v014. Izzy Does It: Unraveling the Salesforce Admin Exam Object Manager & Lightning App Builder - Objective #2

If you're in charge of Salesforce, you know it can be a lot to handle. But thankfully, Salesforce is a really great tool to help keep everything organized. As the person in charge, you've got to make sure everything is customized to fit your company's needs. That means creating and deleting fields and changing how things look on the screen. By doing this, you'll be able to make sure your Salesforce system is working as smoothly as possible.

[UNRAVEL] Creating & Customizing Fields on Standard Objects

As a Salesforce Administrator, your role involves creating and customizing fields for standard objects.

• These standard objects are pre-existing in Salesforce, such as accounts, contacts, and opportunities.

Creating New Fields: Access Object Manager -> Select Desired Object -> Go to Fields & Relationships Tab -> Click New -> Fill in Field Details -> Click Save.

• Customizing fields on standard objects is also critical to ensure the system meets your organization's needs.

Customization Process: Access Object Manager -> Select Desired Object -> Go to Fields & Relationships Tab -> Choose Field to Customize -> Make Necessary Changes (e.g., updating label, changing field type, adding validation rules).

• However, it's important to consider the potential implications of changing fields on standard objects, as it may impact other areas of the system.

For instance, modifying the data type of a field may affect existing data or integrations with external systems.

Recommendation:

• Thoroughly test changes before deploying to production to verify system integrity.

[UNRAVEL] Creating & Customizing Fields on Custom Objects

Salesforce offers the ability for administrators to create custom objects that are tailored to their organization's unique needs. Custom objects serve as a way to manage and store data that the standard objects provided by Salesforce do not cover.

Creation Process:

• Navigate to Object Manager
• Click Create Button
• Fill in Object Label, Plural Label, Record Name
• Click Save

After creating the custom object, you can create and customize fields similar to those on standard objects:

Creating New Fields:

• Navigate to Object Manager
• Select Custom Object
• Go to Fields & Relationships Tab
• Click New

The ability to customize fields on custom objects is a valuable feature for administrators. It allows them to capture and store data that is specific to their organization's needs and objectives.

Customizing Existing Fields:

• Click on Field to Modify

FIELD CUSTOMIZATION:

Importance: Enables capturing organization-specific data.

Planning & Design: Critical to meet the organization's specific needs and objectives, ensuring Optimal Functionality

[UNRAVEL] Page Layouts in Salesforce

KEY TERMS:

1. Page Layouts: A must-have for determining the UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) in Salesforce.
2. Functions of Page Layouts: Organize fields, related lists, and records on a record detail page.
3. Standard Objects: Come with default page layouts. Customizable by admins.
4. Custom Page Layouts: These can be created for standard and custom objects for a tailored UI.
5. Customization: Enables admins to adjust the UI according to unique organizational needs.
6. Benefits: Logical arrangement of fields and lists enhances user navigation, productivity, and satisfaction.

WHAT PAGE LAYOUTS DO:

Page layouts in Salesforce are integral for shaping how the user interface looks and feels. They manage the organization of different elements like fields, related lists, and records within a record detail page.

DEFAULT LAYOUTS FOR STANDARD OBJECTS

Salesforce’s standard objects, like Accounts, Contacts, etc., come with pre-designed page layouts. However, these are not set in stone and can be customized by admins.

CUSTOM LAYOUTS:

Administrators have the option to create custom page layouts. This can be done for standard and custom objects you may have added to Salesforce. This flexibility allows for a more personalized user experience.

CUSTOMIZATION FOR UNIQUE BUSINESS NEEDS:

The capability to customize these layouts means that administrators can modify the user interface to align with specific organizational needs. This could involve reordering fields, adding new elements, or removing unnecessary ones.

IMPROVING THE USER EXPERIENCE

By logically arranging these components, admins make it easier for users to navigate the system. This not only improves overall productivity but also enhances user satisfaction.

[UNRAVEL] Customizing Page Layouts on Standard Objects

To modify a page layout for a standard object, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Object Manager

2. Select the object you want to customize

3. Click on the Page Layouts tab

4. Choose the default page layout and click on Edit to make changes.

MORE INFORMATION:

• Functionality of Page Layout Editor: The page layout editor in Salesforce is a versatile tool that allows you to manipulate various elements like fields, related lists, and related records. You can add new ones, remove unnecessary ones, or change their arrangement.
• Field Customization: Beyond simple arrangement, you have the capability to modify the properties of each field. This includes altering its label, adding help text for users, and setting visibility restrictions.
• Incorporating Extras: You can incorporate custom components or links into your layout for advanced functionality. These can provide additional features or links to other important system parts.
• System-Wide Impact: It's important to be cautious when making changes, especially on standard objects. Removal of a field, for example, might affect dependent elements like reports, dashboards, or even system integrations.
• Importance of Testing: Because of the potential ripple effects throughout the system, it’s necessary to test all changes rigorously before implementing them in the production environment. This makes sure that you won't inadvertently disrupt other system components.

[UNRAVEL] Customizing Page Layouts on Custom Objects

Navigating to Page Layouts

1. Object Manager: To start modifying a page layout for a custom object, navigate to the Object Manager.
2. Select Object: Choose the custom object you want to edit.
3. Page Layouts Tab: Once in the Object Manager, click on the Page Layouts tab to see the default layout.
4. Edit: To start customizing, select the default layout and click on the "Edit" button.

USING THE PAGE LAYOUT EDITOR

• Customize Elements: The editor allows you to modify various components, including fields, related lists, and records.
• Add, Remove, Rearrange: Within the editor, you can add new components, remove unnecessary ones, or rearrange them as needed.
• Tailor Properties: Customize specific properties of these elements like their label, help text, and visibility.

IMPACT ON USER EXPERIENCE

• Enhanced UX: Customizing layouts for custom objects creates a more meaningful and organized presentation of data.
• Efficient Navigation: Well-designed layouts enable users to navigate and interact with the system more efficiently.
• Productivity and Satisfaction: Overall, good design in custom layouts can lead to increased user satisfaction and improved productivity.

[UNRAVEL] Implications of Deleting Fields in Salesforce

You should be aware of the potential consequences of removing a field in Salesforce:

Understanding Consequences

• Data Loss: A Permanent field deletion leads to losing all related data and metadata, including historical data.
• Impact on Data Integrity: Removing a field can jeopardize the integrity of your data and any existing dependencies.

Additional Implications

• System Components: Removing a field can break or disrupt components like reports, dashboards, and workflows if they reference the deleted field.
• External Integrations: Deleting a field may disrupt or cause errors in integrations with external systems.

Risk Assessment and Precautions

• Thorough Assessment: Before removing a field, assess its impact and identify dependencies by reviewing reports, workflows, and integrations.
• Data Backup: It's crucial to back up your data before deletion so you can restore the field if necessary.
• Minimizing Risks: By taking these precautions, you can mitigate the risk of data loss and system malfunctions.

????FINAL THOUGHTS

Fields and page layouts can be created, deleted, and customized by Salesforce admins. You can customize the CRM system to meet your organization's unique needs by understanding the process, best practices, and implications of these actions.

IN THIS SNIPPET:

• We looked at the ins and outs of field and page layout customization in Salesforce.
• We reviewed how to create fields on standard and custom objects to customize page layouts.
• AND the potential consequences of deleting fields

Now that you've got this knowledge and examples, you're ready to take on this important Salesforce admin topic. Go ahead and ace that Salesforce admin exam - success awaits you!

NEXT UP>>>UNRAVELING OBJECT MANAGER & LAB - OBJECTIVE #3