing user permissions and ensuring that users have the appropriate access to perform their job functions effectively.

In Salesforce, profiles control a wide range of permissions and settings that determine what users can do within the platform. Here are the key permissions and settings that can be controlled using profiles:

Object Permission:

·        Create: Allows users to create records for the object.

·        Read: Allows users to view records for the object.

·        Edit: Allows users to edit records for the object.

·        Delete: Allows users to delete records for the object.

·        View All: Allows users to view all records for the object, regardless of sharing settings.

·        Modify All: Allows users to edit and delete all records for the object, regardless of sharing settings.

Field-Level security:

·        Visible: Controls whether users can see the field.

·        Read-Only: Controls whether users can edit the field.

User Permission:

·        View Setup and Configuration: Allows users to view the setup and configuration pages.

·        Customize Application: Allows users to customize the application, including creating custom objects and fields.

·        Manage Users: Allows users to create, edit, and deactivate users.

·        Modify All Data: Allows users to view, edit, and delete all data in the organization.

·        API Enabled: Allows users to access Salesforce via the API.

·        Run Reports: Allows users to run reports.

·        Export Reports: Allows users to export report data.

·        Manage Dashboards: Allows users to create and edit dashboards.

·        View All Data: Allows users to view all data in the organization.

·        Manage Public Documents: Allows users to manage public documents.

·        Manage Public Templates: Allows users to manage public email templates.

·        Manage Campaigns: Allows users to create, edit, and delete campaigns.

·        Manage Cases: Allows users to create, edit, and delete cases.

·        Manage Leads: Allows users to create, edit, and delete leads.

·        Manage Opportunities: Allows users to create, edit, and delete opportunities.

App settings:

·        Tab Settings: Controls whether tabs are visible, hidden, or available as default.

·        Record Types: Controls access to different record types within an object.

·        Page Layouts: Assigns different page layouts to users based on their profile.

·        App Permissions: Controls access to specific apps within Salesforce.

Login Access:

·        Login Hours: Defines the hours during which users can log in to Salesforce.

·        Login IP Ranges: Defines the IP ranges from which users can log in to Salesforce.

Administrative permission:

·        View All Users: Allows users to view all user records.

·        Manage Profiles and Permission Sets: Allows users to create and edit profiles and permission sets.

·        Manage Roles: Allows users to create and edit roles.

·        Manage Sharing: Allows users to manage sharing settings.

·        Manage Custom Permissions: Allows users to create and manage custom permissions.


Permission Sets

Permission Sets in Salesforce are a powerful tool that allows administrators to grant additional permissions to users on top of their profile permissions. They provide a flexible way to manage user access and ensure that users have the necessary permissions to perform their job functions without changing their profiles.

Key Features of Permission Sets:

1.     Granular Control: Permission sets allow you to grant specific permissions to users without modifying their profiles.

2.     Reusable: Once created, permission sets can be assigned to multiple users, making it easy to manage permissions across the organization.

3.     Flexible: Permission sets can be used to grant permissions temporarily or for specific projects, providing flexibility in managing user access.

Types of permission in permission sets:

1.     Object Permissions: Control access to objects, including the ability to create, read, edit, and delete records.

2.     Field-Level Security: Control access to individual fields within an object, including the ability to view or edit specific fields.

3.     User Permissions: Define permissions for specific actions, such as exporting data, running reports, and managing users.

4.     App Permissions: Control access to specific apps within Salesforce.

5.     System Permissions: Grant permissions for system-level actions, such as API access and managing custom settings.

Creating and managing permission sets:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Permission Sets:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Permission Sets" in the Quick Find box and select "Permission Sets."

3.     Create a New Permission Set:

o   Click the "New" button to create a new permission set.

o   Enter the required details, such as the Label, API Name, and Description.

o   Click "Save" to create the permission set.

4.     Assign Permissions:

o   After creating the permission set, you can assign permissions by navigating to the relevant sections, such as Object Settings, Field Permissions, and System Permissions.

o   Select the permissions you want to grant and click "Save."

5.     Assign Permission Sets to Users:

o   Navigate to the "Manage Assignments" section of the permission set.

o   Click "Add Assignments" and select the users you want to assign the permission set to.

o   Click "Assign" to complete the process.

Example:

Let's say you want to grant a group of users access to a custom object called "Project" without modifying their profiles. You can create a permission set called "Project Access" and grant the necessary object permissions for the "Project" object. Then, you can assign the permission set to the relevant users.

Permission sets provide a flexible and efficient way to manage user permissions in Salesforce, ensuring that users have the appropriate access to perform their job functions effectively.

Organization-Wide Defaults (OWD)

In Salesforce are the baseline level of access to records for all users in the organization. They define the default sharing settings for objects and determine the level of access users have to records they do not own. OWD settings are crucial for maintaining data security and ensuring that users have appropriate access to records.

Key Features of OWD:

1.     Public Read/Write: All users can view, edit, and delete records.

2.     Public Read Only: All users can view records, but only the owner and users above the owner in the role hierarchy can edit and delete records.

3.     Private: Only the record owner and users above the owner in the role hierarchy can view, edit, and delete records.

4.     Controlled by Parent: Access to records is determined by the parent object in a master-detail relationship.

How to set OWD:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Sharing Settings:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Sharing Settings" in the Quick Find box and select "Sharing Settings."

3.     Edit OWD:

o   In the Organization-Wide Defaults section, click "Edit."

o   Set the default access level for each object (e.g., Public Read/Write, Public Read Only, Private).

o   Click "Save" to apply the changes.

Example:

Let's say you want to set the OWD for the Account object to "Private." This means that only the record owner and users above the owner in the role hierarchy can view, edit, and delete account records. You would follow the steps above and set the default access level for the Account object to "Private."

OWD settings are the foundation of Salesforce's security model, and they work in conjunction with roles, sharing rules, and manual sharing to provide a comprehensive data access control system.

Sharing Rules

Sharing Rules in Salesforce are used to extend the access granted by organization-wide defaults (OWD) and role hierarchies. They provide additional access to records based on criteria, allowing you to share records with users in specific roles, groups, or territories. Sharing rules help ensure that users have the appropriate level of access to perform their job functions effectively.

Key Features of Sharing Rules:

1.     Criteria-Based Sharing Rules: Share records based on field values. For example, share all accounts with a specific industry.

2.     Owner-Based Sharing Rules: Share records owned by users in a specific role or group. For example, share all opportunities owned by users in the Sales team.

3.     Public Groups: Share records with a group of users defined by the administrator. Public groups can include users, roles, and other public groups.

4.     Territory-Based Sharing Rules: Share records based on territories in the Salesforce Territory Management feature.

Creating and managing of Sharing Rules:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Sharing Settings:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Sharing Settings" in the Quick Find box and select "Sharing Settings."

3.     Create a New Sharing Rule:

o   In the Sharing Rules section, click "New" to create a new sharing rule.

o   Choose the object for which you want to create the sharing rule (e.g., Account, Contact, Opportunity).

4.     Define the Rule Criteria:

o   For criteria-based sharing rules, define the criteria that records must meet to be shared.

o   For owner-based sharing rules, select the role or group whose records will be shared.

5.     Specify the Access Level:

o   Choose the level of access to be granted (e.g., Read-Only, Read/Write).

6.     Select the Users to Share With:

o   Specify the roles, groups, or territories with whom the records will be shared.

7.     Save the Sharing Rule:

o   Click "Save" to create the sharing rule.

Example:

Let's say you want to create a sharing rule to share all accounts with the industry "Technology" with the Sales team. You would follow the steps above, define the criteria as "Industry equals Technology," and specify the Sales team as the group to share with.

Sharing rules are a powerful tool in Salesforce that help ensure users have the appropriate access to records, enhancing collaboration and productivity.

Manual Sharing

Manual Sharing in Salesforce allows users to share individual records with other users, roles, or groups on a one-off basis. This feature is particularly useful when you need to grant access to specific records that are not covered by organization-wide defaults (OWD), role hierarchies, or sharing rules.

Key Features of Manual Sharing:

1.     Record-Level Access: Provides granular control over access to individual records.

2.     Flexible Sharing: Allows users to share records with specific users, roles, or groups as needed.

3.     Temporary Access: Can be used to grant temporary access to records for specific tasks or projects.

How to manage Manual sharing:

1.     Navigate to the Record:

o   Go to the record you want to share (e.g., an Account, Contact, Opportunity, or custom object record).

2.     Click on the Sharing Button:

o   On the record detail page, click the "Sharing" button. If you don't see the "Sharing" button, it may need to be added to the page layout by an administrator.

3.     Add Sharing:

o   In the Sharing window, click "Add" to create a new sharing entry.

4.     Select the User, Role, or Group:

o   Choose the user, role, or group you want to share the record with.

5.     Set the Access Level:

o   Specify the level of access you want to grant (e.g., Read-Only, Read/Write).

6.     Save the Sharing Entry:

o   Click "Save" to apply the sharing settings.

Example:

Let's say you have an Account record that you want to share with a colleague who is not in your role hierarchy. You would follow the steps above to manually share the Account record with your colleague, granting them the necessary access to view or edit the record.

Manual sharing is a powerful tool in Salesforce that provides flexibility in managing record-level access, ensuring that users have the appropriate access to perform their job functions effectively.

Custom Permissions

Custom Permissions in Salesforce allow you to define and manage user permissions for specific business processes or features that are not covered by standard Salesforce permissions. They provide a flexible way to control access to custom functionality and can be used in various ways, such as in validation rules, Apex classes, and Visualforce pages.

Key Features of Custom Permission:

1.     Granular Control: Custom permissions allow you to grant or restrict access to specific features or processes at a granular level.

2.     Reusable: Once created, custom permissions can be reused across multiple components, such as validation rules, Apex classes, and Visualforce pages.

3.     Profiles and Permission Sets: Custom permissions can be assigned to users through profiles and permission sets, making it easy to manage access.

Example Use Cases:

·        Feature Access: Control access to a custom feature or button in the user interface.

·        Validation Rules: Use custom permissions in validation rules to enforce specific business logic based on user permissions.

·        Apex Classes: Check for custom permissions in Apex classes to control the execution of certain code blocks.

·        Visualforce Pages: Restrict access to Visualforce pages based on custom permissions.

How to create custom permissions:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Custom Permissions:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Custom Permissions" in the Quick Find box and select "Custom Permissions."

3.     Create a New Custom Permission:

o   Click the "New" button to create a new custom permission.

o   Enter the required details, such as the Label, Name, and Description.

o   Click "Save" to create the custom permission.

4.     Assign Custom Permissions:

o   Custom permissions can be assigned to users through profiles and permission sets.

o   Navigate to the profile or permission set you want to modify.

o   In the profile or permission set, go to the "Custom Permissions" section and add the custom permission you created.

Example:

Let's say you have a custom feature called "Advanced Reporting" that should only be accessible to certain users. You can create a custom permission called "Access_Advanced_Reporting" and assign it to the relevant profiles or permission sets. Then, you can use this custom permission in your Apex code or Visualforce pages to control access to the feature.

Custom permissions provide a powerful and flexible way to manage user access to custom functionality in Salesforce.

Custom Settings

Custom Settings in Salesforce are similar to custom objects and allow you to create custom sets of data that can be used across your organization. They are particularly useful for storing configuration data that can be accessed by your Apex code, validation rules, formulas, and other customizations. Custom settings can help reduce the number of queries to the database and improve performance.

Types of Custom Setting:

1.     List Custom Settings:

o   Definition: Similar to a custom object, list custom settings allow you to create a set of data that can be accessed by all users.

o   Use Case: Store data that is common across the organization, such as application settings or configuration values.

o   Example: A list of countries and their corresponding codes.

2.     Hierarchy Custom Settings:

o   Definition: Similar to list custom settings, but with the added ability to define different values for different profiles or users.

o   Use Case: Store data that varies based on the user or profile, such as user-specific preferences or settings.

o   Example: Different discount rates for different user profiles.

Create and manage custom settings:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Custom Settings:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Custom Settings" in the Quick Find box and select "Custom Settings."

3.     Create a New Custom Setting:

o   Click the "New" button to create a new custom setting.

o   Choose the type of custom setting (List or Hierarchy) and enter the required details, such as the Label, Object Name, and Description.

o   Click "Save" to create the custom setting.

4.     Define Fields:

o   After creating the custom setting, you can define fields by clicking "New" in the Custom Fields section.

o   Enter the required details for each field, such as Field Label, Field Name, Data Type, and Length.

o   Click "Save" to create the field.

5.     Manage Data:

o   For list custom settings, you can add data by clicking "Manage" and then "New" to create new records.

o   For hierarchy custom settings, you can add data by clicking "Manage" and then selecting the appropriate profile or user to create new records.

Example:

Let's say you want to create a custom setting to store application configuration values, such as API endpoints and timeout values. You would follow the steps above to create a list custom setting called "AppConfig" and define fields for "APIEndpoint" and "TimeoutValue." You can then add records to store the configuration values.

Custom settings are a powerful tool in Salesforce that help you manage configuration data and improve the performance of your customizations.

Custom Metadata Types

Custom Metadata Types in Salesforce allow you to create your own metadata to define application configurations and manage custom settings. Unlike custom settings, custom metadata types are metadata themselves, which means they can be deployed from one environment to another using change sets or the Metadata API. This makes them particularly useful for managing configuration data that needs to be consistent across multiple environments.

Key Features of custom Metadata Types:

1.     Deployable: Custom metadata types can be deployed using change sets, packages, or the Metadata API, making it easy to move configuration data between environments.

2.     Version Control: Since custom metadata types are metadata, they can be included in version control systems, allowing you to track changes and manage versions.

3.     Declarative Access: Custom metadata types can be accessed declaratively in validation rules, formulas, and flows, as well as programmatically in Apex code.

4.     Protected Custom Metadata: You can create protected custom metadata types that are not visible to subscribers of a managed package, ensuring that sensitive configuration data is kept secure.

Example Use cases:

·        Application Configuration: Store configuration settings for your application, such as API endpoints, feature toggles, and default values.

·        Business Rules: Define business rules and logic that can be easily updated and deployed across environments.

·        Reference Data: Store reference data, such as country codes, tax rates, and product categories, that needs to be consistent across environments.

Creating and managing custom metadata Types:

1.     Navigate to Setup:

o   Log in to Salesforce and click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

o   Select "Setup" from the dropdown menu.

2.     Go to Custom Metadata Types:

o   In the Setup menu, type "Custom Metadata Types" in the Quick Find box and select "Custom Metadata Types."

3.     Create a New Custom Metadata Type:

o   Click the "New Custom Metadata Type" button.

o   Enter the required details, such as the Label, Plural Label, and Object Name.

o   Click "Save" to create the custom metadata type.

4.     Define Fields:

o   After creating the custom metadata type, you can define fields by clicking "New" in the Custom Fields section.

o   Enter the required details for each field, such as Field Label, Field Name, Data Type, and Length.

o   Click "Save" to create the field.

5.     Manage Records:

o   To add records to your custom metadata type, click "Manage Records" and then "New" to create new records.

o   Enter the required details for each record and click "Save."

Example:

Let's say you want to create a custom metadata type to store API endpoints for different environments (e.g., development, staging, production). You would follow the steps above to create a custom metadata type called "API_Endpoints" and define fields for "Environment" and "Endpoint_URL." You can then add records for each environment with the corresponding API endpoint.

Custom metadata types provide a powerful and flexible way to manage configuration data in Salesforce, ensuring consistency and ease of deployment across environments.

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